Def Leppard Atomic Mess News

Def Leppard and Whitesnake stepped out of a musical timewarp to rock 'n' roll back the years.

The two thoroughbred icons of 1980s stadium bombast provided an unashamed gallop down Memory Lane at a bouncing Echo Arena Liverpool last night.

And indeed the memories did come flooding back; a flurry of dry ice, razor-like guitar riffing, fist- clenching, pompous posturing - and just like way back then, it was a big barrel of fun.

The former monsters of rock would perhaps struggle to fill the bigger venues by themselves these days, but together they fuse into a potent retro double-act which has gone down a storm across the country.

Liverpool has never really been metal territory but on this occasion the arena almost rocked itself off its foundations and into the Mersey.

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Like armaments and James Blunt, which many people would like to see in the same room, Def Leppard are one of the UK's most successful exports.

And yet, while they've managed to match their chart success back in Britain, home tours have never really commanded the same ticket sales.

It was never their intention says Leppard bassist Rick Savage.

"If we have targeted the US more, it's been unintentional. I can understand how it may look that way, but it's just coincidence that the way we write is more conducive to the American market.

"When you're in a band, it's dangerous to consciously write for a certain market as that can stifle the creative process. The way it's worked out is that our music is more accessible to the American people.

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Joe Elliot and Phil Collen saunter into a hotel room bigger than my entire house, looking every bit the conquering heroes.

The eternal rockers have just played the Islington Academy and their new album, Songs From The Sparkle Lounge, has gone into the charts at No. 5. They’re clearly on top of the world.

"Looks like we’ve still got it," chuckles singer Joe. He's 48 this year, his hair still golden-blond, lush and long.

He is dressed immaculately in freshly pressed jeans and a tailored black shirt with a diamante skull and crossbones on the back, every inch the rock star.

"What a gig!" he bellows to the cavernous room. "We were so nervous before we went out but that was awesome. I could do it all over again."

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Def Leppard are set to have another moment. In truth, they've never stopped touring and grafting, but the last decade has, to all but the most obsessive 80s metaller, seen their bleached manes, spray-on jeans and white trainers look, and bombastic, effects-heavy brand of rock consigned to the hall of extinct 80s tales of excess.

But guitarist Phil Collen is feeling the winds of change.

Def Leppard are one of a slew of heavy metal acts to hit the 80s nostalgia trail this year, including Whitesnake, Kiss and Metallica. The Leps have got an arena tour under way and their first studio album of six years is in the pipeline.

It's easy to forget just how huge Def Leppard were. In 1987, thanks to the diamond-selling Hysteria, they were the biggest rock band on Earth.

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Can a Def Leppard ever change its spots? The old-school British metal band who shot to fame in the '80s are back with a new album called Songs From The Sparkle Lounge and arrive in Cardiff on tour this week with Whitesnake and Thunder.

But while contemporaries such as Iron Maiden have enjoyed a huge resurgence in popularity and credibility, Def Leppard have remained a nostalgic side show in Britain, maligned for their ability to write slick US-friendly radio rock.

In recent years the band has enjoyed a change in management that has brought about a profile resurgence in America, but guitarist Phil Collen admits the band would like to be more respected in their home country.

"(We would like) to get more acceptance in Britain," says Collen, whose father is Welsh and has an auntie from Trehafod.

"We want to get to the next stage here."

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