Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen says the band’s upcoming album is their best since 1987’s “Hysteria.”
The UK rockers have been in the studio working on the follow-up to 2008’s “Songs From The Sparkle Lounge” after completing some marathon songwriting sessions last year.
“We broke it up into three different parts,” Collen tells One On One With Mitch Lafon. “The initial one, we got the 12 songs, and pretty much, we played in the studio and we kind of played live and we got the essence of the songs down. That's something we don't normally do. And then we went back in May, just before the tour with KISS. And we went back a third time and just kind of finished stuff off in January. And yeah, it's just amazing. I'm thrilled with how it turned out."
Leppard expanded their approach to making the group’s eleventh studio album, which originally began as an idea to record an EP’s worth of material.
“We didn't really have anything to lose,” Collen explains. “We didn't have a record company or management or anyone breathing down our necks. We got some ideas, and they all worked.
“Normally, we'd go in and we'd always find ten reasons why to not do an idea as opposed to just going with it. And this was the first time we've ever just sat around and every idea got a fair shot, you know. Everyone was, like, 'Oh, that's cool. Let's try that.'
“There was no negative approach to it. So that's something we've never done before and it was so amazing. It blew me away that we got so many things done. And, honestly, I really think this is the best album we've done since 'Hysteria'."
Def Leppard will launch a spring tour of Canada on April 15 before heading to Europe for shows this summer and an extensive North American tour with Styx and Tesla – and the constant touring cycle will affest the timing of the album’s release.
“We've gotta have it mixed and mastered and all that stuff first,” says Collen. “But I think all the recording parts are done. Yeah, you know, we wanted to get it ready for the start of the tour, but that's not gonna happen. So it'll be out some time while we're on tour. I don't exactly know when, you know, so we'll just have to play that by ear."
See also:
Def Leppard and Whitesnake announce UK tour
Def Leppard to host Hysteria On The High Seas cruise
Def Leppard to perform on French-Canadian version of The Voice
Def Leppard delay second Las Vegas residency
Search Def Leppard at hennemusic
