Def Leppard Covers Up, Hits the Road

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Veteran pop/metal outfit Def Leppard is showing no signs of slowing down, as evidenced by its jam-packed summer/fall schedule.

First up is a double-disc career overview, "Rock of Ages: The Definitive Collection," due May 17 via Island. A few months later, an all-covers album will follow, in addition to a U.S. tour of minor league baseball stadiums this summer with Bryan Adams).

While the group will stick to the hits on the Adams dates, Leppard will likely dig up a few forgotten gems for its headlining gigs.

"We're actually going to do some other gigs as well -- we'll probably throw a few rarities in," guitarist Phil Collen told Billboard. "I've been listening to some of the old sh*t, so you never know. 'Mirror Mirror,' maybe, or even 'Ride into the Sun,' from the first EP -- it'll be nice to throw things in like that. But we have a huge list of stuff to do."

Leppard followed the same mindset while assembling "The Definitive Collection," where several forgotten favorites, including "Die Hard the Hunter," "Paper Sun" and "Wasted," are spotlighted. "It's a double album," Collen said. "It's like 'favorite tracks,' and that's how we went about doing that one. We asked our fans what they wanted to hear really, and they got a list together."

But fans seem most excited about the yet-to-be titled all-covers set. The song list isn't final, as the group decided to record more cuts than it originally planned. Collen admits that the idea for the project was first hatched years ago. "Joe (Elliott) has been wanting to do it for like 20 years," he said. "He's like, 'Oh, it'll be great, like (David Bowie)'s) "Pin-Ups!"' Someone mentioned it at the label, and we just jumped on it. We kind of had a list for years, anyway."

FORMATIVE YEARS

Collen said the album will include "A bunch of stuff -- all '70s stuff. Most of it is songs that we grew up with in England. 'No Matter What' by Badfinger is going to be the lead-off single. We've done 'Waterloo Sunset' by the Kinks; T. Rex, Mott The Hoople, Roxy Music and Thin Lizzy. And a lot of it is obscure; it's not the standard stuff. It's not like Stones or Beatles songs."

As for the musical approach on the tracks, Collen said, "They vary. Some of them are like we've kept almost karaoke versions, (while) other ones are completely different. It's not any one thing; it's however we felt for each song, really." A preview of what's to come can be sampled on "Rock of Ages," which will feature "No Matter What."

Here are tracks that have been recorded for the all-covers album:

"10538 Overture" (ELO)

"20th Century Boy" (T. Rex)

"Don't Believe a Word" (Thin Lizzy)

"Drive in Saturday" (David Bowie)

"Hanging on the Telephone" (Blondie)

"Hellraiser" (Sweet)

"He's Gonna Step on You Again" (John Kongos)

"No Matter What" (Badfinger)

"Little Bit of Love" (Free)

"Rock On" (David Essex)

"Stay With Me" (The Faces)

"Street Life" (Roxy Music)

"The Golden Age of Rock & Roll" (Mott The Hoople)

"Waterloo Sunset" (The Kinks)

"American Girl" (Tom Petty) & The Heartbreakers)

"Heartbeat" (Jobriath)

"How Does It Feel" (Slade)

"Kick Out the Jams" (MC5)

"Roxanne" (The Police)

"Dear Friends" (Queen)

"When I'm Dead and Gone" (McGuinness Flint)

Clarky: lol man, thanks for the gig details bro, it was a pleasure to talk to you again!!!!.... Your having a once in a lifetime experience Paul, and I'm so proud of you, lol!!.... I loved the story about everyone else being so monged in Shinjuku that they couldnt stand up, and you guys (two fine Westerners, lol) were the only ones straight!!.... Gimme' some of what their drinking, rotflmao!!!!.... At the gig where the guy in the front row (in front of you) was singing one of the new Cross songs!!.... Insider information, lol, haha!!!!.... And the one about the guy who took a pic with you, and you then let him hold your git so his girl could take a pic, lol!!.... Way too kuul man, that is awesome.... I love how you said you know what it's like to be a fan, and you never forget that!!.... Kudos to you Paul, and did you say your coming back again!!!!.... Awesome bro, if it does'nt work out this time (plane schedule, etc.), we will make it happen next!!.... Again, awesome talking with ya Paul!!....

michelle: (for those of you who's tonight is already tomorrow...nevermind) lol!.... lol michelle, I see! ;-)

marimariSRV: Got your email mari, and thanks for the good vibes!!....

Zenfish: Someone has to find the key for Jazzmetal, lol, I can name a few good ones.... And on SRV.... That is one of the hardest things to do.... Continue the movement.... SRV did so for Hendrix, Guy, etc.... Who can continue SRV's movement and expand it??.... BTW, I see what your saying about Jazzrock and Ed.... Alot of it has to do with today's (simplistic) attitudes towards guitar.... Time will tell.... There are monsters out there waiting to be let out of their cages, lol!....

VFRrocker: lol bro, thats exactly what I'm trying to do (on the plane I work on, lol)!!.... If they go to Atsugi (hop, skip and a jump from Tokyo) this week, that is my best chance!!.... Just me, and having only one other co-worker, is making things difficult to work the plan.... Fingers crossed....

cuthbert1776: If I make it up there to Clarky, I'm hoping we'll be able to make it in AND out of all sorts of trouble, lol!....

Good Morning Satchland -

Steven Wilde -

Get well soon. Keep the faith. You're not alone. Hope to see you posting soon.

Michelle -

I love the joke. I showed that one to my wife and we were rollin'. I think it's great you and your man are supporting your son. I recently posted to Stevee T about no support from my family. That was tuff. I wanted to go to Berklee out of high school. Dad kept me home to join the family buisness only to have it go belly up. Have you ever seen the movie " Mr. Destiny" with Jim Belushi? I always wondered what would of happened if he'd said yes and went to Berklee. Steve Vai was there when I would have attended. Hmmmmm......

Clarkey -

God bless you man. You're livin' the dream. Keep us posted on the tour.

AussieRGman -

Sorry to hear about your mum. Our prayers our with you. I'm such an idiot. I asked my son Aaron if it's possible to network a PC and Mac togather. He looked at me and said. "Dad, your Mac has been networked with our PC's for over a year now. Where have you been? I just don't know..... LOL !!!! If you need help. Let us know. If you need help with a new flash site. Let me know. My son Sean can help you. check out his site: http://www.codefusionweb.com

Artanis I -

What platform was your DVD created on. Mac or PC? You can burn your master in Roxieo's Toast. The program is around $100 and is for both platforms. Let me know.

Estrela -

Thanks so much. God bless you and your family.

MarimariSRV- Thank you so much for visiting our site and taking the time to sign our guest book. I'm glad you like the songs and the band. I think it would be great if you could see us play in Chicago. If you're interested in the "live" CD and DVD. Email me your address at ken@thebluesmavericks.com. I'll send you the copies. Thanks again.

Zen you have more mail re your "anthology"... I am only an encyclopedia of musical knowledge because of the vast quantity of music I have consumed and been priveledged to own because of connections and the financial ability to take chances on a lot of product over the years. My serious vice is collecting music........

Cuth, speaking of clever repartee, I like you seem to have less and less time to pick up the guitar so when i do I adopt the "Jennings" approach

"Wail-on"

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Civgeek, If you were not already married, and still trying to suss out your next musical move I would say try hard to get them country/bluegrass licks down pat coz a gigging C&W band is one hell of a way to meet members of the opposite sex.......

Re X, You and Zen MUST get the 1990 Montreux DVD and watch your player self-immolate......

mikesb:Y have mail?

Stevee T:Talk about toasted,i,ve not had good weed in years,funny how every time y get a nice leaf,it brings y right back t where y left off,lol,could it be that ol mother nature is a comedian?,laters ol bro

Zentale:J has mail 2?

Jazzzzy:I wants 3 huge dicks & 10 balls in my next life,that way,i,m sure t win,I could call it MIGHTY PORN & i wouldnt have t wait so long,lol

slanshroom & zen fish: am I the newly proclaimed Pope de Porn?