"We're One Of The Last Men Standing"

Boasting two of rock’s biggest-selling albums (1983’s Pyromania and 1987’s Hysteria) likely affords a unique perspective on the music industry’s current state. As Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen reflects, “Towards the end of the ‘70s and early ‘80s, the art form, the expression as we know it turned into a business. It was less about the art, and more about the business. How we used to get music, appreciate it, all of those things have completely changed. 

“Really, our sell-by date was 20 years ago, but the fact that we have integrity, still put music out, we’re the best live band and actually really sing, as opposed to people playing along to a Pro Tools session. I think when people go and see that, they notice that difference… They know the guys, it’s not like we split up, replaced a bunch of people or did reunion tours. We were actually out there, and had fully fledged integrity. I think by default we’re one of the last men standing.”

"The art form, the expression as we know it turned into a business."

After relatively barren periods as trends turned against them, perseverance has them regaining arena status. “When you first get a modicum of success is the most exciting period. When I joined and recorded Pyromania, we released it [and] we were still an opening act, but from making that transition to being played on the radio and #1 on the MTV thing. The album was #2 on the Billboard charts. 

“That was the amazing part, what you started dreaming of when you were a kid, just willing girls flocking to you. What’s weird is like a week before that, that wasn’t happening, and then suddenly you’ve got everyone mobbing you. It was bizarre. It also taught me to take things with a pinch of salt. Like, ‘Have I changed so drastically that I’m so fabulous in a short period, or is there something else going on?’ Once you realise that, you can actually weather the storm as you get a bit more experienced, and if you’re lucky enough to have a career like we’ve had. We’ve been around the block, done everything you can imagine and we still get off on doing this, so it’s pretty cool.” 

Collen will recount that extraordinary career via upcoming memoir, Adrenalized: Life, Def Leppard, And Beyond. Aside from moonlighting with “extreme blues/soul/hard-rock project” Delta Deep, there’s the new Leppard record due in October. “It’s really diverse. It’s got the loudest, heaviest guitars we’ve ever done on some tracks, and other tracks sound like they belong on Top 40.”

The Music’s conversation occurred shortly before news that fellow axeman Vivian Campbell’s cancer has returned, forcing his withdrawal from some touring. Campbell was involved in the record, though. “We thought, ‘we’re absolutely going to do an album, for the right reasons.’ Not for the business, because sales are down the toilet. Doing it for the right reasons, the reasons you got in the band in the first place.”