Def Leppard's Phil Collen: ‘Guns N’ Roses reunion? It’s really f****** lame’

[6lake sa66ath]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/02/02/def-leppard-guns-n-roses-reunion-its-really-f-lame/

 

Back in the mists of time when shoulder pads were big and the hair was even bigger, MTV ruled the roost. From its launch as MTV: Music Television in August 1981, the channel became a digital pop career portal, featuring the likes of Michael Jackson, The Police and Madonna. It was also fundamental in bringing hard rock out of dingy nightclubs and beaming it into the world’s living rooms, and must be held responsible for some of the most ‘80s music videos ever committed to celluloid.

Among the brightest stars were Def Leppard, a band who didn’t hail from the Sunset Strip of Mötley Crüe and Poison and Ratt, but the mining valleys of Sheffield in 1977. Their 1982 video for Rock of Ages, complete with monk robes and a giant light-up sword which turns into a guitar, wouldn’t look out of place in satirical rockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, and was played in heavy rotation. The video for mega-hit Pour Some Sugar On Me, featuring a muscled woman demolishing an Irish stately home, propelled the five-piece to superstardom four years later.

More than three decades on, the music industry has changed beyond recognition and MTV barely plays music videos any more in favour of more lucrative reality TV shows. In a cruel twist of irony, tapping 'Rock of Ages' into YouTube is more likely to return clips from the so-bad-it’s-good Tom Cruise rock musical of the same name.  The salad days of  hard rock and hair metal may have passed, but Def Leppard is still intact. The band released their 11th studio album in October last year and have been touring it across Japan and the UK ever since, with brief breaks to account for lead singer Joe Elliott’s ongoing voice problems.

But even stadium fillers don’t stay relevant in such a cut-throat industry by resting on their laurels. As YouTube replaces MTV and streaming services tighten their stranglehold on CD and download sales, Def Leppard has just become the first established band to experiment with an entirely new method of distribution, debuting the video for latest single Dangerous through Guitar Hero Live, the newest incarnation of the hit video game series.

“Shooting it was so different to how videos used to be, when the label used to lend you a fortune and you have to pay it back,” reasons Hackney-born Phil Collen, co-lead guitarist since 1982. “Guitar Hero is a new medium, and a new way of doing it; you can actually play the game over the video. We’re always up for anything new and getting our stuff out there.”

The new video has its roots firmly in the classic clips of old, including plenty of shirtless shots of Collen, who has been a vegetarian for close to 30 years and hasn’t drunk since the '80s. As a result, he’s got a physique men in their twenties would kill for.

The band’s most famous video remains 1992’s Let’s Get Rocked, which featured cutting-edge (for the time) CGI wizardry to animate a giant teenager who transforms into a dog, a bin and a lawn trimmer in retaliation at being told what to do. It may appear desperately dated now, but 58 year-old Collen remembers it fondly, laughing that it was “an experiment that cost a bloody fortune”. While Collen admits he himself is not a gamer himself, his 26 year-old son Rory loves video games, and worked for Guitar Hero maker Activision for a spell.

 

The guitarist, who still speaks with an Estuary accent despite more than 25 years living in California, came relatively late to all things rock n’ roll. He badgered his parents solidly for two years until they finally gave in and bought him a guitar so he could finally emulate his heroes, Jimi Hendrix and Deep Purple. After playing in glam rock band Girl for several years, he joined Def Leppard in 1982 while the band were recording their third album Pyromania.

Mediums like Guitar Hero are likely to become increasingly prevalent in terms of new launchpads for songs and videos, he believes, especially when it comes to reaching new generations of fans. “MTV doesn’t really exist any more, not in the same context it did. They actually invented reality TV, kicking it all off for Big Brother. I’ve got Apple Music, I think it’s amazing. However, I think it’s the end of music as we bought it. It’s changed everything, it’s changed music and how we get it, and it’s stopped people buying music.”

Very little of the band’s extensive back catalogue is available on Spotify or Apple Music, with just a cluster of singles and compilations to account for a long career. Unsurprisingly, Collen is frustrated by what he perceives as the mismatch between what such platforms pay artists and the revenue generated for the companies.

“As always, what annoys me about anything like that is that the artists get the short end of the stick. The CEO of whatever company is just rolling in it, on the pennies that others earn, they’re getting gazillions of dollars. But there you go, ain’t nothing new there,” he adds.“You look at anyone who gets a Grammy nomination, they’re with one of the two record labels - Taylor Swift, Kanye West, Beyonce. You don’t get new indie bands unless someone’s really trendy.”

Def Leppard are fortunate to have close to 40 years, two diamond albums and “hits galore” behind them, given the difficulties presented to new bands in trying to make a living in the face of streaming.

 

“The people who pay for it need to get paid, so when you look at it from that point of view, the arts industry has really become an industry - a business - and our part of it has got left way behind. So we just feel fortunate that we’re still part of doing our thing, and we still get a kick out of what we do, and get rewarded for expressing ourselves and it’s really cool, in that respect.”

What’s not cool at all for Collen is the notion of bands reuniting after years apart for the promise of millions of dollars, like the recently-reformed Guns N’ Roses, who have finally ended 22 years of speculation by reforming for a number of shows in the US.

“We obviously think it’s really f****** lame. I love Guns N’ Roses, I think they’re really cool, I’d love to see Slash and Axl and Duff play together, that’s great. But I think it’s f****** lame considering we’ve been hardcore,” he snarls. “Our integrity’s still intact, we’ve never split up. We’ve gone through if someone had a little sniffle or something, we soldier on.”

He has a point. Def Leppard survived the death of guitarist Steve Clark in 1991 from alcoholism, drummer Rick Allen losing his left arm in a car accident in 1984, and co-guitarist Vivian Campbell’s diagnosis with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2013. Guns N’ Roses fell apart after barely 10 years, leaving singer Axl Rose to surround himself with an ever-revolving carousel of fill-in performers.

“Someone dies, someone loses an arm, someone gets cancer, we soldier on. [With Guns N’ Roses] if someone has a little barney backstage, they can’t deal with each other. I know it’s difficult, but I do think it’s pretty lame when you compare anyone else to us.”

For a bank so strongly reminiscent of the decade that time forgot, it’s heartening to see such stadium stalwarts as Def Leppard unafraid to embrace new mediums, even if streaming appears to be a contentious issue. “It’s great having young kids, that new demographic, starting from five years-old, listening to our music, Collen laughs. “The original lot [of fans], they’re in wheelchairs!”

 

[-W.A.R-]

good thing i don't give a fuck about Def Leppard and what its members have to say or else i may have felt some type of way

Edited February 3, 2016 by -W.A.R-

[Dazey]

He's got a point. 

[James Bond]

He basically says he doesn't like when bands reunite for the money. That's a fair criticism that even many forum members have expressed. He also says he loves Guns and is happy for Slash, Duff, and Axl. It's really not news worthy. Who really cares anyways? The guy is entitled to his opinion and it won't make or break anybody's decision to go to these upcoming shows.

[Towelie]

Def Leppards entire career is fucking lame.

[Subtle Signs]

Will this lead to people bashing Def Leppard on here even though Phil said he loves GNR? Everyone is entitled to their opinion ,Phil's just might carry a bit more weight since he's a very successful musician. Please don't say he's doing this for publicity. It was a long article and I doubt he brought up GNR on his own,I'm sure he was asked.

[ZoSoRose]

Clickbait tittle

[Billsfan]

6 minutes ago, Dazey said:

He's got a point. 

I agree. If you don't get along with someone and want to do different things, shut up, suck it up and deal. Slash and duff shouldn't have been so egotistical and should have just blindly done whatever axl wanted to do. 

I'm sure he'd make a great marriage counselor lmfao

Edited February 3, 2016 by Billsfan

[Billsfan]

7 minutes ago, James Bond said:

He basically says he doesn't like when bands reunite for the money. That's a fair criticism that even many forum members have expressed. He also says he loves Guns and is happy for Slash, Duff, and Axl. It's really not news worthy. Who really cares anyways? The guy is entitled to his opinion and it won't make or break anybody's decision to go to these upcoming shows.

He also basically said that when def leppard had issues or differences they worked through it. Personally I don't think they had half the differences or problems guns had but each situation is different. He's entitled to his opinion and he's not wrong necessarily but I don't think he understands what it's like to walk in someone else's shoes since every situation is different. 

[James Bond]

2 minutes ago, Billsfan said:

He also basically said that when def leppard had issues or differences they worked through it. Personally I don't think they had half the differences or problems guns had but each situation is different. He's entitled to his opinion and he's not wrong necessarily but I don't think he understands what it's like to walk in someone else's shoes since every situation is different. 

That's a fair point. He does seem to generalize the problems/internal conflict but all the same it's such a minimal part of a longer article/interview that's it's hardly even worth mentioning. Like ZoSo said - click bait. 

[Estranged1]

How'd that Def Lep boat ride go?  They play mini-cruises.  LOL 

[sonofnazareth]

Phil Collen needs to be quiet and go back to Girl. Leppard haven't put out anything worthwhile since Pete Willis left.

[Ace Nova]

Probably pissed off that G N' R will most likely take business away from their current tour.  If you  could afford to see only one band this spring/summer (and you liked both bands from the 80's/90's) it would be a no-brainer for most people.

Edited February 3, 2016 by Kasanova King

[k12]

I have seen Def Leppard twice in the last 5 years, if you want to talk about a lame and a boring and a only in it for the money act, go and see a Def Leppard show

[Ak1nney]

How is it not super obvious that he is jealous of the money? He even says it right afterwards. He thinks it's lame they get that much money, while his band has been "hardcore" about playing and stuff and apparently doesn't get that (obviously). 

Def Leppard has always been shit. That's just a normal opinion, nothing to do with this article.

[cooker]

It's funny how quick some of the posters are to put down Phil and Def. He was asked in an interview, he gave an honest opinion. I understand some of you may not like it, however he's allowed to express himself. 

[GNRfan2008]

I like Def Leppard in a guilty pleasure kind of way, but the vast majority of their material is fucking lame as hell. GN'R was like a shooting star that burned out fast as a result.

[tat2d1]

Sounds like he's jealous that GnR are gonna make more money from this one tour than Def Leppard has made in their last 10 tours.

[downzy]

Says the guy who puts Def Leppard at the same level as the Beatles.  

Who really gives a shit what the motivation is why bands reunite.  Accept or do not.  How many f'n nostalgia tours does Def Leppard do on a continual basis?  You'll excuse me if money wasn't the main motivation for what most of what Def Leppard does, regardless of whether they're together or not.

And yes, I really hate Def Leppard.  One of the worst bands to come out of the 80s.  

[CheapJon]

12 minutes ago, cooker said:

It's funny how quick some of the posters are to put down Phil and Def. He was asked in an interview, he gave an honest opinion. I understand some of you may not like it, however he's allowed to express himself. 

Yes he is and so are all the ones not caring for this guy and his band. Personally I wouldn't ever post in a DL thread if it wasn't GNR related. It isn't funny, it's a normal reaction.

[GNRfan2008]

21 minutes ago, cooker said:

It's funny how quick some of the posters are to put down Phil and Def. He was asked in an interview, he gave an honest opinion. I understand some of you may not like it, however he's allowed to express himself. 

 

Freedom of speech goes both ways. He is allowed to say the GN'R reunion is really fucking lame and I'm allowed to say the Def Leppard discography is pretty damn lame too.

[Asia]

It's amazing how much negativity and bullshit they're getting for reuniting. First Axl was bad because he refused to do the reunion and everyone wanted him to stop being petty and bitter and all that kind of shit and once he did, he's on the wrong side again. Only that now Slash and Duff who had had great press untill the reunion joined him. Now they're evil too. It's just ridiculous.

But it's good. Puts them in the same position at least. GNR against the world again. 

 

[SSHGUNS]

I saw Def Leppard a few years back and thought they put a really good show on (I was on my 8th pint)  He has a point but end of the day i think most folk realise this is a money grab but the demand is there and this is probably the most interesting thing in Rock at the moment as  I have noticed that many nostalgic act now need to do a joint tours as I saw Def Leppard with Motley Crue or make a big song and dance  about the fact that this is the end of the band. I am just glad that Axl, Duff and Slash (Hopefully Adler and Izzy make appearance) are back together and Rock Festivals now have a new headliner put into the hat  as that another thing, all Hard Rock festivals have the same headliners every few years.  

 

Bring on VEGAS!!!! 

[DieselDaisy]

In that same magazine there is a 'for' and 'against' column on the reunion and I have to say, the against makes a lot of good points, e.g. soulless cash-grabbing and Stradlin being the beating heart of Guns.

[Subtle Signs]

4 minutes ago, DieselDaisy said:

In that same magazine there is a 'for' and 'against' column on the reunion and I have to say, the against makes a lot of good points, e.g. soulless cash-grabbing and Stradlin being the beating heart of Guns.

I don't think anyone will argue this isn't for the money. I'm sure all three are set for life and maybe now they'll be set for five lifetimes. Once this initial excitement wears off I can't see them doing stadiums again in the US. They are not the Stones. Maybe that's when they will pull out the 30th anniversary of AFD card and tour with just those five? As far as Izzy,they can't force him to tour and if he pops up here and there and helps write new material,that should be good enough for any longtime fan.