Updates!
08/26/08
Leppard Tracks: Misty Dreamers 1977-2008
(See pic in the upper right hand corner or click the link!)
Not a recording but this book is important because it touches on many things this website is all about.
This is the ultimate resource book for Def Leppard fans.
Leppard Tracks is a whopping 450 page plus book that details the history of the band through means of tour dates, album releases, and interviews from various sources. From the bands early and eager up bringing in Sheffield to their multiple jaunts around the world, Leppard Tracks follows them step by step.
The book is basically written chapter by chapter in a very neat and organized way. The structure is as follows: When/where/how/etc. an album was recorded. The breakdown of the album song by song, which ones were singles, various B-sides included and even some light is shed on a few unreleased songs. Then the tour dates with anecdotes thrown in-between from various interview sources. While none of these interviews are "brand new" or conducted by the author himself (that's what makes this book UN-official), there are placed well to fill the gaps of information, and who better to tell it then the band themselves. Another one of the more interesting (well to some!) points of the book, is what the band recorded individually before, during and after there tenure with Def Leppard. There is also a section that lists various artists/bands that have covered all kinds of different songs in a very different manner than the way they were originally recorded. A piano version of `Pour Some Sugar On Me', a R&B version of `Bringing On The Heartbreak' to a techno version of `Love Bites' and various "Metal" versions, even though Joe Elliott has stated many times "We're not F#*&@g metal!". Despite all this information, there is also quite a few pictures, some rare, of the various releases/concert posters/etc. This is a really nice addition to the sea of words.
All in all this book is a great reference piece if nothing else for fans who might quickly want to look up when the band played such-and-such date. Or who played on what; like the saxophone on some of the "YEAH!" tracks (Vivian's brother John, I didn't know, or realize that!). It is also a very up to date book. It is inclusive thus far through the bands current album "Songs From The Sparkle Lounge". It's obvious not only in size, but the detail put into this book that it was a labor of love by the author. Really who else would you want writing about `Rock And Roll Clowns' than a `Die Hard' fan?
*I want to note that I know Lauren Monroe's CD is out and will update it at a future time along with a few more covers recently discovered.
6/30/08
Man Raze - Surreal
No introduction needed. Debut from Phil Collen's side band/project with Sex Pistol drummer Paul Cook and former Girl bandmate Simon Laffy. The album was released May 14, 2008 on iTunes and physically released to stores June 3, 2008. So yes I am a little behind!
4/21/08
Lionel Cohen - Extracts From The Acoustic Sessions
(December 11, 2007)
[2007 lionel cohen music/DNA-Productions]
6. Hysteria
*Note: I'm not sure if it's intentional or not, but the first two lines are changed to "What it takes/How to reach it"
Baby Goes - Hair Metal
{Performed by The Lullaby Ensemble}
(August 28,2007)
[Baby Goes Records]
11. Photograph (Made Famous By Def Leppard)
01/17/08
‘Here's to you, Ronnie Drew’
U2, The Dubliners and Kila have joined a host of Ireland’s finest singers for a special tribute to Ronnie Drew, one of the founding fathers of modern Irish music. Artists collaborating on ‘The Ballad of Ronnie Drew’ include Christy Moore, Shane MacGowan, Damien Dempsey, Andrea Corr, Sinead O’Connor and Moya Brennan.
On Monday night this week everyone descended on Windmill Lane Rings End Road studios and producer John Reynolds says the vibe was pretty special: ‘The song is magnificent and the players are incredible.' The four minute track will go public in the next few days.
‘Bono really dreamed it up,’ says Simon Carmody, former Golden Horde singer/songwriter who recalled that the idea of a tribute to Drew, who is fighting cancer, was hatched over dinner last year. ‘We’d been talking about lyrics and poetry and we started thinking about writing something for Ronnie, someone that so many of us grew up with, that so many of us admire, someone who has made such a huge contribution to Irish music.’
Carmody recalled that Robert Hunter, Grateful Dead lyricist, was a fan of Drew, and they were delighted that when they approached him with the idea he was up for being involved. They anticipated Hunter would come up with lyrics for Ronnie to sing - in fact he came back with a lyrical tribute to him. ‘The Ballad of Ronnie Drew’ became a collaborative composition between Hunter, Edge, Carmody and Bono. And when they approached other singers about getting together to record the track the response was uniformly positive. ‘Every musician we asked has said 'Yes',' said Bono. ‘Kila agreed to be involved as a band, so it’ll be Kila and U2.’
‘It’s been a real gathering of the Irish musical tribe,’ added Carmody. 'It was like we were paying tribute to our elder, our leader Ronnie Drew.
‘He was one of the groundbreakers in this country and we hope he enjoys it when he hears a bunch of lunatics singing this heartfelt song of respect to him.’
Hot Press Editor Niall Stokes says the song is a fitting tribute to the performer who first became famous with The Dubliners, and was the singer on their 60s chart hit 'Seven Drunken Nights' among other classic recordings.
'The song is powerful and poetic, with a number of brilliantly crafted standout lines. But with Bono, Shane MacGowan, Christy Moore and Damien Dempsey all taking verses, the performances are amazing. And Sinead, Andrea and Moya are wonderful on the chorus. It's a certain Number 1."
Here's the run down of artists who've also participated in the recording: Brian Kennedy, Billy McGuinness (Aslan), Bronagh Gallagher, Chris de Burgh, Christy Dignam (Aslan), Duke Special, Eleanor McEvoy, Eleanor Shanley, Gavin Friday, Glen Hansard, Iona Green, Jack L, Jerry Fish, Joe Elliott, Mary Black, Mary Coughlan, Mick Pyro (Republic of Loose), Mundy, Paddy Casey, Paul Brady, Ronan Keating
We’ll bring you details on the release of 'The Ballad of Ronnie Drew' as soon as we have them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In other Joe news, there is still no word on the release of Ronnie Montrose's new album. It has been on the shelf now for a couple of years. Joe worked on one track. Rummored Paul Stanley also did a track & Eric Singer did some of the drums.
11/21/07
Phil Collen backing vocals on the new Loverboy CD.
11/01/07
This was brought to my attention by SavageSmile from the Def Leppard message board.
Originates from something called Flowgo. Can be found at
www.flowgo.com.
10/02/07
Lauren Monroe - The Freedom Sessions
The Band:
Lauren Monroe- Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Rick Allen- Drums, Percussion
Stoll Vaughan- Lead Guitar
Preston Pope- Guitar
David Chamberlain- Bass
John Thomas- Keys
Moon Calhoun, Brenda Lee Eager and C.C. Bass- BG Vocals
If you didn't know, Lauren Monroe is Rick Allen's wife. Not only does Rick act as Exceutive Producer, he also handles all the drums and percussion. Also if you notice, Stoll Vaughan is on guitars. He opened up for Def Leppard & Journey. The album is slated to be out early November 2007.
Songs can be heard at Lauren's offical Myspace...
"Who knows if I would have ever arrived at this place at all without the unstoppable determination of my executive producer and "Thunder God" husband Rick Allen. Rick has been a driving force on this project for the past 7 years and I have learned volumes from working with him. Patience, for one, not to mention the art of listening and crafting sound," writes Lauren.
Also, this day marks the end of Def Leppard's Down Stage Thrust Tour in Saskatoon, SK at the Credit Union Centre. Hopefully after a well deserved rest, they can get back to their tentively titled album "Songs From The Sparkle Lounge".
09/22/07
An excellent cover, in fact the only cover as of now, of Mirror, Mirror (Look Into My Eyes) done by Icarus Witch, with guest vocals by JOE LYNN TURNER!
(September 11, 2007)
[Cleopatra]
5. Mirror, Mirror (Look Into My Eyes)
The Balls Of Fury Soundtrack features many a cover of Def Leppard tunes. The soundtrack overall is very good.
(2007)
[Bulletproof Recording Company]
Something else to note, LoudLion sounds so similar to Def Leppard it's eerei! "Love Will Break Your Heart" sounds so much like "Pour Some Sugar On Me" and "Die Tuff" like "Love Bites", it is like they were Def Leppard songs that never were. Even take the name... LoudLion... Def Leppard... Loud - Def.. Lion - Leppard. A bit odd don't you think. Anyway, they had a slot on HIlls Have Eyes 2 soundtrack with the song "Hills Have Eyes", which again was very Def Leppardish, but not directly like the other two tracks, yet it does kind of remind me of "Gods Of War", but I think that is because of the spoken parts in the song. The only other track that I know they have out is one called "Dawn Of The Dead." All can be heard at there myspace:
www.myspace.com/loudlion
Hits Doctor Music - In The style Of Def Leppard - Vol. 1
{Performed by the band Done Again}
(2007)
[Hits Doctor]
1. Animal
2. Armageddon It
3. Brigin' On The Heart Break
4. Foolin'
5. Hysteria
6. Let's Get Rocked
7. Love Bites
8. Photograph
9. Pour Some Sugar On Me
10. Promises
11. Rock Of Ages
12. Rocket
13. Too Late For Love
14. Two Steps Behind
15. When Love & Hate Collide
Unfortunately further details unknown. I found this searching for Yahoo's version of Love Bites and came up with this. Not sure if this is some kind of professional recording, it sounds like it, or not. More help on this would be grateful.
08/11/07
Nancy Vandal - Slippery When Crap EP/50 Faves From Beyond the Grave
Kojo Antwi - Afranfra
The Dunnagins - Heavy Metal Lightning
The B.A. Baracus Band - The Blue Album
Notre Dame Band - Wake Up The Echoes
Also....
Phil has done a guitar solo for the band Souljourners. The song is called Crazy Times. Their
myspace page used to feature this song, but now seems to have been taken down. This was a rough demo of the song.
(Luckly I got it before it was taken down). The full finished version will be on their ablum Mind Control.
And in other Phil news...
Man-Raze released a digital single of Turn It Up.
(It's unclear in this pic. But on the Paddle it says Def Leppard Rule/z. Not sure if it is in the movie this way, but promo movie cardboard stand-ups are this way. Also he is normally wearing the Rock Of Ages Compilation shirt)
The movie features a lot of Def Leppard. There are a couple of covers on the soundtrack. One namely being Jani Lane's sung cover of Photograph (hence it's a re-release). More details soon. Movie looks good and opens August 29th.