Hammond joins Def Leppard

[TiffsStuntDouble]

Well I guess we should have expected it with that hair...

But Seriously.... He appears on the cover of said band's latest album

link

There he is, down there on the right, next to drummer Rick Allen - who lost his arm in a car accident back in the 80s. Aaaahh... See what they've done there?

[Twincam16]

Do we know anything about the album yet? Is it any good?

[nervous]

Twincam16 said:

Is it any good?

Are you being ironic? I can never tell.

[tomTVR]

Twincam16 said:

Do we know anything about the album yet? Is it any good?

The first single is a bit naff sadly, this comming from a huge fan

[Twincam16]

nervous said:

Twincam16 said:

Is it any good?

Are you being ironic? I can never tell.

Unfortunately their becoming hugely popular in the late '80s coincided with a lot of overproduction, Rick Savage leaving, Rick Allen losing his arm and Steve Clark going to pieces and eventually dying.

Listen to their early albums, On Through The Night, High 'n' Dry and Pyromania. All many worlds away from the sound they're associated with and easily comparable with the likes of Iron Maiden and Motorhead.

Ever since then they've been seriously patchy. Retro-Active was pretty good (unsurprisingly as it was mainly older material they hadn't managed to get into their early albums), and X was OK. Just wondering which direction they've gone with this new album.

[nervous]

Twincam16 said:

nervous said:

Twincam16 said:

Is it any good?

Are you being ironic? I can never tell.

Unfortunately their becoming hugely popular in the late '80s coincided with a lot of overproduction, Rick Savage leaving, Rick Allen losing his arm and Steve Clark going to pieces and eventually dying.

Listen to their early albums, On Through The Night, High 'n' Dry and Pyromania. All many worlds away from the sound they're associated with and easily comparable with the likes of Iron Maiden and Motorhead.

Ever since then they've been seriously patchy. Retro-Active was pretty good (unsurprisingly as it was mainly older material they hadn't managed to get into their early albums), and X was OK. Just wondering which direction they've gone with this new album.

do you mean 'no'?

[Twincam16]

nervous said:

Twincam16 said:

nervous said:

Twincam16 said:

Is it any good?

Are you being ironic? I can never tell.

Unfortunately their becoming hugely popular in the late '80s coincided with a lot of overproduction, Rick Savage leaving, Rick Allen losing his arm and Steve Clark going to pieces and eventually dying.

Listen to their early albums, On Through The Night, High 'n' Dry and Pyromania. All many worlds away from the sound they're associated with and easily comparable with the likes of Iron Maiden and Motorhead.

Ever since then they've been seriously patchy. Retro-Active was pretty good (unsurprisingly as it was mainly older material they hadn't managed to get into their early albums), and X was OK. Just wondering which direction they've gone with this new album.

do you mean 'no'?

I mean 'no' with conditions. I like them sometimes, but I can only assume you're looking for anti-me ammo as usual and hoping I really like albums like Slang and Euphoria, which I don't.

[Kieran XJR]

I think Def Leppard's older stuff is great, but they were one of those bands that didn't transfer to the '90's very well, especially after grunge effectively killed off the mainsteam '80's hair rock bands.

Quite a lot of these old rock bands come back for a pay day, with often disappointing results IMO.

[nervous]

Twincam16 said:

I can only assume you're looking for anti-me ammo as usual

bless.

[williamp]

I wish we could have some proper stadium gigs again- Def, Bon Jovi, Guns n Roses etc on the same bill at a concert venue would be brilliant (and give us all a chance to wear spandex....). bks to these small, intimate "unplugged" concerts that are trendy...

[Twincam16]

williamp said:

I wish we could have some proper stadium gigs again- Def, Bon Jovi, Guns n Roses etc on the same bill at a concert venue would be brilliant (and give us all a chance to wear spandex....). bks to these small, intimate "unplugged" concerts that are trendy...

There are some great new bands around these days who can belt out anthems in a stadium - The Killers and Kaiser Chiefs spring to mind.

There are some other, smaller bands who deserve to fill stadiums but don't just quite yet - saw a band called Lowline a few weeks ago and, if they take off, they'll sound brilliant in front of several tonnes of amps.

I think we've got too many 'singer-songwriters' and bands called 'the something' who do a few broad, catchy pop tunes, get hailed as 'the next big thing' in the NME, then disappear into the bowells of Radio 2 daytime.

Usually support acts for old favourites are worth watching.

[Twincam16]

Wonder if Hammond reciprocates the favour and Joe Elliott turns up as the Star in the Reasonably Priced Car (conveniently with an album to plug)

[Apache]

tomTVR said:

Twincam16 said:

Do we know anything about the album yet? Is it any good?

The first single is a bit naff sadly, this comming from a huge fan

Don't be so hard on yourself....you're big boned

[Apache]

Twincam16 said:

I think we've got too many 'singer-songwriters' and bands called 'the something' who do a few broad, catchy pop tunes, get hailed as 'the next big thing' in the NME, then disappear into the bowells of Radio 2 daytime.

I wish!

R1 is populated by irritating, trying to be cool DJs playing endless rap, R2 is mostly populated by 'personality' DJs who, apart from Mark (Lard)or you listen at some ungodly hour, haven't a clue and still play Elvis Presley. The whole plot is so old and outdated it's pathetic

[LDNrevs]

Cant beat Hysteria or Adrenalize for over produced GTAR perfection

[Fire99]

Twincam16 said:

nervous said:

Twincam16 said:

Is it any good?

Are you being ironic? I can never tell.

Unfortunately their becoming hugely popular in the late '80s coincided with a lot of overproduction, Rick Savage leaving, Rick Allen losing his arm and Steve Clark going to pieces and eventually dying.

Listen to their early albums, On Through The Night, High 'n' Dry and Pyromania. All many worlds away from the sound they're associated with and easily comparable with the likes of Iron Maiden and Motorhead.

Ever since then they've been seriously patchy. Retro-Active was pretty good (unsurprisingly as it was mainly older material they hadn't managed to get into their early albums), and X was OK. Just wondering which direction they've gone with this new album.

Rick Savage 'Sav' never left Def Leppard! Him, Joe Elliot and Rick Allen have appeared on every Def Leppard album.
Pete Willis was fired during the making of Pyromania to be replaced by Phil Collen and of course Vivian Campbell came in after Adrenalize to replace the late Steve Clarke..

Regarding albums, there was a definite gradual shift. On Through the Night was recorded when they were effectively kids on a very low budget. If i remember right 'Colonel' Tom Allom was the Producer and they overdubbed about a million guitar parts.. Some good songs but shows their inexperience etc..
High n Dry is raw in many ways but you can see where they're going with Bringin' on the Hearbreak. And so on to Pyromania and ultimately the 'mega produced' Hysteria.
Adrenalize is good but patchy....
Retroactive is good but is predominantly old songs and b-sides as already said.
Slang is a great record but unfortunately appeared when 'Melodic' Rock was taking a tumble due to the likes of Nirvana.
Euphoria has its good moments but is also a bit patchy and bland in part..
X is seriously pop and 'long long way to go' has even been performed by Lionel Richie and has a number of 'non def-leppard' songwriters on it.
Yeah! is all about covers of some of their influences.. some good, some not so..

and now Songs from the Sparkle Lounge which is a little more adventurous than some of their more recent stuff.. Im reserving judgement till i've had a good listen to the whole album.

Its had some favourable reviews tho..

Yes i have been a bit of a 'Leppard fan over the years!

[Twincam16]

Fire99 said:

Pete Willis was fired during the making of Pyromania

That was him - sorry, get him and Sav mixed up sometimes.

[Yugguy]

mmmm, I have Pyromania in the car I think, going to have to play it on the way home now. Too Late For Love is my favourite from there I think. I also liked Switch 625(?), the guitar track from HighNDry.

[Arthur Jackson]

williamp said:

I wish we could have some proper stadium gigs again-

I'm stunned that anyone could willfully wish for stadium gigs.

Stadium gigs are designed for one thing only... maximum profit. Bands should get off their lazy arses and play MORE gigs, not stuff thousands into the biggest, soul-less venue they can find!

Live music belongs in small venues, clubs, even pubs. Where the volume makes the walls vibrate, the sweat rolls down the walls and when you hit the floor four blokes you've never met pull you back to your feet again.

My example: I saw Queen many times and the very BEST they ever were was at Finsbury Park Rainbow. bks to Wembley.

That's what I 'Reckon' anyway.

[Jderh]

nervous said:

Twincam16 said:

I can only assume you're looking for anti-me ammo as usual

bless.

Hes noticed, RUN!!!