DEF LEPPARD Frontman: 'We Want People To Realize That We're Not A Heavy Metal Band'

June 29, 2006

A few hours before he went on stage in the debut concert of his band's current United States tour, DEF LEPPARD lead singer Joe Elliott emphatically gave the No. 1 reason why the group released their latest album of 14 cover songs, entitled "Yeah!", and took it on the road.

"We want people to realize that we're not a heavy metal band!" Elliott said in an exclusive backstage interview with DefLeppard.com. "We're a pop band. We're a rock band!"

Friday night's (June 23) energetic first American gig took that simple sentiment to heart in front of a sellout crowd of more than 20,000 at the Tweeter Center.

Before the show, members of DEF LEPPARD socialized with members of co-headliner JOURNEY and rehearsed unplugged songs that might appear on future setlists.

Once JOURNEY's portion of the show had ended, it wasn't long before DEF LEPPARD hit the stage and played a loud, clean and vigorous 15-song set that contained a good portion of the hit singles that have powered their string of smash albums.

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