DEF LEPPARD's JOE ELLIOTT Talks Technology

DEF LEPPARD frontman Joe Elliott tells Mary Colurso of Alabama's The Birmingham News that he embraces technology that allows him to locate music on the Internet and buy songs easily as downloads. Innovations in recording gear also get an enthusiastic "thumbs up."

"We can do all kinds of things, ridiculous ideas that would be so difficult in the past," he says. Writing songs via e-mail? "That is just amazing."

Maintaining a strong Web presence is essential for any band today, famous or not, Elliott says. "Absolutely, you'd have to be an idiot not to do that," he says. "We went through this in a similar way in the 1980s. Other bands would be, `Why are you making a video?' I would be, `Well, why aren't you making one?'"

When asked how he feels about the term "classic rock," Elliott says DEF LEPPARD can wear that with pride, because "classic" implies quality and respect.

"Classic rock is music that's been a hit and stayed a hit," he says. "Classic means it's good. I don't see anything negative about it."

On whether fans can expect DEF LEPPARD to ever publish a MÖTLEY CRÜE "The Dirt"-style tell-all:

"First of all, I'm the one with the shortest memory. I'm always the one who has to say, 'Remind me; what happened?' If I was to ever do it, I think I would attack it from a different angle, from the perspective of the music. Maybe talk about a song in 1972 that made me pick up a guitar, and take more of a humorous run through my life, using private events in my history.

"It's the kind of thing that would work great when I'm not doing anything for four or five years. Now is not the time."

Read the entire interview from The Birmingham News.