DEF LEPPARD's JOE ELLIOTT: When The New Album Rocks, It ROCKS!

Here's an update on DEF LEPPARD's forthcoming studio CD, tentatively titled X, as posted via the group's official web site at www.defleppard.com:

“We're basically wrapping things up,” says [DEF LEPPARD frontman] Joe Elliott. “We're polishing things just a little bit here and there, but with what we have right now, I'd say it's about finished.”

The band have finished recording all backing tracks now, and there's some vocal parts that need a little bit of work from Joe, who's currently recording the last small vocal bits 'n' bobs.

Two weeks ago, the three songs written by the band with [AEROSMITH collaborator] Marti Frederiksen were mixed and these are now 100% done. The same goes for the song co-written by "The Swedes" (Andreas Carlsson and Per Aldeheim). No more work needs to be done on these tunes at all.

Pete Woodroffe is currently in Los Angeles at the legendary Rumbo Studios (where GUNS 'N ROSES' Appetite For Destruction was recorded, among others) to mix another bunch of songs, which are expected to be done very soon. In April, Pete will do additional mixing in London.

Fifteen songs were recorded, although not all 15 will end up on the album -- the final track listing will most likely consist of 12 or 13 tracks. The leftovers may be used for extra tracks on CD-singles. Talking about singles: “Right now, I don't think there's [only] one standout track that clearly qualifies as the first single", says Joe. “You never know how it turns out. When the time comes, I think we have a enough songs to choose from that would work as singles.”

“The artwork is moving along nicely,” Joe explains. “We're working with someone who's new to us, which gives a fresh look on things.”

One of the most asked questions (and rightfully so),is what the album sounds like. Joe: “What can I say? It's DEF LEPPARD. You know it's DEF LEPPARD when you hear it — guitar based pop/rock. We keep focusing on our credo Song Is King. The composition is more important than the sound. We're still influenced by anything we hear on the radio. LINKIN PARK, ELTON JOHN, FAITH HILL — whoever! But, that doesn't mean you will hear their sound in our songs. It's more details, ideas, and so on. 'Pour Some Sugar On Me' was influenced by 'Walk This Way' (AEROSMITH/RUN DMC),for example, but the result was not a rap song — more like a rock song with slight bits of rap. So, basically, you may hear all kinds of things in the new songs. Still, it's clearly LEPPARD. We have tried to vary things a bit, as we always do, and so, let's say that when it rocks, it ROCKS!"