DEF LEPPARD Singer: Comments About POISON Were 'Taken Totally Out Of Context'

DEF LEPPARD will be heading out on the road again this summer, this time with POISON and CHEAP TRICK.

Some people might be surprised to find POISON and DEF LEPPARD on the same bill, after LEPPARD singer Joe Elliott was perceived as having made disparaging remarks about the glam metal band last year. But he told the Associated Press the controversy was blown out of proportion.

"The supposed fight that we had with POISON wasn't a fight at all. It was taken out of context by a foreign journalist," he said. "I've spoken with [POISON's] Bret Michaels, and he totally gets that it was taken totally out of context, and we don't have a problem with any of these guys, never have been."

Last summer, POISON was involved in a war of words with Joe Elliott over Elliott's comments at a June 2008 press conference at the Sweden Rock Festival, in which Joe said bands like POISON and MÖTLEY CRÜE had "no substance in their music" and therefore relied more on their image in the '80s. Michaels held his own press conference the next day and responded to Elliott's comments, saying, "We have not sold out, and continuously, for 20 years every arena because we care about just our appearance. The music comes first." He then added, "(DEF LEPPARD) shouldn't be knocking anyone about their music since they just did a show called 'Dancing With The Stars' in the U.S. and they got crucified because they fucking lip-synched the entire show, so before they bust anyone's balls, I've never lip-synched a fucking thing in my life — ever! It's the pot calling the kettle black."

In a July 18, 2008 message posted at DEF LEPPARD's official web site, Elliott explained his original remarks by saying, "I was simply making the following simple point when I said a lot of those Hollywood bands weren't 'real' (or whatever I said)... I was born Joseph Elliott, Sav was born Richard Savage, Rick was born Richard Allen, Phil was born Philip Collen, Viv was born Vivian Campbell, and oh, Steve was born Stephen Clark. I don't think anyone in POISON uses their real name, do they? And I could name hundreds of others who don't, but POISON came to mind because I was asked about them! It's nothing personal, it was just an answer to a question."

Video footage of Elliott's original comment and Bret's response can be viewed below.

Check out previous BLABBERMOUTH.NET articles on the POISON-DEF LEPPARD feud:

* BRET MICHAELS Vs. JOE ELLIOTT - July 14, 2008 (Read)

* POISON Drummer Slams DEF LEPPARD Singer - July 15, 2008 (Read)

* DEF LEPPARD Singer Hits Back At POISON - July 18, 2008 (Read)

* RIKKI ROCKETT To JOE ELLIOTT: 'You Need To Shut The F**k Up! No More Talkin' S**t' - Aug. 1, 2008 (Read)

* POISON Singer BRET MICHAELS: 'I Don't Wanna Fight JOE ELLIOTT' - Aug. 10, 2008 (Read)