Tuesday, 25th September 2012
Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott has commented on the Kings Of Chaos version of Deep Purple classic Never Before in Classic Rock magazine.
Joe is featured in the Deep Purple 40th anniversary fan pack edition of the magazine. He tells the story of how he became involved with the cover version which led to him joining the Kings Of Chaos. According to Joe Def Leppard were initially offered the chance to record the track in 2011 but had to turn it down.
The Kings Of Chaos version of 'Never Before' is available in the fan pack and the CD is scheduled for release during Sep/Oct (order links below). In the rest of the interview Joe talks about the appeal of the song, his least favourite Deep Purple track, when his discovered the band, seeing them live, being friends with Ian Gillan, meeting Ritchie Blackmore in 1981 and which Lep song DP should cover.
Classic Rock Magazine - Joe Elliott Interview Quotes
"The history of the cover is it was thrown to Def Leppard to do last year. But the problem was time. Once our tour was over, we all went our separate ways, so we had to politely decline. Then, the next thing I know [drummer] Matt Sorum phones me and says, 'You're the singer in our new band. We're called Kings Of Chaos.' And the band is Matt, [bassist] Duff McKagan and [guitarist] Steve Stevens. So I still get to sing it, but with different people playing behind me."
"Matt sent me the backing track three weeks ago, just as Def Leppard were setting off on the road. I said, 'Jesus, you couldn't have sent it at a worse time. You expect me to go into the studio and become a singer-god.' When I'm on tour and doing six hours a day of rehearsals, by the time I've finished I haven't got any gas left in the tank. But I have found little spots here and there on days off. I did the vocal backstage at one of the gigs and it sounds great. As I speak to you, our sound guy is sat with his headphones on in his hotel room auditioning which vocal take is the best one to send over to Matt. So the band haven't even heard me yet."
"When I said, 'Does anybody want to do Never Before for a Purple tribute album?' Rick Savage said, 'It's my favourite song on the album, I'm up for it.' Ian Paice is the reason Rick Allen started playing drums, and Phil is a huge Blackmore fan."
Thanks to Loretta.
Buy Album @ - Amazon.com (11th Sep Classic Rock Fan Pack/CD)
Buy Album @ - Amazon.com (25th Sep CD)
Buy Album @ - Amazon.com (24th Sep MP3)
Buy Album @ - Amazon.co.uk (4th Sep Classic Rock Fan Pack/CD)
Buy Album @ - Amazon.co.uk (1st Oct CD)
Buy Album @ - Amazon.co.uk (24th Sep MP3)
Previous News - 5th September 2012