Wednesday, 12th September 2018
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PHIL COLLEN On DEF LEPPARD's 2019 South America/European Shows

Def Leppard 2018. Screenshot

Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen was recently interviewed by the Ohio press and mentioned the 2019 tour plans.

Phil spoke to the Vinyl Analysis podcast.

Phil talked about the 2018 tour with Journey, 2018 world tour, 2019 touring, digital/streaming catalogue, Hysteria and Pyromania eras, memories of Steve Clark, Producing Tesla/G3 Tour/Delta Deep and the 2018 setlists.

He talked about plans to tour again in 2019 and revisit South America as well as returning to Europe for festivals.

Interestingly he also mentioned plans for a rotating setlist spot and taking fan requests for songs on the 2018 tour which hasn't happened (yet). The next likely time for a setlist shake up, at least before the Hysteria album, will be in Hawaii as the Hysteria section of the tour begins.

Listen to the full 10 minute interview below.

Phil's part starts at 4:54 mins in and lasts until 14:57 mins.

The interview was conducted before the 2018 tour began.

Visit the Tour News section. For more news on future tour plans.

Vinyl Analysis - Phil Collen Interview Quotes - (Transcribed by dltourhistory)

2018 Tour With Journey

"Well we toured with Journey in 2006. It was such a great tour that we kind of promised each other and the band that we'd do again at some point. This is the first time we were both able to do it. You know it's down to scheduling and availability and all that stuff. So yeah when that came up it was like yeah no brainer. So totally cool."

2018 World Tour/2019 Tour

"We go from May to October. Then after that I think we have Japan, Australia, New Zealand and stuff like that. So and then England later... I mean this whole tour for us is like a world tour. You know we're all over the place. And we'll be going back down to South America. That'll be next year. Europe we're doing some, you know, festivals and stuff like that. And probably more American dates next year as well. So it's ongoing."

Def Leppard Digital Catalogue

"Absolutely it was a long time coming. We felt that our music had more value than just to give it away and just to get ignored and stuff like that. So we came up with a great arrangement and deal with our record company Universal and they've been fantastic. There's people that are really working it. You know it wasn't right in the past and now it is and we're just really excited about it. It's been really super cool. So yeah no I'm thrilled about that 'cause you know there's a lot of people have never heard us and all of a sudden they can have access to us 'cause they can stream it you know."

Memories Of Steve Clark

"Well Steve was my best friend. So you know we'd be goofing off all the time and I think you know a lot of people...he was the funniest guy. He was like really totally funny. Actually I signed a photo the other day and it's me and Steve and it's like we're on stage or something. Or doing a TV show and we just turned around and kissed each other on the lips. Like whoa! what's wrong with you guys?. We'd just goof off all the time."

"You know it was kind of. He was just an amazing guy and and as an artist you know he would come up with some really great ideas. They weren't traditional guitar things. It wasn't like just copying everyone else. He would come up with very unique individual ideas and that was inspiring to write with because all of a sudden it makes you think in a different way."

"So Steve was very creative. You know I don't think he gets enough credit for that as opposed to just being Oh the guitar player in Def Leppard or something. He was a lot more than that. You know he really...and if he'd been alive now there's so much that would have inspired him to do a lot more. But you know Steve would come up with really unique individual ideas. Like I said that would totally inspire me to do something crazy or even, you know, just to get that inspiration going which was - you can beat that if you're an artist. So yeah I miss him really badly all the time. I think about him every day."

Steve Clark's Guitar Sound

"Definitely. I mean everyone has their own individual thing but Steve's sound was, like I said, it wasn't the run of the mill guitar player you know. He actually, he approached it slightly differently so it kind of, it made a big deal. It gave it a unique kind of a signature."

2018 Setlists/Stagefright Request

"We are. We've only got a limited amount of time. We're gonna have a window in the set where we kind of revolve stuff. You know so I think what we're doing we're taking requests and we're gonna see what the most popular ones are in certain areas you know."


Buy 'CD/Vinyl Collection: Volume 1' Online

  • Amazon - (Vinyl Collection: Volume 1)
  • Amazon - (CD Collection: Volume 1)

Buy 'Hysteria 30th Anniversary Edition' Online

  • Amazon - (Box Set/Super Deluxe Version)
  • Amazon - (3 CD Deluxe Edition)
  • Amazon - (1 CD Version)
  • Amazon - (Double Vinyl)
  • Amazon - (MP3 Deluxe Version)
  • Amazon - (MP3 Super Deluxe Version)

Related News - JOE ELLIOTT Comments On DEF LEPPARD's Rescheduled ALBUQUERQUE, NM Show

Related News - DEF LEPPARD/JOURNEY Number One On Hot Rock Tours List

Related News - DEF LEPPARD/JOURNEY Sold-Out Stadium Show Boxscores Revealed

Related News - DEF LEPPARD's JOE ELLIOTT Guests With BILLY JOEL In Boston (Video)

Related News - DEF LEPPARD 2018 North American Tour Leg 2 News Round Up

Related News - DEF LEPPARD 2018 North American Tour Leg 1 News Round Up


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Phil Collen - Guitar
Phil Collen - Guitar
Phil Collen - Guitar
Phil Collen - Guitar