JOE ELLIOTT On DEF LEPPARD Working With ALISON KRAUSS/MIKE GARSON On DIAMOND STAR HALOS

Friday, 18th March 2022

Def Leppard 2022

Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott has talked about how the band came to work with Alison Krauss and Mike Garson on the new Diamond Star Halos album.

'Diamond Star Halos', which borrows it's title from the T. Rex song 'Get It On', will be the band's 12th studio album.

As announced yesterday it will be released on Friday 27th May 2022.

Joe spoke to his own radio station Planet Rock yesterday about the album and told of how the band hooked up with the special guests on the new record.

Singer Alison Krauss and pianist Mike Garson both contribute to two tracks each on the album.

Guest Alison Krauss

Joe explained how Alison appeared on the album due to conversations involving Robert Plant who she has collaborated with again on their new album 'Raise The Roof' which was released in November 2021.

Their previous album 'Raising Sand' in 2007 won five Grammy awards.

He also mentioned her interviewing him in the 90s for Q Magazine.

Alison contributes to two songs - 'This Guitar' (first written 17 years ago) and 'Lifeless' (credited to Collen/Elliott).

Guest Mike Garson

Joe mentioned his recent work with Mike on the various David Bowie tribute shows including the 2022 A Bowie Celebration during which Mike introduced Def Leppard's first performance since 2019.

He also explained how he came to be on the album due to his past work with David Bowie and that the songs 'Goodbye For Good This Time' and 'Angels (Can’t Help You Now)' were both written by him on piano.

Joe's comments suggest the 'Avant-Garde' mix on the deluxe edition will feature more piano by Mike than the main version.

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

Visit the Album News section for more news on new music (based on band member quotes).

Joe Elliott - 17th March 2022 Interview Quotes

Alison Krauss/Country Vocals

"We've known Allison for a long time. Way back in '96 when we released the ‘Slang album’ - She actually interviewed me for the magazine (Q Magazine)."

"She's always been a big fan (of Def Leppard). A lot of our harmonies lean towards country, not a known fact but it's true."

"Country people would accidentally hear a Def Leppard song over the years and go, ‘Hey, hang on a minute. That's a country harmony!’"

Alison Krauss/Robert Plant

"And I'd been texting back and forth with Robert Plant regarding something - I said, ‘we're actually recording’ and he said, ‘You do know Allison is like your biggest fan. She's gonna be over the moon!’"

Alison Krauss On Two Songs

"Asked her if she'd be interested in singing on one of two songs that we thought were appropriate for her."

"‘Oh, my God, I can't pick one. I love them both!’ So I just said, ‘Okay, well then do both please.’ And she did. So that's how she got involved.”

Mike Garson Guest Role

"I've worked with Mike over the last three or four years on a lot of David Bowie tribute shows - some of them live and some of them remotely."

"I've got a really good relationship with Mike and my piano playing is rather rudimentary. I wrote these two songs on the piano."

"I said to Phil, ‘Listen, what do you think? I know it's a bit avant-garde jazz but how about Mike?’ Phil was like all over it."

"I rang Mike and said, ‘will you do me the honour of playing on a couple of Def Leppard songs?’ and he was all over it. He did a fantastic job."

"What could possibly go wrong with an avant-garde jazz pianist playing on a Def Leppard song? But trust me when you hear it, it works! It really works!"

Buy 'Diamond Star Halos' Online

Amazon - Regular CD
Amazon - Deluxe CD
Amazon - Vinyl
Amazon - MP3

Diamond Star Halos - Tracklisting

01 - Take What You Want - 4:14
02 - Kick - 3:42 - (Collen) - Amazon - (MP3)
03 - Fire It Up - 3:19
04 - This Guitar [feat. Alison Krauss] - 3:50
05 - SOS Emergency - 3:25
06 - Liquid Dust - 4:01
07 - U Rok Mi - 3:33
08 - Goodbye For Good This Time - 4:27
09 - All We Need - 4:46
10 - Open Your Eyes - 4:19
11 - Gimme A Kiss - 3:12
12 - Angels (Can’t Help You Now) - 4:57
13 - Lifeless [feat. Alison Krauss] - 4:19 - (Collen/Elliott)
14 - Unbreakable - 3:46
15 - From Here To Eternity - 5:37