DEF LEPPARD's PHIL COLLEN Say Band Really Proud Of Diverse DIAMOND STAR HALOS Album

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Saturday, 9th April 2022

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Def Leppard 2022

Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen has been interviewed by US radio and mentioned the new Diamond Star Halos album.

'Diamond Star Halos' is the band's 12th studio album.

As announced on 17th March it will be released on Friday 27th May 2022.

Phil spoke to Bob And Brian Mornings on 102.9 The Hog radio to promote the Milwaukee show.

Phil talked about health and fitness, band work outs, living in California, The Stadium Tour, getting ready for the tour, Diamond Star Halos Recording Process and writing songs during the pandemic.

Diamond Star Halos

Phil says that the band are 'really, really proud' of the new album and also explained the significance of the title and discussed the songwriting/recording process.

The Stadium Tour

He also said he is having to relearn how to play standing up and singing whilst playing guitar ahead of the main tour rehearsals in May.

Listen to the full interview below.

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).

Phil Collen - April 2022 Interview Quotes - (Transcribed by dltourhistory)

Diamond Star Halos Album Name

"'Cause that's too much of a mouthful. I mean Diamond Star Halos is a mouthful but Hubcap Diamond Star Halos is - even though me and Joe refer to that era of music as Hubcap Diamond Star Halo."

"It's a real mouthful and probably don't look great on a T-Shirt. Not as good as Diamond Star Halos. Diamond Star Halos has got a sexy thing about it you know. Put a hubcap in there and it takes the sexy away."

Diamond Star Halos Album

"It's really refreshing. I think we celebrated, you know, the era we got into music. Obviously that's why it's called Diamond Star Halos. It's Bowie, T. Rex, Queen, Mott The Hoople. When we were kind of like baptized into music."

"It was that. We were already into Zeppelin and Purple and Hendrix and Pink Floyd. Stuff like that, but there was this new music that come out. Glam music. So we incorporated it."

"And what's weird it's been coming out in the music is like. The songs are more raw. The backing vocals have got more character. We didn't just kind of gloss it all over."

"A lot of it's got - each song is different as well. It actually reminds me of a Queen album. It's got kind of lots of diversity. You know we got two songs with pianos on it and strings. And Alison Krauss sings on two songs with us which is amazing."

"So it's very different and artistically we're really really proud of it. More than anything. Actually you know as much as the Hysteria thing to be quite honest."

Best Question Asked/Diamond Star Halos Recording Process

"Well just about the recording process really 'cause we actually all done it at our own homes. And it was so amazing. You didn't really have any pressure."

"So they're saying 'Well, wasn't it difficult?' It was actually the opposite. It was just amazing writing and recording this way."

The Stadium Tour

"No that's about right. Yeah, that's - I think the break neck thing is learning how to sing, play guitar while you're standing up because I haven't been doing that. It's been two years since - so I've been sitting on this chair here. So that's a weird one. But yeah other than that it's all back to normal."

"Well we'll see. It was a struggle singing some of those songs actually. Really, you know, because you've gotta practice. You gotta do that thing to get that level anyway. It's amazing what you forget."

"Well by 16 (shows) I'll be sitting down again."

Tour Rehearsals/Back On Tour

"We rehearse next month but up until then, you know, we've - honestly I literally have to practice just singing. Do vocal warm ups. It's like a body part. Well it is a body part you know. You gotta do that and you've gotta play the parts while you're singing. I mean some of them are really hard to play on the guitar while you're singing. And again, you know, I'd forgotten how awkward some of these parts are."

"So you know that's what I'm doing. So everyday doing that. Eating right. Kind of working out and turning that up as well to nearer the time. So yeah there's a lot going on. You know I usually do interviews from like 8 in the morning till about 11 or 12 as well. So, all around the world."

1029THEHOG · Def Lep's Phil Collen Rocks The Radiothon

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