Def Leppard News - Joe Elliott Says We Belong Inspired By All The Young Dudes

Joe Elliott Says We Belong Inspired By All The Young Dudes

Saturday, 27th February 2016

Joe Elliott 2014.
Screenshot by dltourhistory

Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott has been interviewed by Music Interactive and mentioned the new album.

Joe talked about the new Def Leppard studio album, the recording/influences, the band's musical style, pop influence, NWOBHM, famous fans, his first record and We Belong.

Joe says new song 'We Belong' was directly inspired by his favourite song 'All The Young Dudes'.

Visit the Album News section. For more news on new music (based on band member quotes) dating back to January 2011.

Music Interactive - Joe Elliott Interview Quotes

We Belong Influence

"But the song that I’ve always said is my favorite song of all time and the one song that I’ve tried to write myself a million times and failed miserably is “All the Young Dudes” by Mott the Hoople, who are my favorite ever band in the world, as weird as that might sound. But “Young Dudes,” written by Bowie and recorded by Mott the Hoople, is the best song of all time. I tried to rewrite it on “We Belong.” Didn’t get there, but you can tell it’s a reference to it. Elton John once said to me, “If you’re in doubt, write a hymn,” and I tried to make that very biblical in its size and swagger, which I’ve always found “All the Young Dudes” to be. It’s never aged. It never will. It will sound as good in a hundred years’ time as it did in 1972."

New Def Leppard Album

"We all got together in my studio in February of last year and started playing things and recording it on our phones. All of a sudden we had 12 songs up for ideas…. then the thing just evolved. It was like, well, why do we have to pick three? Why can’t we just put them all out? All of a sudden, then we had an album… It’s the most natural, artistic thing that we’ve ever done, because we weren’t tied down to some label or an executive from said label hovering over your shoulder looking for the hit, looking for the delivery date, keeping it on budget, and all that nonsense that comes with what is essentially a juvenile line of work. We did a bit of work for the new record in hotel rooms and dressing rooms during the tour last summer, because these days you can do that. You don’t need to be in Abbey Road to make Abbey Road. We chiseled away at it in our own good time."