This section looks at the 'Now' UK single release. The first single from the 'X/Ten' album ahead of its release in the UK.
"It’s love and hate and jealousy and envy."
Def Leppard's classic single Now from the X/Ten album was released in the UK on this day in 2002.
The first single to be released from the X/Ten album.
The song went to on reach Number 23 in the UK charts.
It was co-written with producer Fredericksen and also credited to the entire band. The first Def Leppard single to have all band members, including Rick Allen, credited on the same song.
Also one of only two singles to feature Rick Allen on the song credits after the radio only 'I Wanna Touch U' single of 1993.
The first and only UK single to be released on three CDs which were colour coded (black/red/purple) and fitted into a card box sleeve.
CD1 of the set was an Enhanced CD featuring the Now promo video.
The covers of David Bowie's 'Rebel Rebel' from the 1999 'Euphoria' B-Sides sessions was included along with a new version of The Faces' 'Stay With Me' featuring Phil Collen on lead vocals. Plus an acoustic version of 'Let Me Be The One' and two 1992 Bonn, Germany live tracks (previously issued with 'Adrenalize' singles).
Various alternative European CD singles and UK promo CDs featured the single radio edit, two classic songs and the demo versions of 'Love Don't Lie' and 'Let Me Be The One'.
Read some band member comments about this song.
Joe Elliott - 2002 Interview Quote
"It’s wanton lust dressed up a little less dramatically. "Now" is a perfect title. "I’ve got to have somebody right now. Not tomorrow, not next week. Right now." It’s relationship stuff. Most of the lyrics on the album touch on human emotion."
Vivian Campbell - 2002 Interview Quote
"This was the love album. We had to curtail it, actually. We were getting a little too Barry White."
Joe Elliott - 2002 Interview Quote
"It was getting too lovey-dovey, so we had to write some hate in there as well. It’s love and hate and jealousy and envy. Anything that people can go, "Yep. I’ve been there and done that myself, or seen that in somebody else’s life." With "Now," it’s two people needing to get together as soon as possible."
Phil Collen - 2002 Interview Quote
"We heard "Jaded," the song Aerosmith wrote with Marty Frederiksen, and thought, "Wow, this sounds cool. It sounds contemporary and energetic. But it’s obviously Aerosmith. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a Def Leppard version of that?" We got Marty Frederiksen and it was instant. He’s a multi-talented musician with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old boy. It influenced the rest of the album. He came in and said, "It’s got to have conviction. It’s got to be aggressive. It’s got to be like you really mean it." That affected all the other songs we did."
Joe Elliott - 2002 Interview Quote
"I see ‘Now’ as one of those great examples of meeting of the traditional thing and the contemporary sound that we are introducing on this record. It’s got the elements of like, you know, the real drums, it’s got I wouldn’t say big backing vocals, but it’s got powerful BVs on the chorus. I had the opportunity, vocally, to express it much more in a singing voice than in a screechy voice, which is kind of something that, you know, I enjoy a lot more, to be quite honest."
Vivian Campbell - 2005 Quote
"One of three songs for the 'X' album that we did with Marti Frederiksen. Who brought in a guy to put in some background loops. It's a low register song for Joe. But it really showcases the warmth of his voice. It's kinda subtle I guess."
Phil Collen - 2005 Quote
"Marti lives in California, so do I. The song was demoed in my front room in about 10 minutes flat. From the start it had a really good feel and the other guys getting involved made it something really special."
Joe Elliott - 2005 Quote
"It opened the 'X' album because it wasn't a usual Def Leppard song. We didn't want something that would fly out the door. It starts simplistically and builds into the chorus which makes it haunting. But it's claws still get you after a single listen."
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