In a recent interview, Phil Collen revealed the secret to why the English rock group is still going strong for almost half a century, amidst their India debut performance in Shillong (March 25). The band will next play in Mumbai (March 27) and conclude with Bangalore (March 29).
In this fast-paced world where we see music groups break up every now and then , Def Leppard is still united, sharing the same passion and keeping their egos aside. After 20 years, the legends return to India.
In an interview with Mid-Day, the band’s guitarist and co-vocalist Phil Collen said, “I’ve been looking forward for so long. I’ve been to India; the first time I came was in 1987. I travelled to many places, you know, when Bangaluru was called Bangalore, Madras (Chennai) and all of that. So, this is the first time we’ll actually perform a real concert and tour India.”
How did Def Leppard stay together all these years? Phil Collen reveals, “It is because we all get along. For example, we share one dressing room. We see other bands and don’t really understand why they have separate rooms or don’t get along. We’ve been through everything together—births, deaths, marriages, divorces, children. We’ve supported each other through all of it. It truly feels like a family.” Phil also revealed the fact that he as spent more time with Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott than he did with his own mother, who passed away about 20 years ago.
Collen went on to talk about how ego trips bring about tensions among people in all fields, be it artists, musicians, sportspeople, or politicians. The band’s mantra?
“Ego will trip you up. We don’t allow that to happen,” explains Phil.
“You can meet business expectations while still staying true to your art.” – Phil Collen on how balance can be crucial to a band’s survival
Collen went on to talk about how the English rock music industry became more about business agendas than the art, but Def Leppard survived only with a healthy balance on both sides. “You can meet business expectations while still staying true to your art,” he explains.
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He further adds,“We still create new music. We still write songs, and we remain artists — and that’s crucial. Some people say you don’t need to record new music anymore, but I disagree. That’s what keeps us fresh. There’s still integrity in what we do. We actually sing live.”
Instead of heavily relying on pre-recorded tracks, the band spends hours on vocal warm-ups, keeping it real and still making a mark as a “live” band. “If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” goes on Phil.
Def Leppard performed in Shillong at the RBDSA Sports Complex earlier this week. The band is all geared up for their Mumbai show at the Jio World Garden in BKC. The final performance venue will be NICE Grounds in Bengaluru, on March 29.
The three-city tour is part of Bandland On Tour, an extension of Bandland, the rock and alternative music intellectual property of BookMyShow Live. If you haven’t booked your tickets yet, click here now!
