You can add Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen to the list of musicians who claim to have no interest in whether they're ever inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In terms of charts and sales, 1996's 'Slang' marks the spot where Def Leppard went from being multi-platinum rock gods to just another veteran act struggling to fit in among the rapidly changing Top 40 trends of the '90s. But for the band members, the record has always meant a lot more.
2013 was a busy year for Def Leppard, between their Las Vegas residency, assorted live and studio engagements and guitarist Vivian Campbell’s treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. But not busy enough for guitarist Phil Collen, apparently, since he is devoting parts of his holiday season to promoting a new musical endeavor named Delta Deep.
There was plenty of "hysteria" generated at the University of Laverne outside of Los Angeles on Aug. 17 when Def Leppard lead guitarist Phil Collen joined internationally acclaimed cultural artist Yukiko Matsuyama.
The LP is becoming such an antiquated term that it seems unlikely most music lovers born after 1990 will know what the letters stand for soon. Def Leppard's Phil Collen says most people don't want to buy a full "long playing" album any longer, and he's enjoying what that means.