The Leppard roars again

Whitesnake, as ever, is fronted by ex-Deep Purple vocalist David Coverdale, and the band has recently released their 12th studio album The Purple Album, which is a tribute to the singer’s former band; so we can expect some Purple classics among those numbers that have made Whitesnake such a major force in rock music.

Tracks such as Still of the Night, Is This Love and the massive hit Here I Go Again will no doubt be performed with the power and energy that is a trademark of the band.

Def Leppard has been hailed as the UK’s greatest-ever arena rock band.

Formed in Sheffield in the late 70s, they have recorded two of the best-selling albums of all time.

Both Pyromania and Hysteria have been given the elusive Diamond Award for sales in excess of ten million.

The band has just released an eponymously-titled album which seems set to be as successful as the others, as guitarist Phil Collen tells me.

“I think it’s the best thing we've done since Hysteria,” the 57-year old says.

“I actually came up with the idea of naming it as the album represents us. We didn’t record is as a business venture, we did it for us and the fans.

“Plus we recorded it in three parts so we weren't rushed, and this suited us as it made for a more relaxed setting.”

The band has overcome adversity in the past with the death of former member Steve Clark and the tragic accident where drummer Rick Allen lost an arm.

All this is documented in Phil’s autobiography Adrenalized, which has just been published.

But the band has been in the wards recently.

The band’s other guitarist Vivian Campbell is undergoing treatment for cancer and singer Joe Elliott had pneumonia earlier this year.

“Yes, we thought it was just a chest infection at first, then I got it. (laughs), then we come to Britain in winter.

“Viv’s undergoing constant treatment but the doctors have given him the thumbs up.”

Luckily bassist Rick Savage appears to be unscathed.

The band has toured with Whitesnake on a number of tours.

Phil grins: “Yeah, we have a lot of fun and we have always got on great.

“I was a huge Deep Purple fan and it was great to meet David and now we’ve been friends for years.”

When asked about what the band will be playing, Phil ponders for a while.

“We’ve always got to be careful and you can kill a live show by playing a lot of songs that people don’t know, so the new album won’t dominate. And we’re on last on this tour.”

But the new songs are being picked up.

“Yeah, when we started the tour in America, we were playing Let’s Go off the new album, and people were already singing it which was really great.

“Different countries like different songs and you have to play your best-known numbers.”

Phil cites Rocket as the ultimate Def Leppard track, as he explains. “I think it represents us. It’s Arena Rock at its loudest with that ridiculous drum thing and big guitars — all the things that made us.”

And he has a simple methodology for touring.

“The main thing is that you get the best Def Leppard you’ve ever heard. I’ve never played or sung this well. It should be bangin’.”

Def Leppard and Whitesnake, with special guests Black Star Riders will be appearing at The Sheffield Motorpoint Arena on Saturday December 19.

Tickets are priced at £45 (plus booking fee) and are available from the box office and all the usual agencies.