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In England, rock music very rarely infiltrates the charts, but country music even less so.
Joe Elliott Def Leppard -
It's big production. It's huge. It's using studio technology to your benefit. You don't go in and play live and then just take the tapes and get them mastered. You have to create.
Joe Elliott Def Leppard
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Just follow your gut. If you seriously believe that something is the right thing to do, if you are so convinced that your stomach is knotting up every time someone suggests an alternative way of doing all this, take a deep breath and just say, "You're wrong."
Joe Elliott Def Leppard -
In 1979 in Wolverhampton at a club I forgot the name of, my trousers split, luckily up the back. I duct-taped them together just before we went on. I didn't have any spare ones. I've had a few stupid incidents where things have been thrown on stage, but nothing that would put me off going on stage.
Joe Elliott Def Leppard -
I wanted to write a song that's known to the world as a classic, stadium-rock anthem.
Joe Elliott Def Leppard -
The key to longevity? Maybe putting an album out every four years - people don't get bored of you! No, just joking. I think, not taking yourself too seriously. You've got to have a sense of humor. You have to be strong-willed to put up with all the bullshit that goes with the job. You've got to consistently write good songs, and have the right rock-n-roll attitude. The Stones are a perfect example. If we could last that long, I'd be very happy.
Joe Elliott Def Leppard -
Manhattan's always fascinating, too, just a big, stinky, smelly conglomeration of numbered avenues and streets, but it's just got a vibe that's hard to beat. I shouldn't like it, but I do. I can't put my finger on it.
Joe Elliott Def Leppard -
I don't really feel any different when I get up on stage.
Joe Elliott Def Leppard
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When we try to write a pop song, we go for standard pop arrangements, even to the point where we will go to the key change at the end, which is really cheesy.
Joe Elliott Def Leppard -
If you're driving, don't forget your car.
Joe Elliott Def Leppard -
You'd be surprised how many records we've had to sell to pay our debts.
Joe Elliott Def Leppard -
We've always had a plan for success. From the very start we've known what we wanted to accomplish. Everything's progressed amazingly.
Joe Elliott Def Leppard -
The thing in Mexico in 1983. I don't want to get into it again because it will open up a whole can of worms, but I apologized profusely and it made me a better person. It was a mistake but it's something I learned from. The other biggest mistake I made was supporting Sheffield United because they're fucking useless.
Joe Elliott Def Leppard -
The most frustrating thing for musicians who want to play stuff from the new album is when everyone goes out to buy a beer.
Joe Elliott Def Leppard
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People always ask me how we got the name Def Leppard. Actually, it came from a poster I had made which depicted a rather strange-looking jungle cat with a hearing horn at his ear. I called him the deaf leopard. The guys in the band loved the poster, and after a bit of work, we decided to call ourselves Def Leppard. The name is funny, but it has strength.
Joe Elliott Def Leppard -
I was tall and I had long hair and I didn't look wimpy.
Joe Elliott Def Leppard -
Even Crazy Horses is a good song, by the Osmonds. I've known many bands who have covered that. It's just a great song. I bought it in a brown, paper bag because I didn't want anyone to know I had it.
Joe Elliott Def Leppard -
If you don't physically age gracefully, it's a bit sad. I think Steven Tyler can get away anything, because he still looks like he did in '73. Especially from row Z backwards in an arena. As long as the Stones keep their hair and don't get fat they'll get away with the wrinkles.
Joe Elliott Def Leppard -
The best holiday I ever had was the first one I went on without my parents, when I was 17.
Joe Elliott Def Leppard -
Our producer, Mutt Lange, is perfect for us. He doesn't accept what we do and say, 'OK that's great.' He's always pushing us and challenging us. We like to think that we push ourselves, but having someone like Mutt, who you know is going to always give you an honest opinion, is an invaluable help. He's helped make Def Leppard the band it is today.
Joe Elliott Def Leppard
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They called us 'bludgeon riffola' - it was a complete slag off. So just to show that we didn't really care we picked up on the phrase and used it for the record label.
Joe Elliott Def Leppard -
Selling out to America? That pisses me off. We're not the first English rock band that went to the States.
Joe Elliott Def Leppard -
There's room for everybody - it's not the Olympics. I'd like to be on top, but if the album's successful, that's good enough.
Joe Elliott Def Leppard -
Humor is an amazing way to talk people down off a ledge.
Joe Elliott Def Leppard