The Pagemeister Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 Def Leppard's Sparkle Lounge tribute to Beatles' Sgt. Pepper By Sally Peck Last Updated: 1:11pm GMT 11/03/2008 Richard Hammond, the Top Gear presenter, is to be immortalised alongside Mona Lisa and the Statue of Liberty on the cover of the new Def Leppard album - in a send-up of The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band cover. The cover for Songs from the Sparkle Lounge, recently unveiled on the band's website, features a crowd of famous faces, family and friends of the band, along with youthful photographs of the band members themselves. New Def Leppard album cover features band members, friends, family and celebrities in a Sgt Pepper's style collage Hammond, who was in a coma for two days after a car crash in 2006, peers out of the bottom right of the montage, near a photo of Rick Allen, the Def Leppard drummer, who lost his arm in a road accident in 1984. The photo also features a crash-test dummy, a geisha and a panda bear. In the background, a Sheffield scarf is raised above the crowd in homage to the heavy rock band's northern roots. The composition of the album cover mimics that of the often-parodied Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles' eighth album, which won a Grammy Award for best album cover in 1968. It featured The Beatles alongside celebrities, a tuba, a Mexican candlestick and a garden gnome. The Beatles reportedly wanted to include Jesus Christ on their album cover, but his image was withdrawn because the LP was released too soon after John Lennon's infamous "We're more popular than Jesus now" statement. Def Leppard will begin a tour in the US to promote Songs from the Sparkle Lounge later this month. The album is scheduled for release on April 29. Information appearing on telegraph.co.uk is the copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited and must not be reproduced in any medium without licence. For the full copyright statement see Copyright Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattmc1973 Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 I dig Def Leppard, a guilty pleasure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragster Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 I like DL and the work above. Goooooo Leppard! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evermore Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 First album I've preordered in a while. Ive been listening to High and Dry and figured I'd give it a go. Looks like a tour is in the works as well. And whoa! I just had a Spinal Tap moment. I checked the schedule and they will be playing at local casino! Well... from my perspective, it's a more intimate setting for a kick ass band. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jahfin Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 well. And whoa! I just had a Spinal Tap moment. I checked the schedule and they will be playing at local casino! Well... from my perspective, it's a more intimate setting for a kick ass band. I remember a few years ago when they kicked off a tour by playing the grand opening of a Kmart in Fayetteville, NC. I'm not sure when that was in relation to U2's Popmart Tour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattmc1973 Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 They're playing Joe Louis Arena here in Detroit this month, which holds about 20,000 people. But they're supported by REO Speedwagon and Styx, neither of which I'm interested in seeing. So I figured I'd have to sit through 2-3 hours of those bands, which would leave only an hour or so for Leppard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jahfin Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 They're playing Joe Louis Arena here in Detroit this month, which holds about 20,000 people. But they're supported by REO Speedwagon and Styx, neither of which I'm interested in seeing. So I figured I'd have to sit through 2-3 hours of those bands, which would leave only an hour or so for Leppard. If Def Leppard are headlining wouldn't they get more like two hours? I saw them back in the early 80s when High n' Dry first came out on a bill with the Johnny Van Zant Band and Blackfoot (who were headlining). Def Leppard weren't bad but I remember them being so young at the time that they seemed dwarfed by the size of their guitars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattmc1973 Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 I'd guess probably an hour and a half. But I'm just not interested in the other bands, and the tickets were pretty expensive. I'm a Def Leppard nerd, I've probably seen them 8-9 times in concert, generally every time they've come through Detroit I've gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHD Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 I'm looking forward to this new album. Nice to see the Sheffield scarf being held high n proud Going to see them at Sheffield in June. I'm indulging in a bit of nostalgia and memories. Saw them twice in the eighties, it is fair to say they are a guilty pleasure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xtazy Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Uuu, sweet, new album. I'm going to see them this year in July along with Whitesnake. Will be one hell of a concert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirchzep27 Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 I think thats a bad idea for a record cover. But with so many movie remakes and marketing of the past over and over...guess its normal by now. I just wish marketers would wait like 80 or 120yrs before bringing things back again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattmc1973 Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 Here's the video for their new single, a duet with Tim McGraw... Nine Lives Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angel With A Broken Wing Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 They were on Dancing With the Stars last night, performed one song (can't tell you what since it was first time I've seen/heard them) with some of the professional dancers doing their salsa moves. It was quite, ummm, interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alwizard03 Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 (edited) Def Leppard Biloxi 83 Edited May 1, 2008 by alwizard03 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pagemeister Posted May 7, 2008 Author Share Posted May 7, 2008 DEF LEPPARD's 'Songs From The Sparkle Lounge' Cracks U.S. Top 5 - May 7, 2008 DEF LEPPARD's new album, "Songs from the Sparkle Lounge", sold 55,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 5 on The Billboard 200 chart. To coincide with the release of "Songs From The Sparkle Lounge", the group's UK label has launched a new "Sparkle Lounge" microsite. TheSparkleLounge.com gives fans opportunities to listen to samples of the new album, watch the video for leadoff single "Nine Lives", listen to samples of the new album, win Guitar Hero III prizes, watch a trailer for the bonus DVD (UK only), and more. "Songs From The Sparkle Lounge" contains 11 new songs, including the new hit single "Nine Lives", featuring a collaboration with country music superstar Tim McGraw. The album includes a limited-edition custom PikCARD, which unlocks the DEF LEPPARD online "Vault" (named after the band's best-selling greatest-hits CD). Inside the "Vault", DEF LEPPARD fans have exclusive access to a variety of content, contests and memorabilia, featuring highlights such as personal photos from the road, registration to the band's fan club, entry into an exclusive contest to win backstage passes and VIP access the next time DEF LEPPARD comes to the winner's town, new album lyrics — handwritten by Joe Elliott — and a personal messages from the band. DEF LEPPARD has announced new U.S. tour dates that will kick off this August. The dates include cities that the band postponed recently due to an upper respiratory tract infection affecting the band’s lead singer, Joe Elliott. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reids Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 (edited) I just picked it up a few days ago: It's their best album of original material in years. The first two tracks and especially the fourth track, "Love" are the best ones on the CD. "Love" reminds me of a Queen song in it's composition (it has classical guitars, great vocals; builds with the arrangements and remind me of of how Brian May would do things. Some of it reminds me of older/better days of Elton John, too. But at the end with the heavy (over the top guitars), it reminds me of GNR near 1992 (a la November Rain or something). They could have left the heavier guitar off near the end and it would have been a little more tasteful to my ears (just my opinion). It's the best track on the cd (overall). The mix/compression levels of this one is more than their previous work (which is not a good sign) as most modern day music is getting/adding too much compression somewhere between mixdowns & mastering for my ears to take (as there is a lot of white noise). Linkin Park, Nickelback and Maroon 5 come to mind (as other bands that have way too much compression in their mix to enjoy). Hope the record labels aren't putting pressure on the artists to put so much in the mix (it leaves me with a headache after about 4 or 5 songs). There's a couple of others that are not bad either. "Nine Lives" is catchy and a good choice for first single. I'll go back and listen to it a few more times and see if I think any differently after it's had time to breathe with me a few days. Glad they got new original material. Really hope Whitesnake tours with them in the US. R Edited May 7, 2008 by reids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juliet Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 hello; I saw the video for Nine Lives...on Much More Music...today..Tim McGraw joins in....Why? The tune, wardrobe, blocking, angle of shots...all bored me.... Most of the shots showed the guys in silohette rather than well lighted so I could see them properly...They are all very handsome men...even if they are over 40 now.... Is Tim McGraw going to tour with them now? I liked Tim's video for Please Remember Me. I also liked the one shot in London England She's My Summer Rain (I think that's the title). Faith and the kiddies are in the final scene...Get that director for any further Def videos..please and thanks!!!!! Juliet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
statism Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 Yeah I picked it up as well and must confess that it kicks ass, I like that tune, not sure the track number but it's called "C'mon C'mon", it has a real Gary Glitter meets T Rex feel with some modern stuff thrown in. Also like a tune on it called "Cruise Control" which sounds really angry with a dark bass vibe about it off the start. There singer sounds better now then he did when he screamed his ass off back in the day, he actually sings which is nice compared to that shit they get lumped in from the 80's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juliet Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 (edited) Hi Statism: Thanks for your review.... I saw/heard Nine Lives again...I was critical about the first time I saw it but after seeing it again ...it's o.k....I still don't understand why Tim McGraw is singing along. I think it's the shots of him that I don't like more than the whole video itself. I really don't think they need him to sing in that song. He doesn't sing much by himself... DF will be in London Canada in August at The John Labatt Centre. After reading your good review of SL...I will try to go... Juliet http://www.johnlabattcentre.com/ Edited June 7, 2008 by Juliet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juliet Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 Hi: I bought Sparkle Lounge...It's a great CD and the first Def Leppard CD in my collection.. The tunes GO, C'MON, C'MON and BAD ACTRESS are my fav tunes...all the tunes are good...I'm even starting to like NINE LIVES the more I hear it... I hope I can get to their concert in London....I think it will be a great show...and my first Def Leppard live experience... Juliet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattmc1973 Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 Here's a good amateur-shot clip of them playing "Animal" on their current tour... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A03UAWfLtSE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattmc1973 Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 Ooo, and here's a pretty good rendition of "Hysteria" from the Ellen DeGeneres show recently... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juliet Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 Hi M '73: Thanks for the YOU tube re. DL...I enjoyed both... I wanted you to be the first to know ...drum roll please....I GOT A TICKET FOR THEIR LONDON GIG!!!!!!! Juliet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattmc1973 Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 Hi M '73: Thanks for the YOU tube re. DL...I enjoyed both... I wanted you to be the first to know ...drum roll please....I GOT A TICKET FOR THEIR LONDON GIG!!!!!!! Juliet Cool! Have fun, I've probably seen them in concert 7-8 times, and it's always fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeppmeister Posted June 22, 2008 Share Posted June 22, 2008 Tim McGraw is the sole writer for "Nine Lives" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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