Down N' Outz Release 'England Rocks' Video

Joe Elliott of Def Leppard has a new side project: the Down N' Outz. The project is Elliot on vocals and the rest of the band is the London Quireboys. The way the band came together is complicated, so read about it here. Anyway, the band just released a video for "England Rocks." I want to like it...but I don't think I do. It's just lacking...something. Joe's voice sounds good, though, so that's great news. I just think there's zero energy and no soul here. Hell, maybe you disagree. Watch and give me your opinion.

Down N' Outz will release a debut album this summer.

Comments

[Metalboy!]

I've always thought this song was just "OK".

Being a huge fan of Glam ROCK Gods, "Mott The Hoople", I first heard this tune in '77 on WGTB, Georgetown University's long shut down radio station (They played non-stop Bowie the last '72 hours before the Jesuit school brass pulled the plug).

I always thought the song was pretty good except for the chorus which just seems sort of talked rather than sung. It lacks melody and that lack of musicality maybe lending itself to Al's feeling that this rendition lacks energy.

Also, the fact that it's being done here by a bunch of "old" codgers may also have something to do with it. That combined with the Down 'n' Outs version's flat production is one more reason.

Mott The Hoople's legendary lead singer, Ian Hunter, who originally penned this little ditty also rewrote the lyrics to create "Cleveland Rocks" for his 1979 solo album, "You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic". This version may sound familiar as The Presidents of the United States of America recorded a cover of it as the theme song for "The Drew Carey Show"

p.s. Hunter truly is legendary, particularly as a songwriter, having written such classics as "Once Bitten Twice Shy", (later covered by Great White who subsequently had a Top 10 hit with it). Hunter also wrote other such classics as, "Rock And Roll Queen", "All The Way From Memphis" (covered by Contraband, an early 90's supergroup of members Michael Schenker and Traci Gunns. Other Hunter "Hits" include Mott tunes "Roll Away The Stone", "One Of The Boys" (always thought that shoulda been covered by a Glam Metal band) and other solo tunes, "Just Another Night" "All The Good One's Are Taken", and "Slaughter On 10 Avenue". He also produced Billy Idol's first band Generation X's (excellent punk rock with Glam Metal touches) sophomore effort, the sterling, "Valley of The Dolls") and contributed to writing a couple of the tunes on it. I strongly recommend this album as I realize it is very Glam Metal and Glam Rock while still very punk.

p.s.s. Ian Hunter also joined Def Leppard on stage at the Mick Ronson Memorial Concert awhile ago to perform "All The Young Dudes". You can get it on the two-CD Ian Hunter greatest hits compilation titled "Once Bitten Twice Shy: The Best of Ian Hunter" Unlike the tepid outing in the above vid Al posted, this utterly, totally and completely ROCKS! Still, you gotta hand it to Elliot and London Quireboys (saw 'em back in the day at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor with The Electric Angels opening)... their new album is all covers of obscure but great Mott The Hoople songs. That ROCKS, too!

p.s.s.t. Hahaha!!! My P.S.'s are longer than my comments but does that really surprise you?

[brian]

I did not like it. Joe's voice is ok and it did not do it for me. Stick to Def Lep

[Bob]

Metalboy, although long-winded as usual, (Just kidding dude), is right on the money here. Ian Hunter is friggin' awesome, and this version of the song is flat and lifeless. I don't even think Elliot's voice sounds all that great as he is clearly having trouble nailing a few of the wider vocal intervals. Love the concept, don't love the execution.

[Metalboy!]

Hahahaha!!!

Bob you are right! I am soooooooo long winded usually, as you have noted, but it you look back on the last several comments I've made, I've actually kept a semi-grip on it.

But for Ian Hunter, I just couldn't switch off the spigot. I even went to a Halloween Party in '87 dressed as Ian Hunter, complete with long curly wig and big sunglasses.

[Bob]

Metalboy, I hope you know I made that "long-winded" comment with tongue firmly planted in cheek. You friggin' rock dude. You're an oldtimer like me and nothing is cooler than an oldtimer.

[Pete]

Metalboy, just a note to clarify something: Ian Hunter did not write "Rock 'n Roll Queen", that was written by Mott's guitarist Mick Ralphs.

[CrazyLady58]

I love the video. And I love seeing some other rock stars in it. It has a good happy beat and I enjoy listening to it very much. So does my children from ages 12 to 30. We all have different tastes but we all like this one.