Captain's Log: Behind The Scenes With Def Leppard 'Drastic Symphonies' Release Week

This is a fun video featuring Def Leppard chronicling the release week of their new album Drastic Symphonies and the release of their book, Definitely: The Official Story of Def Leppard. (The book is already out in the U.K. and comes to the U.S. next month).

Spend about seven minutes watching the band chronicle their rehearsals for their big BBC concert to promote Drastic Symphonies, plus their press for the new book and hear their nightmares before launching a big tour. More than 40 years on they all still get panicked the night before the first tour stop! Oh and the accents. So many delicious accents!

Happy New Def Leppard Album Eve!

Drastic Symphonies is out tomorrow and I am so pumped. Def Leppard are celebrating this new album and collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and performed on BBC2 Radio to promote the release.

Sadly, it doesn't seem like my pre-ordered vinyl will show up tomorrow. Looks like I will have to wait for a Monday delivery to get that new vinyl in my hot little hands. Until then, I'll be streaming on Amazon Music.

All the naysayers out there (ok, in the comments section here) will not detract from my excitement about this album!

'Hysteria (Drastic Symphonies)' -- New Video

Happy Friday! Def Leppard just released a new video from their upcoming Drastic Symphonies album. The clip is for the symphonic version of "Hysteria" featuring London's Philharmonic Orchestra. The album comes out May 19 and I can't wait. I was a day-one pre-order of course!

Def Leppard Releases Official Video For Symphonic Version Of 'Animal'

Def Leppard just released the director's cut version of the track "Animal" from their upcoming album Drastic Symphonies.

I honestly love this new video. It takes original footage from the actual "Animal" video and uses modern clips of Def Leppard performing live. There are shots of the orchestral musicians during the recording process and a whole lot of nods to UK pride, making for a smart way to show this reinvented version of a classic song in a new way.

Drastic Symphonies comes out May 19th.

Rick Allen Attacked In Florida

Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen was attacked outside a Four Seasons Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Monday night. He was allegedly ambushed by a 19 year old nut from Ohio (of course) named Max Edward Hartley. Allen walked outside to smoke and Hartley pounced, knocking Allen to the ground. Allen fell and hit his dead. A woman saw the attack and tried to help Allen and then Hartley started attacking and dragging her... by the hair. 

Allen was in Florida for a Def Leppard/Motley Crue tour stop.

All this information comes from a police report. Police arrested Hartley near another hotel - after allegedly smashing some cars, too. Allen wants to prosecute, so we will likely hear more about this incident in the future.

Def Leppard's drummer Rick Allen was attacked by a 19-year-old man outside of his hotel in Florida over the weekend, according to a Fort Lauderdale Police report posted by Daily Mail. https://t.co/o1hiv9N5Id

— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) March 16, 2023

Def Leppard Announce 'Drastic Symphonies' With The London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Def Leppard will release a new album May 19 called Drastic Symphonies. The release will feature classic tracks alongside the work of The London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

You already know I love when rock and metal bands work with orchestras. Symphonic Led Zeppelin by the London Philharmonic Orchestra is one of my favorite albums of all time. Now I get a Def Leppard version - but this upcoming release is different! While the Led Zeppelin album - and many orchestral interpretations - just feature the music without lyrics, this new Lep work features the vocals, often in re-imagined or in re-recorded ways. About the upcoming release, Def Lep guitarist Phil Collen says:

"t was an amazingly inspirational process culminating in the live recording of the RPO at Abbey Road studios in London. An absolute team effort that took a good part of a year. It's a new Def Leppard album, it's a greatest-hits-plus album, with some rarely heard songs, it's a live RPO album and we think it's perfect."

You read that correctly: the Leps spent a year on the project. The songs were recorded last March and it's been in production since. I just pre-ordered the vinyl version off Amazon - it was around $40. You can do the same by clicking the image in this post.

Wishing Joe Elliott Well

For a short while, Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott received hospital-level treatment after arriving in Bogota, Colombia. The band - along with Motley Crue - will play a World Tour gig there tonight. Despite Elliott suffering from "difficulty breathing," he is apparently fine and the show will go on as planned. Perhaps he was just not feeling 100% and went to the hospital for a more-thorough checkup. Or maybe it was the altitude? Let's hope it was nothing more serious!

Performing while sick must really suck, so map props to Joe and every other musician who hits the stage being a little under-the-weather.

DEF LEPPARD's JOE ELLIOTT Briefly Hospitalized In Bogotá; Tonight's Concert To Go Ahead As Scheduled https://t.co/5dCkBx7Yaj pic.twitter.com/ss5IzWPif3

— BLABBERMOUTH.NET (@BLABBERMOUTHNET) February 25, 2023

BOGOTA – the show is still ON for tonight at Parque Simon Bolivar! We're ready to rock and roll with the fans in Colombia! 🤘 🔥 pic.twitter.com/KoEXqwGt9r

— Def Leppard (@DefLeppard) February 25, 2023