Can do better: Elliott wants to keep making new music

Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott believes his band have no option but to play a set of hits on tour – and he sometimes feels guilty about it.

Yet every time he tries to address the issue by changing the setlist around, it winds up backfiring.

The Sheffield giants are preparing to tour the US with Poison and Lita Ford, and the frontman vows to give fans what the want – as long as the fans keep letting the band have their own way from time to time.

Elliott tells KFAB: “People come to hear what they know. The only place people go psychologically prepared for an hour of brand-new music is an open mic night in some little bar.

“You don’t go to Madison Square Garden expecting to hear two hours of brand new Paul McCartney, Def Leppard, Roger Waters or the Who. You go to see Quadrophenia, something you’ve owned for 40 years. That’s what these gigs are.”

But he knows that’s not enough for some fans. “There’s always a little thread on the website: ‘They never changed the set,’” he says.  “But you change the set and 99% of the audience start to moan they didn’t hear the hits.

“You can’t cater to the minority. You just can’t. But occasionally you get these pangs of guilt where you do.

“You throw in a B-side to make them happy – and 99% of the audience stand there going, ‘What the hell’s that?’ You feel very isolated up there when you don’t get a reaction to a song.”

That doesn’t mean there won’t be any new material on the Def Leppard set list, however. Elliott says: “You’ve got to be careful how you do it; make sure you don’t throw too many in at once, because that’s when they start heading to the bar or the t-shirt stand.

“An audience will always indulge an artist a new song or two, otherwise we’d just die. I couldn’t do this for the rest of my life if we weren’t allowed to say the words: ‘here’s a song from our new album’.”

The singer thinks the secret of Def Leppard’s longevity is the band members have an honest and high regard for each other – something you can’t fake on stage.

“You can’t fake eye contact, true friendship,” he insists before adding: “You can fake not being injured. Last year I did half a tour with a torn achilles and nobody knew because I smiled through the pain and gritted my teeth. That’s what you do.

“There’s a lot of love and goodwill with each other. We’re all on the same page. We keep working to the theory that one day we’ll write the best song we’ve ever written. That might sound facetious or big-headed that we could top a Sugar of a Photograph, but as an artist you have to think you can.”

Loving every minute: Schon and Salahi

Journey mainman Neal Schon isn’t upset over his recent tabloid exposure.

In fact, he’s celebrating it – and he’s set to advise would-be reality TV stars on how to deal with the trappings of fame.

The guitarist grabbed headlines in September after he dumped his wife of two months and ran off with former love and reality star Michaele Salahi. Her husband then launched a $50m lawsuit which was last month dismissed in court.

Schon tells Ultimate Classic Rock: “It was a crazy time for me and us. I got a grip on it and I’ve learned to deal with it. The only thing you can do is keep you heard up – and know you’re not doing anything as malicious a they try to make it sound.”

He reflects: “There’s a lot of good stuff that has come out of this. You have your little group of haters, about four of five people and we all know who they are. They have these various names that the go under. If an article comes out on Michaele and I, they’re the first to hit the comments.

“I don’t even bother reading it any more. They need to all get jobs.”

Next month the couple will appear at an event called How To Be a Reality Star in El Paso, Texas. Schon says: “Something in my gut instinct told me this is a good thing to do for the future.”

And he has his own plans, although he won’t reveal them, simply saying: “What I’m working on is not a reality show, but I’m definitely working on something that I think is going to revolutionise the music industry and how young artists come to the forefront.”

Slash has released a video for You’re A Lie, taken from upcoming second solo album Apocalyptic Love.

Track: Slash – You’re A Lie

For fans of: Both flavours of GnR

The Hall of Fame axeman says: “It’s the second song I brought to the band in 2011 during the last tour. We worked on it at soundcheck somewhere. It’s gone through some changes, mainly the chorus – but for the most part it’s remained true to its original arrangement.”

Apocalyptic Love is released as part of an exclusive Classic Rock collector’s Fan Pack on May 21, complete with two unique bonus tracks, a 132-page deluxe magazine and more.

Dilemma: Nige Rockett

Onslaught founder Nige Rockett says the band were given a straight choice in between working with singer Steve Grimmett on 1989 release In Search of Sanity– or being sidelined until their record contract expired.

While the album was their most successful to date, it marked a significant change of direction and left diehard fans bewildered and angry, not least because popular frontman Sy Keeler had been kicked out.

But Rockett explains the band were left with little say in the matter.

He tells 69facesofrock.com: “We’d recorded aw hole album and we were in the mixing stages. This was the fist time the label came down to listen to it, and, basically, they didn’t like what they were hearing.

“You could tell something wasn’t right. At the end they said, ‘We were expecting something else. We want to look at the vocal situation.’

“Next day the management tells me Steve Grimmett’s name was thrown into the bag. We said, ‘No, Sy is our singer.’ They were like: ‘You do what we say or we put the band on ice for the length of your contract. You’ll release no albums in that time. You got to play ball with what we want.’ So that’s what happened.”

Rockett says he has nothing personal against the Grim Reaper frontman, who he describes as a “nice guy” but continues: “There was never a chemistry with him in the band. There certainly wasn’t a chemistry with the fans, that’s for sure.

“The guy left the band within a year of joining. There was no commitment there. I think Grim Reaper had been long gone and buried and I think Steve was looking for a way back into the music industry.”

Asked what they should have done instead the guitarist replies: “Signed with a different label.”

The band reunited with Sy Keeler and they’ve gone back to their thrash roots with acclaimed recent album Sounds of Violence. Meanwhile, Grimmett is fronting a reactivated Grim Reaper and he’s also working with ex-Onslaught drummer Steve Grice in The Sanity Days, performing material from In Search of Sanity.

Final cutdown: Tempest's comment was edited out

Europe singer Joey Tempest left BBC TV’s breakfast show hosts flustered after using strong language live on air. During an interview yesterday morning he said: “My wife says I speak in three languages… Swedish, England and bullshit.” Presenters Charlie Stayt and Susanna Reid both immediately apologised and swiftly moved on to discuss Tempest’s “eighties hair.” The moment was edited out of later repeats. See the clip below.

Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea says he was honoured to take part in a trip to Africa with bandmate Josh Klinghoffer, after Blur mainman Damon Albarn invited them to join him. Flea reports: “Josh and I went to Ethiopia. What an amazing place it is – we met all kinds of people. Artists, poets, intellectuals. We went to this orphanage and we took these two little amps and just started rocking. They just started laughing: 300 kids standing in this circle. They thought it was the craziest thing. It was a really profound experience.” [KROQ]

Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante says most of the songs on recent album Worship Music were designed to be part of a solo release – until returned frontman Joey Belladonna said they were too good for that. Several years later, when Belladonna was back in the fold, the vocalist amazed his bandmates with his studio performance. Benante says: “He applied himself in such a way that I was totally, totally blown away. His tone, his emotion, everything about it: I just think he really married the songs with his vocals.” [Drum Magazine]

American history experts say Phil Collins’ collection of artefacts from the Battle of the Alamo is the best in the world. The former Genesis drummer and singer is concentrating on his interest in the 1836 event after he retired from music. He says: “I sit downstairs in my basement, sort of drooling over what I’ve got. It was never my intention to have this huge collection but one thing let to another.” He won’t confirm how much he’s spent but says: “I made it possibly because I don’t buy Ferraris.” [Seattle Times]

Jack Russell of Great White is celebrating nine months clean after he turned his back on drink and drugs followed several years of illness and near-death dramas. He says: “I feel good about that and anybody who says I’m lying can go fuck themselves.” [Extreme Talk XM16]

Returned Ratt bassist Juan Croucier has befriended Robbie Crane, the man who’d had his job for the past 15 years. The pair met at the M3 festival in Maryland, where Croucier appeared with Ratt for the first time since his departure in 1992. In a Facebook message on Crane’s page Croucier says: “Hey Robbie! It was great to see you at M3! You are a class act! I’m really proud… I couldn’t have had a better replacement than you. I have the highest respect for you. Friends for life buddy!” Crane replies: “Thank you Juan! I feel the same about you… Thank you for allowing me to fulfill my childhood dreams as the bass player of Ratt! God bless you and your family!”

No go: Ward, left, with Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath have forgotten where they came from, says drummer Bill Ward, as he confirms he won’t participate in their reunion.

He reveals the band wanted him to play a “minimal” part in their Download festival headline slot – while another unnamed musician played the rest of the set.

And he adds the band asked him to appear at their homecoming gig in Birmingham for free.

Ward says he’s heartbroken that people who hoped to see the original lineup on stage in the coming months will be robbed of the experience.

Black Sabbath last year confirmed a new album was in the works which would be the first to feature Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Ward since 1979. The plan included a full world tour.

Later, guitarist Iommi’s cancer battle reduced the live itinerary to just three shows. But in the meantime, Ward told fans he hadn’t been able to cut a “signable” deal with his bandmates.

Now, after months of insisting his bags were packed and he was ready to play, he’s confirmed it won’t happen – and commiserates with followers who were hoping to see the band together on stage one last time.

Ward says: “I sincerely regret to inform you that after a final effort to participate in the upcoming shows, a failure to agree has continued. I won’t be playing at the Birmingham gig on May 19th, nor the Download festival. I will not be playing at Lollapalooza.

“I am passionate in my desire to play with the band and I’m very, very sorry. I was particularly excited to play alongside Tony after the recent treatments he underwent. I wanted that to become a reality.”

Ward says he felt duty-bound to confirm his absence after his brother was stopped in the street by a fan who demanded to know if the drummer would be part of at the Birmingham concert.

“The man’s son is a young drummer,” says the iconic sticksman. “He’s going to see Black Sabbath and he wants to see Bill Ward play drums. Upon hearing this news I felt horrible.

“I couldn’t help feeling some resentment towards the failure to reach an agreement, the failure to remember where we came from – the failure to be brothers, as we once were.”

He insists he levels no blame at his former bandmates, but he had to stand up for his own beliefs, saying: “It can’t be easy for them either. This situation is just really sad.”

But he reports: “In April I’d been asked to participate ‘minimally’ in the Download festival. I believe I’d been offered no more than three songs, while another drummer played the rest of the show with Black Sabbath.

“I was not willing to participate. I was not prepared to watch another drummer play a Sabbath set while I was to play only three songs.”

Discussing the band’s homecoming show he says: “The offer we received on May 9 was: ‘Come to the UK, play for free and see how the first show goes.’ I was tempted – playing for free would not have been a problem. But ‘seeing how the first show goes’ left an element of risk which could have affected Download.

“On the night of May 9 I asked for a letter to be sent to the representative, asking if we were at an end. On the morning of May 10 I received a reply in the affirmative. A decision was made to let go and stop.

“Saying ‘no’ to Birmingham is very difficult for me. My family grew up in Birmingham. Black Sabbath grew up in Birmingham.

“I can’t prioritise the Sabbath fans, making one show more important than the other. All of you are important – it’s all the gigs or none at all. I can’t come to Birmingham and ‘see what happens’ knowing there is a risk of not being able to play Download or Lollapalooza.”

Ward’s message to his audience is: “I don’t know how to amend my part in these failings other than to put my arms around you and say, ‘I love you,’ and let you know I’m very, very sorry.”

In a separate page on his website he thanks Osbourne, Butler and Iommi along with a number of his friends and family, including brother James, to whom he says: “We tried.”

Black Sabbath’s world tour has been replaced by an Ozzy Osbourne and Friends trek. The band are continuing work on the new album with producer Rick Rubin.

A different Creed: Mark Tremonti

Mark Tremonti’s solo stuff is heavier than Creed or Alter Bridge and has a lot of ridiculously riotous rampant riff-work.

Tracks: Mark Tremonti – You Waste Your Time

For fans of: Creed, Alter Bridge… and Trivium?!

For the purposes of his solo work, the guitarist will cunningly operate under the ‘Tremonti’ moniker.

His album, titled All I Was and set for release in early July, was produced by Michael ‘Elvis’ Baskette (who has previously worked on Alter Bridge’s ABIII and Blackbird, as well as the likes of Limp Bizkit, Cold and Trivium) and also marks Tremonti’s debut as a lead singer.

In addition, the guitarist will be taking the album on the road later in 2012.

Said Tremonti: “It’s a dynamic record. It’s probably heavier than either Creed or Alter Bridge, but it’s still melody-driven. Most of the stuff is more up-tempo and heavy-riffing though. I had to write 11 solos for this record so it took me a long time. There’s lots of soloing.”

So… 11 lots of soloing, to be precise.

You can listen to one of Tremonti’s new songs below. (And it is very Trivium-esque in parts, don’tcha think?)

Baroness: nudging the sludge aside?

Georgia metalheads Baroness are back with a brand new song, Take My Bones Away.

Track: Baroness – Take My Bones Away

For fans of: deceptively commercial-sounding mud-encrusted sludge-metal

Baroness have a new album called Yellow & Green coming out on July 17. By the surprisingly melodious sounds of this new song, Take My Bones Away, it could be their most commercial offering yet – and might just mark the band’s breakthrough from the swampy undergrowth into the firm-footed mainstream.

Screwball J-Pop: Shonen Knife

They’re an all-girl trio from Japan and they’ve been described as “the Osaka Ramones”. They’re about to release their 18th (yes, 18th!) studio album, Pop Tune.

Track: Shonen Knife – Pop Tune

For fans of: Um… they play what is perhaps best described as a Bizarro World version of J-Pop

Having explored a 70s-style metal/rock sound in their previous two albums Super Group and Free Time,  new album Pop Tune marks a return to Shonen Knife’s signature mix of pin-sharp punk-pop, 60s girl group-inspired harmonies, upbeat melodies and general all-round oriental irreverence.

Watch their new video to Pop Tune below. The album itself is out on July 2.

Steel yourself…

Metal Hammer – Classic Rock‘s sister magazine – has joined forces with Manowar for a special release of the band’s long-awaited 12th studio album, The Lord Of Steel.

On sale June 26, it’s exclusively available to pre-order at: www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/manowar

In addition to The Lord Of Steel album, this special pack includes a unique variant edition of Metal Hammer magazine issue 233, with an in-depth 20-page feature about the album containing exclusive content and interviews with all the members of the veteran battle-metal overlords (ie. Manowar).

A further great bonus to this Metal Hammer Steel Edition is another brand new album: Darkness Visible, the second studio release from New York power metal/goth overlords, HolyHell.

Two brand new metal albums and one fantastic magazine! Pre-order now only at: www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/manowar

Find out more about The Lord Of Steel here: www.manowar.com/news_body.php?idnews=576