Classic Rock can exclusively reveal that Joe Elliott’s Down’N’Outz are in the process of recording a studio album.

Words: Dave Ling

The Down’N’Outz are the supposedly ‘one night only’ group comprising Leppard frontman Elliott on vocals, rhythm guitar and piano, plus assorted members of The Quireboys – guitarists Paul Guerin and Guy Griffin, keyboard player Keith Weir and drummer Phil Martini – and completed by bassist Ronnie Garrity (a member of the band Raw Glory which features former Gillan drummer Mick Underwood and ex-Heavy Metal Kids guitarist Cosmo).

The Down’N’Outz got together to open for Mott The Hoople on the final night of the reunited band’s recent string of dates at London’s Hammersmith Apollo, ostensibly to perform material the members of Mott The Hoople had been involved with after splitting in 1974.

This treat included material from the back catalogue of Ian Hunter, the band Mott and British Lions.

The October 6 performance included the songs:

Golden Opportunities (Ian Hunter)
Overnight Angels (Ian Hunter)
One More Chance To Run (British Lions)
Shouting & Pointing (Mott)
Storm (Mott)
Career (Mott – with vocals from Spike of The Quireboys)
Who Do You Love (Ian Hunter)
By Tonight (Mott)
England Rocks (Ian Hunter)
Good Times (Mott, originally recorded by The Easybeats)

The show was filmed by a camera crew that had been documenting the Mott reunion, though until now the exact fate of the footage was uncertain.

But when Classic Rock spoke to Paul Guerin ahead of a December tour from The Quireboys – during which the band will perform their 1990 debut album A Bit Of What You Fancy in its entirety – the guitarist revealed:

“As we speak, we are recording studio versions of those songs. The bass and drums for 10 tracks have already gone down. I start the guitars tomorrow; Griff’s already doing his. Spike’s also going to be involved [with the song he sang live, Career].

“Basically, we are going to do all of the music and backing vocals before flying it across to Joe at his studio in Dublin. The plan is to release a studio album and DVD in one package.

“The studio album will also include tracks that we didn’t have time to play during a 45-minute gig. Emails are currently flying back and forth about those extra songs.”

Besides the December UK tour, The Quireboys are also about to release an Americana-themed album called Halfpenny Dancer, which includes a restyled version of UFO’s Love To Love. This can currently be heard at their MySpace site.

Of the band’s upcoming tour, which features Wolfsbane as support (the same act that opened for them circa A Bit Of What You Fancy), Guerin confirms that yet another original feature of those dates is to be recreated.

“Just like first time around, the 2009 stage set will include a bar – a couple of them, in fact,” he smiles. “I designed them and they are being constructed right now. As long as the size is done correctly it will look absolutely great. My only fear is a Spinal Tap-Stonehenge scenario.”

The dates are as follows:

Crewe Limelight Dec 3 (low-key warm-up)
Bristol Academy Dec 10
London Kentish Town Forum Dec 11
Dudley JB’s Dec 12
Liverpool Academy Dec 17
Glasgow Cathouse Dec 18
Sheffield Academy Dec 19
Newcastle Academy Dec 20

For tickets visit: www.seetickets.com or tel: 08700 603 777.