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'Hysteria is an Albatross' - Elliott

Posted 7/28/2010 9:30:00 AM

An upbeat Joe Elliott spared me a few minutes last Sunday at the High Voltage Festival to have a chat about his side project Down ‘N’ Outz and also answer a couple of questions about his day job in Def Leppard.

Sipping rather tasty Down’ N’ Outz 5.0% proof lager (see pic) specially produced for the band’s appearance at the festival Joe expressed his regret at the coverage Def Leppard has received from the UK music press; how he considered ‘Hysteria to be a kind of albatross hanging round his neck’; and where he plans, (or as it transpired doesn’t!) to go with Down ‘N’ Outz.

Rather prophetically he also mentioned that loss of power could be a problem at festivals, although I don’t think for one moment he thought it would be a deliberate act! If you don’t know what I’m talking about, read my previous blog!

Due to a rather unfortunate recording equipment error there is no quality audio available, but here are a few highlights from our chat that I started by asking the Leppard frontman about his new side project:

How did the Down ‘N‘ Outz project come about and where do you plan to take it?

"Well, we didn’t plan it, it just happened! And as for where it’s going? It’s like a snake I just have no idea which direction it will take!

"It came about when I was asked if I’d like to do something for one of the Mott The Hoople reunion gigs at the Hammersmith Apollo in October 2009. So, I got together with with the Quireboys, and we started rehearsing some Mott the Hoople, Mott, British Lions and Ian Hunter’s solo stuff while I was touring the US with Leppard. It was bloody hard work but we enjoyed it so much we thought we’d thought we’d carry on. In fact we felt cheated after putting so much hard work into just one 45 minute set, that we decided we had to do a few more gigs and it’s snowballed from there.

"The big leap came when we started recording stuff. I kept tinkering with it, you know improving it, and we added tracks until eventually we had enough for an album. We called it My Regeneration and initially it was a giveaway with Classic Rock magazine, which got it some momentum and gave us the confidence to go for a full release. Now it’s available on iTunes and in all good record shops! But, the really encouraging thing for us is that one of the tracks off the album England Rocks is getting top ten airplay in the States!

"And, of course, it was giving the album away with Classic Rock that got us the invite to play here at High Voltage"

Speaking of the festival, what are you expecting from the High Voltage crowd today?

"I really don’t know what to expect today. But, then it’s always the same at a festival. There’s not just the crowd to consider, the power could go off or it could rain. Basically, the crowd could go either way. It is exciting because we’re a new band, only we’ve got 32 years of experience each. So we’re hugely different from new bands as they don’t normally have that experience to call upon. We’ve got a big head start. Our manager is Leppard’s manager and that also helps, but as for today’s reaction I really haven’t got a clue what to expect."

Just moving away from today, I read recently that you’ve been quite outspoken recently about the British music press and how you consider they have been always been unkind to Leppard...

"Yeah, I did say that and it makes me sound bitter, but I’m not a bitter person. I’m very positive and optimistic in outlook, I was just bemoaning the fact that Leppard simply don’t get any respect and the British music press are always looking for new ways to put us down.

"For example, they put Johnny Marr on the cover of Mojo magazine, and he’s sold maybe three million albums in his career. Leppard can’t get on there, but we’ve sold over 100million albums worldwide.

"But, it’s not just us it’s the same for others like Elton John. He doesn’t get on any covers and he’s one of the biggest selling artists of all time. You can be guaranteed that when he’s no longer with us the press will lionise him, but they should be doing it now. It will be too late when he’s gone.

"It's the same every time we’ve released a new album in the last 20 years, it has been compared unfavourably to Hysteria - that album is like an albatross hanging around my neck. It's just lazy journalism, the reviewers never look at the new album in its own right, but just trot out the same old mantra' it's not as good as Hysteria'."

So, are you saying that when you gig with Leppard you get frustrated that you can’t include more recent material, such as from ‘X’ and ‘The Sparkle Lounge’ for example?

"Yeah, of course I am, but then The Rolling Stones would also say that about Voodoo Lounge, and many other older artists about their new stuff. People don’t want to hear it they want to hear their old favourites. That is why this (Down ‘N’ Outz) is so different for me. There’s nothing out there to compare us to, and we can play what we like!"

So, how does playing in Down ‘N ‘Outz compare to playing with Leppard?

"It doesn’t. Leppard is a totally different animal. You can’t really compare the two. It’s a lot easier to get things done with Down ‘N’ Outz though. We discuss everything with Leppard and then by the time we agree to do whatever we are discussing, we could have already just gone and done it! Whereas now when I suggest things to the band everyone is just relaxed and it’s just done. It’s great!"

Joe Elliott’s Down ‘N’ Outz’s new album My Regeneration is on general release. Def Leppard plan to get back together in 2011, and there are also plans for the release of a first-ever live album...stay tuned!

Posted By: David

Comments:

with bated breath
Posted By Elaine On 7/29/2010 7:27:39 AM

sounds good
Posted By joe sellan On 7/28/2010 3:35:07 PM