NEWS

The following report is courtesy of BBC News:

They are one of only a handful of British acts to have two back-to-back albums which sold more than 10 million copies each.

But to mark the release of DEF LEPPARD's new album Songs From The Sparkle Lounge - predicted to go top five this weekend - just 200 fans got to see them storm through their greatest hits at north London's Islington Academy.

It was a rare opportunity for the audience to eyeball singer Joe Elliott, bassist Rick "Sav" Savage, drummer Rick Allen and guitarists Phil Collen and Viv Campbell, who are more used to playing North American stadium shows. "There's a certain safety in stadiums," Elliott says.

"With a tiny gig like the one we just did, you can hear everything the audience is saying about you, and you have to watch out where they're putting their beer glasses.

"A couple of times I wanted to lift my mic-stand but I was worried about taking off Sav's head."

Def Leppard have notched up more than 30 years together since playing their first show at a school in Sheffield in the late 1970s.

While other bands of their age break up and occasionally make up for lucrative tours, Def Leppard really do get along.
"We all live at Joe's when we're recording," Allen explains.

"And then we're all together when we're touring. We're always together."

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