David Bowie – Rest in Peace

I heard the news today oh boy …. And I can’t believe what I’ve heard …. David Bowie is dead. He’s been a massive part of my life since I first heard Starman in 1972. So many of us came in at that moment, myself, Bono, Boy George, Morrissey, Gary Kemp, Jim Kerr, Brett Anderson, Pete Murphy, Gary Numan, millions of fans, all very different from each other but all with one thing in common, the belief that a true rock & roll alien had landed on earth & he was ours. I own every record he ever made, he was plastered all over my bedroom wall as a kid, he was my very first bootleg, his CDs take up 2 whole shelves in my collection. I have personally recorded over 25 of his songs either on my own, with Leppard or with the Cybernauts. I met him 2 or 3 times & always found him charming & engaging. It is said, never meet your heroes, they will let you down. Bullshit. He was open, funny, a good listener !!  & when myself & Phil Collen joined David on stage with Queen, Mick Ronson & Ian Hunter at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Gig in 1992 it became one of the most memorable musical moments of my life. I can’t believe he’s gone. A huge hole has opened up in my heart & it feels like my youth has been further ripped away from me. At least I have a lifetime of his music to comfort me, as we all have, as he left behind one hell of a legacy. The Starman waiting in the sky waits no longer.  Rest in Peace David Bowie and thank you for giving us believers something to believe in”.  Joe Elliott (Jan 10th 2016)

Remembering Steve Clark

25 years ago today, original DEF LEPPARD guitarist Steve Maynard Clark passed away at his home in Chelsea, much too soon at the age of 30.  Here’s a little note from Joe and Phil remembering Steve..

Joe Elliott:
“25 years ago today was one of the darkest days in the history of Def Leppard, when we lost our friend & colleague Steve Clark. I miss him everyday & have so many great memories of him, from the day I first met him outside Virgin Records in 1978 to the last gig we ever played together at the Tacoma Dome in 1988. There was one more performance at the MTV awards in 1989 and a handful of recording sessions over the next year or so, but my lasting memories of this shy, funny, tortured but brilliantly talented guitarist will always be him on stage, absolutely his natural environment, tearing it up with a style that was so riveting, so exciting, it was a joy to share a stage with him. So, think about Steve today, play some early Leppard & smile, I won’t be playing anything on my radio show tomorrow, it’s too close to home, maybe next week, so for me, it’ll be a quiet moment of reflection for a lost friend who wrote some great riffs, helped create some great songs but like so many others, shined so brightly but left us way too soon”.

See you on the other side my friend ……Joe Elliott (8 January 2016)

Phil Collen:
“Me and Steve (Photo of Steve by Ross Halfin) Denver 1988 and a gift to me from Brian Wheat of Tesla, who also opened for us on that tour.” – Phil Collen (8 January 2016)

Phil Collen and Steve - Photo of Steve by Ross Halfin -  Denver 1988

Phil Collen’s DELTA DEEP “Sugar Shack” Tour!

DELTA DEEP, Phil’s powerful blues supergroup is anxiously awaiting the start of their ‘Sugar Shack Tour”. Tickets are on sale NOW!
Dec 20, 2015  London, England UK (V229) – Tickets HERE
Dec 21, 2015  London, England UK (Sebright Arms) – Ticket HERE
Jan 6, 2016 – Agoura Hills, CA (The Canyon Club) – Tickets HERE
Jan 7, 2016 – San Juan Capistrano, CA (The Coach House) – Tickets HERE
Jan 10, 2016 – Mill Valley, CA (Sweetwater Music Hall) – Tickets HERE
Jan 11, 2016 – Santa Cruz, CA (The Catalyst Club) – Tickets HERE
Jan 13, 2016 – Hermosa Beach, CA (Saint Rocke) – Tickets HERE

Debut album out now HERE

Delta Deep - Jan tour banner