May 10th 2004

Joe Elliott of Def Leppard kindly agreed to take part in one our Lets 
Talk Muisc Celebrity Chats.  Below is an edited transcript showing the 
many questions and answers that were placed.

The event was marred by the sad death of Allison Lancaster who had been a 
great supporter of the site and will be missed by all.

The chat also attracted the most members into the chat line at one time – 
35.

ENJOY!


Stevie	Hi Erika and all my mates just spoke to Joe he is finishing a 
vocal and then he will be with us

Martynuk	 the guys a legend a genuine person

Stevie	Hi everyone Joe will be with us very soon just finishing a track 
off his new album

Bill		A great big welcome to all of those I have not met or 
talked to before
nice to see so many new names in here tonight
Evening Joe and welcome to the mad world of LTM Chat

Destner	Hi Joe!

Joe Elliott	Hello Bill!  No doubt !!

Soulpower	Hi Joe, great to 'meet' you hehe.  Great to be in the 
presence of greatness hehe

Erica		Hi Joe

Bill	Thank you for joining us this evening - hope you enjoy the chat 
as much as we will

Joe Elliott	Just in time too !!
*****************************

Bill	So let’s get to the nitty gritty - give us the truth about your 
time working with Stevie, was she as angelic as she is nowadays.  You 
know you want to tell us

Erica		Yep come on spill we love Stevie secrets

Stevie	Hey good lookin’  What the hell is cooking how about spending 
time with me Stevie
Joe Elliott	Oh yes, Me & Stevie go WAY back !!!

Erica		backstage ?????

Joe Elliott	Don't be rude !!!!

Erica		sorry  :>(

Joe Elliott 	Nope, when I was ‘attempting’ to sing something off 
Pyromania, & failing miserably, she saved my bacon !!! 
*****************************

Destner	Ok, Joe my first Q, what would your advice be to a fresh 17 year 
old female who's about to start her career as a singer?

Joe Elliott	Advice !!?? DON'T listen to advice, follow your own 
path !!

Destner	COOL!

Soulpower	That sounds like the best advice Joe

Destner	Cool, thanks, Joe!
*****************************

Bill	When you started out did you have management in place first or 
did the record company spot you and put a team together for you

Joe Elliott	We had management .....not great, but hey, we were 
young !!!
****************************

Soulpower	How does it feel to have such a MASSIVE selling album 
as 'Hysteria'?

Joe Elliott	It's personally great, (keeps the family in gossip for 
YEARS !!!) professionally, hard to follow !!!
*****************************

Erica	I was reading today that you once did three gigs in one day and 
travelled over 5000 miles how did that feel.  Did you just do it for the 
Guinness Book of Records

Joe Elliott	Tiring !! ...I slept all the way from London to 
Vancouver !!

No, but that WAS a bonus, record companies always want you to jump thru' 
hoops when releasing a new album, we thought it would be a good laugh !!! 
but NEVER AGAIN !!!
*****************************

Stevie	Hey Joe what's cookin’ good lookin how's about singing something 
with me again for old times sake

Bill	No - Stevie singing.... I couldn’t take it........  Only joking 
Stevie - that would be great if that could be arranged..... talk to her 
management and lets schedule in a date :)
*****************************

Quantumleep Hi Joe, something I’ve always wondered,  The Hysteria album, 
was one of the great 80's albums that I personally grew

Joe Elliott	 it was a plant then !!!??

Soulpower	LOL!

Bill		lol

Joe Elliott	Like growing your own weed?? !!!

Quantumleep	It has so much energy and chemistry.  Was it very vibey 
in the studio

Martynuk	hehe

Joe Elliott	Sorry for being a smart arse !!! 

Bill		Someone has to be :)

Martynuk	I think B & Q sell Hysteria plants

Joe Elliott	Not vibey at all ...took 3 years !!!
*****************************

Cruiserman	Joe, just been watching 'Long, Long way to go' video on 
the DL website,  Cool song.  Great vid.  How do you guys feel about it?

Destner	Heck of a song!

Erica		yep love it

Joe Elliott	I love that video !!!! .....Clive the director did a 
great job making us look er, younger !!!!

Cruiserman	LOL
*****************************

Soulpower	I want Mutt Lange to produce our next album Joe hehehe - 
have you got his number?

Bill		Mutt is doing the new Darkness album

Soulpower	Yeah I know Bill

Joe Elliott	I heard rumours, but I think maybe just the odd 
track ......
*****************************

Bill	What plans have you got for the future, Do you plan to record any 
new material and tour again?

Joe Elliott	We are recording right now !!! ...touring isn't in the 
immediate future having just finished 17 months, I'm enjoying my own bed 
for once !!!!

Martynuk	Where is the album being recorded? At your house?

Joe Elliott	Joe's Garage, as usual !!!

Martynuk	great stuff
*****************************

Erica	The folks of Yorkshire including me are very proud of Def Leppard 
do you visit there much or miss it

Joe Elliott	Visit all the time !! Crashing on mate's couches etc !!!!
*****************************

Bill		Do you enjoy touring or prefer studio work

Joe Elliott	I prefer the touring side much more than the studio, but, 
having said that, this new one & ‘X’ were a load of fun .. More so then 
ever before
*****************************

Quantumleep (typing in green which no one can read) not many groups you 
could do a duet with these days, what about the darkness??any plans?

Bill		Quantum - change colour - you are not easy to read

Joe Elliott	Funny you should say that !!!!!!!!

Quantumleep	We're never easy to read haha

Bill		or understand quantum
*****************************

At this point Surrealistic entered the room and he was warmly welcomed by 
all the other members.

*****************************

Cuiserman	 Joe: I have a recording Question ---  Do you work as a 
live unit? or record parts separately`?

Joe Elliott	Not always, depends on the song 
*****************************

Martynuk	Have many other bands used the services of the ‘garage’

Joe Elliott	one or 2 local bands, I'm picky !!!
*****************************

Joe Elliott	Keith, Hi, Joe Here .... sorry for your ...you know ....

Surrealistic	Thank you Joe, much appreciated
*****************************

Soulpower	Joe, are you glad to see the Darkness and such bringing 
back classic rock to the masses?

Joe Elliott	Darkness, Stereophonics, whoever ...I'll take it !!!
*****************************

Joe Elliott	Glad I'm not the worst typer here !

Bill	There are plenty of bad typists here.... too much drugs and 
alcohol mostly

Cuiserman	lol

Jem		Hey Bill if only :)

Bill	We run a pure and innocent site here - but when the online shop 
starts who knows

Reach1	Hey, I type over 100 wpm ;)

Bill		But is that in a language anyone can understand reach

Jem		lmao!

Joe Elliott	I doo 100 an hour .... :(

Cruiserman	Bill, don't give us away yet!!

Joe Elliott	I suck at typing ....
*****************************

Destner	Listen Joe, from your point of view, Do you find the record 
industry's changed since the NET started for you as a band?

Joe Elliott	BIG time ...... 

Destner	Strange question, but I mean Do you find a difference in sales 
and so on?

Monique	Better or worse?

Joe Elliott	Worse, we're not protected anymore ..it's like going to 
bed with your front door wide open ....  Records need to sound right, not 
necessarily be that much fun to make
*****************************

Bill	When I worked at Chrysalis, Jethro Tull albums could be pressed 
to the nearest 000s. I.E. the company knew how many copies would sell 
with its fan base. Do you think DL are in a similar situation and 
therefore sell only through their own website or will you get 
distribution via a major

Jem	Do you need a record company deal nowadays?  Prince did 8 million 
on web sales so we hear

Joe Elliott	It's possible to sell thru' a website, but it looks a bit 
like downsizing, & 
we're not ready for that yet, I hope !!!

Soulpower	Wow Jem

Jem		true lol!

Surrealistic	I wonder in the end whether all bands will have to aim 
smaller with the net.  Maybe we're at the end of the megastar era?

Erica	You say that you feel vulnerable with e the net, yet you have a 
very very interactive and lively website

Joe Elliott	We have a GREAT website, but it doesn't stop people 
downloading illegally !!!!

Bill	Nothing ever will But do you not feel that the ‘older’ age group 
still like the tactile feel of the CD and being able to read the credits 
etc
*****************************

Cruisergirl	Hi Joe - Long long way to go - great song and lyric - 
instantly captivating - I really enjoyed watching the video 

Joe Elliott	Long Long way has just been covered by ...Lionel 
Ritchie !!!

Monique	really?

Bill		Enjoy the publishing :)

Cuisergirl	If Lionel has just covered it you should become very 
rich - he's worth about 26 billion apparently

Soulpower	Some nice royalties on the way there Joe

Joe Elliott	We didn't write it !!!!!
*****************************

Monique	How do you manage to stay true to yourself with all the voices 
(fans & industry types)?

Joe Elliott	You just follow your instincts !!!
*****************************

Stevie	Can we dedicate a question from Alli who would have been with us 
if she could she wanted to know if I helped you with your screams and I 
told her the story of the broom and the vacuum cleaner she laughed her 
head off - remember that Joe all those years ago?

Jem		What is the story with the broom and the vacuum cleaner?

Martynuk	Heard that so it is true?
*****************************

Quantumleep	 Hi Joe, sorry, but we feel the need to ask this again, 
was Hysteria more vibey in the studio, than say your other albums. 
Personal experience tells us vibey in the studio, is always the best end 
product.
Joe, to us the music IS all about enjoyment, but do see your point, 
surely whilst putting the initial tracks down, the mood must be right. 
the better the mood, the more connection with feeling.

Joe Elliott	I had the LEAST fun I've ever had making Hysteria !!!! 
but it turned out OK !!!!

Quantumleep Well you fooled us, sounds really atmospheric and epic, and 
listeners will always dream of what it must have been like..cheers for 
the info.and respect for honesty

Soulpower	Wow, I would have thought you had the MOST fun - a case 
of no pain no gain maybe hehe

Surrealistic	 I always find it fun creating - but it can be a pain 
finishing things off & polishing 'em up
*****************************

Bill	Do you ever go into record shops and see how the demographic is 
changing 

Joe Elliott	Nope, I only go to record shops to buy Cds !!!
*****************************

Destner	How long did it take to shoot the Long Way vid?

Joe Elliott	one day !!

Stevenstewart Hi. This is Steven from Finland. ‘X’ was an amazing album 
and ‘long long way to go’ is a stellar song. Thanks.
*****************************

Cruisergirl	Hello Joe - Which country do you sell most successfully 
in?

Joe Elliott	America & Canada (& UK ) are our biggest markets
*****************************

Simon		Could you let us know how much of a slave driver Mutt was 
with you.

Joe Elliott	Mutt showed us how to make records ...part of that 
process is to get over humps you struggle to naturally get over ....

Bill	How different were the tracks from your original vision when 
working with Mutt

Joe Elliott	We didn't think that far ahead !!! kind of made it up as 
we went along

Soulpower	 Did he force you to do vocal tracks over and over to get 
them sounding perfect?  My vocalist doesn't like running through things 
over and over before she lays things down, how do you approach vocal 
tracks?

Bill		Are you producing your own material now or using a 
producer
*****************************

Martynuk	Do you reckon the next UK tour will be more personal i.e. 
more smaller venues and more dates?  

Joe Elliott	Good god !!! we just played 20 smaller venues, if we went 
any smaller we might as well pack it in !!!!

Bill	There's the Angler's Retreat in Cowley – holds about 60 people - 
might be able to get you a gig there - but probably mid week only... and 
only a door deal

Martynuk	Hate small places thank god for don valley the best day 
of my life? 

Joe Elliott	Me too !!

Martynuk	What about our new stadium here in Hull its massive

Bill		but are here enough people in Hull to fill it?

Joe Elliott	Didn't we do that with the Cybernauts !!!???

Martynuk	Joking aren’t yer lol

Surrealistic	There's always fish bill

Destner	Wirstoems in Stockholm takes 30, interested? the bands there for 
ya!

Martynuk	No you did queens gardens and you got cut off stupid 
council laws
*****************************

Martynuk	Joe are the band writing as one again or have you been 
using other people as on X?

Joe Elliott	Song for song some tale a matter of minutes, some I keep 
coming back to for months !!!! ho ho
*****************************

Bill		What is the largest audience you have ever played to and 
where was it

Joe Elliott	San Diego 83 & Germany 92 we're about 55,000 but I think 
the Freddie gig topped 'em 

Joe Elliott	Don't remember specifics .... couple of sessions I guess

Stevie	 The biggest gig I ever did was the Mississippi River Festival in 
the 80's 120 Thousand people did you know that mate?
*****************************

Bill		If you had the chance to work with anyone - who would you 
choose

Joe Elliott	Too many to pick from, & most are dead !!!
*****************************

Bill	Did you have a back up career if the music world hadn't worked 
out for you

Joe Elliott	Car thief !!!
*****************************

Tlivesay	Joe! Last summer was great following you guys around the 
mid-west. I live in Indy and saw you 10 times. It was great road-tripping 
to see you guys...hotels, Heinekens and always a party! Just what do you 
suggest I do for fun this summer?!?!

Joe Elliott	Get a job so you can come out again next summer !!!!
*****************************

Jem		Joe, What CDs are in your player at the moment?

Joe Elliott	Jet, Tom Waits, but mostly Jet

Surrealistic	Tom Waits is my all time fave Joe, and he couldn't be 
more different than me musically 


Joe Elliott 	I have everything he ever did !!!  ep incl; about 40 
bootlegs !!!!

MarkusWagner	 I love Tom Waits too!!


Surrealistic	Not by choice - but you have to live Tom Waits to make 
stuff like that
 live Tom Waits life I mean

Joe Elliott	True
*****************************

Bill		Which bands / solo artists are impressing you at the 
moment

Joe Elliott	as above
*****************************

Quantumleep What about Damien Rice, Joe you must hear quite a bit of him 
on fm104

Joe Elliott	I don't listen to FM104 ..sorry 
*****************************

Sevenstewart Thanks for the original demo mp3 on your fansite. I love 
hearing stuff like that. Why is there such a hassle with rights to post 
live mp3s?

Joe Elliott	Copyright is a complicated thing!!

Bill	In what way Joe? - you sign your life away coming on LTM - read 
the T&Cs :)

Joe Elliott	We're signed to a label, so releasing anything anywhere 
else is technically illegal  Sometimes they close a blind eye, sometimes 
they don't !!

Cruiserman	Sole copyright?
*****************************

Bill 		So do you think you will become a regular visitor to LTM 
Joe

Joe Elliott	I might just have to !!!! Stevie !!!!
*****************************

Toyvan	Joe, is rock n roll different today from the 70's & 80's? and how 
so?

Joe Elliott	Everything's different, not just r& r!!
*****************************

Tlivesay, 	Joe: what is your favourite Def Leppard bootleg???

Joe Elliott	Stones 3 CD box set from '89 !! so good Ronnie Wood stole 
my first one !!!!

Soulpower	Hehe
*****************************

Destner	When I started playing I always felt like throwing up before a 
gig, nowadays I can't wait to get up there. Have you experienced the same 
thing ever?

Joe Elliott	Never thrown up, no !!!
*****************************

Stevenstewart, Joe, are you ever looking for outside writers for your 
band? And does your association with a label prevent you from singing on 
demos/ other artists albums?

Joe Elliott	Not at all ! I have in the past worked with Ray Major, 
Ronnioe Wood, & Earl Slick ..& the mighty Ronson of course !!!
*****************************
cruisergirl 	Does your website increase merchandise sales?

Joe Elliott	Don't think it has any bearing on merch sales !!!!
*****************************
martynuk 	Is it true sav`s buying Sheff weds for a packet of pork 
scratchings?

Joe Elliott	They're not worth that much !!
*****************************

Soulpower	Joe do you ever go through creative slumps/dry spells? 
How do you deal with them?

Joe Elliott	Not really never do it so much as to dry up, I only write 
when I feel like it !!! if I had to do it like a job, it would be a 
different matter !!!
*****************************

MarkusWagner	Joe, I found Steven's question very interesting : Joe, 
are you ever looking for outside writers for your band? And does your 
association with a label prevent you from singing on demos/ other artists 
albums?

Joe Elliott	We've worked with outside writers all our career !!! Mutt 
for one !!!! but we're not actively looking now, I love to write ..it's 
the 2nd best bit !!!
*****************************

Stevie	oe we are doing a huge song for aids in Africa would you sing 
just a line or two on a song that we have written especially for this 
project which is very close to my heart as you know that's where I come 
from and it would mean the world to me what do you think 

Joe Elliott	For you darling, ANYTHING !!! xxxxx

Eerica		Put the pressure on Stevie go on gal

Sstevenstewart haha! Way to pressure him Stevie! I love your brass balls! 
xo

Jem		hehe Stevie 

Cruiserman	Oh yeah!

Crystal	and with witnesses too!

Reach1	ROCK ON!

Joe Elliott	not brass, lead !!!!

Cruiserman	ooh

Stevenstewart	 With spikes.

Reach1	Wow, that's a visual

Joe Elliott	Stevie, please give me the easy line .....

Stevie	Its a song called Cry For The Children and we are writing it as 
we speak I know I’ve put you on the spot but can I take it as a yes 
sweetie

Joe Elliott	Yes Stevie !!!! xxx

*****************************

Qantumleep	Do you plan on sticking around in Dublin, I’m from the 
pale, and you’ve always been highly regarded there. We were proud that 
you based yourself there

Jem		Joe, how are you enjoying Ireland?

Joe Elliott	I love it !!! 20 years now !!!!

Jem		hy did you choose to move there?

Quantumleep	 Because it’s the home of music lol

Joe Elliott	Accident ...avoiding the UK, we were told it was more fun 
than er, anywhere else !!!

Jem		And of course the Guinness is better, presumably? :)

Joe Elliott	Hate the stuff !!!
*****************************

cruisergirl	Joe: Funny question: You look pretty good for your age in 
the video - do you regard yourself as a sex symbol ? He He!!!

Joe Elliott	Give over !!!!
*****************************

stevenstewart 	ah now! I've been watching your site and the only news is 
the Raven Drum thing. Just throw us a bone...anything that has gotten you 
really excited about the new album?  Any news on release dates for the 
follow up to ‘X’? How is the album coming? Finished? Close?

JudyG		come one Joe...spill the beans

Joe Elliott	Close, real close !!!  When there's a bone to throw it'll 
be the biggest bone in the garden baby !!!    Finishing the album is the 
only plan !!!

Stevenstewart	 If its close, can you drop any news about your favourite 
songs from the new album.

Joe Elliott	Ah now !!! you won't get me spilling any beans here !!!! 
watch OUR website for news like that !!!!

Stevenstewart		OK. Looking forward to the new album. Like I 
said, I thought ‘X’ was a great direction musically for you. Keep up the 
great work.

Joe Elliott	How about some Siberian reggae ??


Members started drifting off and Joe had to go and watch the football.



I would like to thank everyone, especially Joe, who took part in the 
chat – it was a great success. THANK YOU ALL!!!!