DEF LEPPARD’s PHIL COLLEN: ‘We Really Sing’ Live. ‘A Lot Of Bands Don’t Really Do That.’
Def Leppard guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell have credited genuine live singing, extensive rehearsal and constant attention to production quality for the band's ability to maintain a high standard of performance decades into their career. Speaking to Magenta TV at the Wacken Open Air festival in Germany, the pair said their enduring enthusiasm for the band and each other translates into their shows, distinguishing them from acts that rely on backing tracks or "phone it in" on stage.
Collen noted that during the band's 12-show Las Vegas residency in February 2026, at least four performances ranked among the best the band has ever delivered, which he took as evidence they continue to improve rather than coast on past success. Campbell, now in his 60s alongside his bandmates, said the band draws energy from increasingly multi-generational audiences. Def Leppard is currently working on a follow-up to 2022's "Diamond Star Halos", which will feature the previously released track "Rejoice", and recently completed a residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace that followed earlier sold-out runs in 2013 and 2019.
In short
- Def Leppard's Phil Collen says the band truly sings live
- Guitarists credit rehearsal and passion for consistent shows
- New album follow-up to "Diamond Star Halos" in the works
Explained simply
Def Leppard are a British rock band best known for arena-sized hits such as “Pour Some Sugar on Me”. Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell are the band’s guitarists, and their comments concern how the group performs live after decades together.
In a rock concert, backing tracks can add sounds that are difficult to reproduce on stage, while some bands use them to support vocals. Def Leppard’s members say they rehearse extensively and sing live, and that their shared enthusiasm helps keep performances strong. The band’s long career and audiences spanning generations show how established acts continue to draw listeners.
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