DEF LEPPARD's JOE ELLIOTT Says New Bands Get A Raw Deal Today

August 23, 2007

The Pulse of Radio (formerly Launch Radio Networks) reports: DEF LEPPARD is currently touring with two other veteran classic rock acts, STYX and FOREIGNER, all of whom are able to play a show filled with hits, and make money without having a new record out. DEF LEPPARD's lead singer Joe Elliott says, however, that new bands starting out today wouldn't be allowed to make money touring and growing their audience over the course of four or five albums, because record companies are so demanding and give new bands a raw deal. "Contracts nowadays, record labels, what's left of 'em, are trying to actually get parts of a band's merchandise when they tour," he said. "It's like, how dare you! It's two separate things! You know, I just can't see Roger Waters willingly giving up 20 percent of his T-shirts. Luckily we aren't in that kind of bag. I just feel bad for the new bands. I mean, there's the odd artist that can sell records these days. But most people, if they don't have a second record make profit, they don't make a third record."

While the band has mostly finished working on a new album, they aren't playing any of their new songs on tour, so it's a greatest-hits evening.

Their upcoming record will be called "Songs From The Sparkle Lounge", but no release date has been set for it. It will be their first album since last year's "Yeah!", which was a collection of covers of songs by artists who had influenced the band. Their most recent studio album of original material was 2002's "X".

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