Work On Next DEF LEPPARD Album To Begin In Earnest After Upcoming Tour

DEF LEPPARD has begun thinking ahead to the follow-up to the band's 2015's self-titled album, according to Joe Elliott.

"Def Leppard" was the group's first studio effort since "Songs From the Sparkle Lounge" in 2008.

During a brand new interview with the 106.7 The Eagle radio station, the singer stated about the band's plans for the next LP: "Well, we're always thinking. There's a moment in time where it's total backburner. I mean, the fact that you're aware of it just means you're aware that next year's 2019 and you don't think about it.

"When I get home from doing all this promo [for DEF LEPPARD's upcoming tour], I'm going to straight to work on my DOWN 'N' OUTZ album, which is my side project," Elliott continued. "We're making our third album, which we've written and I've gotta kinda finish that off. It's about halfway through. Phil's [Collen, DEF LEPPARD guitarist] just released his DELTA DEEP thing and I know Vivian's [Campbell, DEF LEPPARD guitarist] still working on LAST IN LINE. We're all doing side things that we're working on.

"When this tour's done and we've got a bit of downtime, we'll probably have all collected, individually written bits and bobs for what will be the next DEF LEPPARD record," Elliott added. "We share them with each other and go, 'Oh. All right. What would happen if we do this with that one and blah, blah, blah?' and, all of sudden, we'll have every bit of half an album written."

Collen told Classic Rock Revisited last November that DEF LEPPARD had already "started writing" new music. "We have three songs on the go," he said. "Rick Savage [bass] has one, a verse that he sent me. I was messing around with some melodies for that too, and Joe [Elliott, vocals] has this amazing idea and I have this one that's kind of finished. I have melodies, a chorus and all the guitar parts. So we've started, officially, without even knowing it, the next DEF LEPPARD album."

Collen added that the new DEF LEPPARD music will "come out in drips and drabs. It'll probably be a traditional album, but you never know," he said. "If someone says we need a new DEF LEPPARD song, we'll put it out. It's great to have every option available."

"Def Leppard" entered The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 10 with first-week sales of just over 30,000 units — nearly all from pure album sales.

DEF LEPPARD's 58-city tour with JOURNEY will kick off on May 21 in Hartford, Connecticut and run through October 6 in Los Angeles.