First Airfix blog story
11/20/2009 3:28:53 PM | andieairfix.wordpress.comAndie Airfix (responsible for the "PYROMANIA", "HYSTERIA", "ADRENALIZE" and "EUPHORIA" artwork) put up the first episode of his Def Leppard stories up on his blog today. Here's an excerpt:
"Where to start -- the music, the Rock'n'Roll stories, the band's unswerving loyalty to Rick Allen, drunk with Steve Clark in Chelsea, the artwork, meeting the band in Ibiza, touring, watching 'Spinal Tap' with them all (hilarious), diamonds in Dublin's Cartier, the 'Terrible Twins'? I guess I'll just dive in and see where memories lead me -- I did promise 'diamonds in Dublin' so I'll definitely get there this time.
I did remember something that happened a few years ago which catapulted me dramatically back to the very early days working with the band. I can't remember exactly when it was but I know it was the first time I'd met up with the band since an event which radically changed the political world we now live in. I met Joe first and he said, "It's really weird Andie -- when 9/11 happened…" "I know," I said, "I thought the same as soon as I saw it." "PYROMANIA", we both said in unison."
Read more at Andie Airfix's 'B*b G#ld*f Stole My Sunglasses?'.
Andie Airfix blogs Def Leppard
11/17/2009 2:43:27 PM | AndieAirfix.comFor the past few months, Andie Airfix (responsible for the band's iconic album covers of "PYROMANIA", "HYSTERIA", "ADRENALIZE" and "EUPHORIA", as well as most artwork used for single releases of those albums) has been keeping a blog called 'B*b G#ld*f Stole My Sunglasses?, in which he tells stories about his work, the artists he works with, and everything that comes with it. Previous blog entries included Tom Robinson, Thompson Twins and Dead Or Alive, but now Andie has reached the part of his career where Def Leppard comes in.
The introduction can be read here. At least three Def Leppard stories are expected to be posted soon, tentavily titled "on a 'bender', buy diamonds in Cartier, Dublin", "on the 'Pyromania' and 'Hysteria' albums" and "Def Leppard watch 'Spinal Tap'".
Phil's first Jackson PC1-30
11/17/2009 2:16:28 PM | DEFLEPPARD.comAs reported before, Phil has hand-painted 30 unique versions of his PC1 guitar model, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Jackson Guitars. Below you can see the first one that's finished. To see and hear it in action, see Phil's other band Man Raze when they will be touring the UK with Alice Cooper in November and December (click here for tour dates).
Photo by Dave Maddux.
SPARKLE TOUR book and calendars now available to everyone!
11/16/2009 1:14:14 PM | DEFLEPPARD.comAfter a quick presale period for past customers and Def Leppard Fan Club members, the general public can now place their orders for Volume 2 of the coffee table book series "SHOTS FROM THE SPARKLE TOUR" and two versions of the official 2010 Def Leppard calendar!
Volume 2 of the "SHOTS FROM THE SPARKLE TOUR" book series contains 80 pages of never-before seen photos taken by the band's house photographer Ash Newell. Whereas last year's volume 1 contained images from the band's 2008 UK tour, this new volume focuses on the 2009 rehearsals, 2 shows in Dublin, and the highly successful headlining show at Donington's Download Festival. And to top it all off, it comes with many liner notes from the band. Printed on high quality glossy paper, and bound with a grey velvet hardcover, this volume is strictly limited to only 500 copies, 250 of which personally signed by all five band members.
The 2010 wall calendar, designed to cover a huge part of your wall, will not only present you with a classic Def Leppard photo every single month, but also includes interesting trivia on historic dates in Def Leppard history -- release dates, tour milestones, and more! Calendar size: 297mm × 420mm / 11.7" × 16.5"
The 2010 desk calendar, fit to stand next to your computer monitor, speakers, or keyboard, will show you a handful of photos and artwork from the band's entire career, completed with milestone dates in Leppard history. Calendar size: 210mm × 210mm / 8.3" × 8.3"
To place your order for any of the items listed above, CLICK HERE!
We've been getting questions about the STANDARD EDITION of Volumes 1 and 2 of SHOTS FROM THE SPARKLE TOUR. At this time, we do not have much information about that, but we can tell you that these WILL be available soon. Standard editions will NOT be signed or numbered, and will be printed on paper that is not as high quality than the Deluxe versions.
Furthermore, will there be a Volume 3 as well? Time will tell.....but there's a VERY good chance that there will be!
Vivian joining The Section Quartet
11/15/2009 12:35:22 PM | TheSectionQuartet.com
On December 1st, Vivian will make a guest appearance with The Section Quartet at the Largo/Coronet Theatre , 366 N La Cienaga Blvd, Los Angeles.
The Section Quartet specializes in turning popular rock songs into classical quartet pieces. They are especially known for creating all-string version albums of songs originally recorded by Radiohead, Incubus, Nine Inch Nails, and Tool.
SPARKLE TOUR book and calendars now available to Fan Club members
11/13/2009 8:34:32 AM | DEFLEPPARD.comAfter giving those who bought a signed copy of "SHOTS FROM THE SPARKLE TOUR" last year the first chance to buy their copy of Volume 2, both the signed and unsigned versions of the book are now available to members of the Def Leppard Fan Club. Additionally, the Fan Club is also taking orders for the 2010 calendars the band has available: one you can hang on your wall and one for your desk.
On Monday, November 16 at noon, the books and calendars will be available to the general public. For detailed descriptions and photos, please head over to our web store. For even more photos from Volume 2 of the "SHOTS FROM THE SPARKLE TOUR" book, check out http://ShotsFromTheSparkleTour.DefLeppard.com!
A Message to Our Veteran Friends from Rick Allen
11/11/2009 1:08:10 PM | DEFLEPPARD.comShots From The Sparkle Tour, Volume 2
11/10/2009 4:21:57 PM | DEFLEPPARD.com
After last year's success of "SHOTS FROM THE SPARKLE LOUNGE", the 80-page, velvet covered coffee table book full of photos taken during the band's 2008 UK tour, it was inevitable that we wouldn't leave it at that..... Therefore, we are happy to announce the arrival of VOLUME 2 in the series!
Volume 2 contains another 80 pages of never-before seen photos taken by the band's house photographer Ash Newell, focusing on the 2009 rehearsals, 2 shows in Dublin, and the highly successful headlining show at Donington's Download Festival. And to top it all off, it comes with many liner notes from the band.
Printed on high quality glossy paper, and bound with a grey velvet hardcover, this volume is strictly limited to only 500 copies, 250 of which personally signed by all five band members. A standard version will be made availabe as well, and for those who have been wondering where the standard version of the first volume went.....that one is coming too!
Those who purchased the signed version of Volume 1 last year, will get a first shot at ordering the signed version of Volume 2. An email will be sent out later today to those first 250 Volume 1 buyers, giving them the opportunity to place their orders until FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13 AT 8AM (EST). After that, members of the Def Leppard Fan Club will be able to place their orders for the signed or unsigned version. Then on Monday, November 16 at noon, orders will be accepted from everyone else.
Quantities are strictly limited to 250 signed versions, and 250 unsigned versions, which makes this second volume in the series just as rare as the first. The price of the books are also the same as Volume 1: $299 for the signed version, and $149 for the unsigned version (shipping and handling not included).
Check your email later today to see if you get access to the "first 250 buyers" presale. It will contain details on how and where you can order your copy! (Please note that we will only send emails to the addresses we collected during the sale of the first volume. If you have changed your email address since then, we're sorry but the automated system, connected to Paypal, does not allow for sending the email to different email addresses than we have on file.)
And of course we will also have another calendar available for 2010! Not only will we have a standard wall calendar this time, but also a desk version. Both calendars will not only present you with some classic Def Leppard photos/artwork every single month, but also includes interesting trivia on historic dates in Def Leppard history -- release dates, tour milestones, and more! The calendar will also be made available exclusively to members of the Fan Club starting Friday, November 13 at 8AM, and on Monday, November 16 at noon it will be available for everyone else. Even though the availability of these calendars is not as limted as the coffee table books, there's still only a limited amount so after these are sold out, they will not be reprinted.
Images from the book and calendars will be added soon.....stand by!
Phil in Fight Magazine
11/9/2009 3:01:10 PM | FightMagazine.com
Check out this month's issue of Fight Magazine (November 2009, on newsstands now), for a 2- page article about how Phil keeps working on his martial arts skills while on the road with Def Leppard!
30 custom PC1s for Jackson's 30th
11/7/2009 2:12:00 PM | DEFLEPPARD.com
Currently in production to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Jackson Guitars: 30 very unique versions of Phil's PC1 model, hand-painted and signed by Phil himself. "I'm doing it like Jackson Pollock style, and then add my name in Japanese. The colors I do by hand and then the Japanese characters are done with a spatula. ".
When and where these extremely limited pieces of art will be available, has not yet been determined, but rumor has it that the 2010 NAMM show may get the exclusive.