Def Leppard are releasing their 12th studio album, ‘Diamond Star Halos,’ today. Joe Elliott said T. Rex and other 70’s artists influenced the sound of the new album.
Diamond Star Halos was taken from a lyric in the T. Rex classic “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” and it’s the group’s first album of new material since 2015.
Joe Elliott talked about the album, saying, "It's the first time that we've not referenced ourselves when we were making a record. Not once did we think about Hysteria, whereas in the past we've either had to think, 'Oh, it sounds to close to Hysteria,' or 'it doesn't sound close enough.' With this one we referenced all the bands that made us want to be in a band -- from [Marc] Bolan and [David] Bowie to Queen or Mott the Hoople or even Elton John because of the piano tunes, you know. It's just a '70s-influenced album."
Diamond Star Halos features 15 songs, including two with Alison Krauss -- "This Guitar" and "Lifeless." David Bowie pianist Mike Garson appears on “Goodbye for Good This Time” and “Angels (Can’t Help You Now).”
Diamond Star Halos will be available as a Deluxe Edition, 2-LP vinyl, digital and various other versions today.
Diamond Star Halos songs:
- Take What You Want
- Kick
- Fire It Up
- This Guitar (featuring Alison Krauss)
- SOS Emergency
- Liquid Dust
- U Rok Mi
- Goodbye for Good This Time
- All We Need
- Open Your Eyes
- Gimme a Kiss
- Angels (Can’t Help You Now)
- Lifeless (featuring Alison Krauss])
- Unbreakable
- From Here to Eternity
Def Leppard will hit the road this summer on The Stadium Tour with Mötley Crüe and special guests Poison and Joan Jett. It begins June 16th in Atlanta with 36 dates through September 9th in Las Vegas. The tour will make stops in Texas, including Houston on August 19th, San Antonio on August 21st and Arlington on August 22nd.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]