Def Leppard

Latest about Def Leppard

Vivian Campbell performs onstage with Def Leppard at Hylands Park in Chelmsford, England on September 7, 2025
Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell says his cancer has returned

By Jackson Maxwell Published

Despite the setback, Campbell says he’s not slowing down: “I’m doing as much with my life as possible”

Guitarists
Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme performs onstage during the Above Ground 4 concert benefiting Musicares at The Fonda Theatre on October 26, 2025 in Los Angeles, California
Nuno Bettencourt names the Extreme track that changed his life overnight

By Janelle Borg Published

Bettencourt and his bandmates fought hard for the song that would eventually become Extreme's most enduring hit

Guitarists
Adrian Smith, guitarist of heavy metal band Iron Maiden performing during OZZFEST 2005 on July 19, 2005 in Camden, New Jersey
Adrian Smith on the time he auditioned for Def Leppard

By Phil Weller Published

He lost out to former Dio man Vivian Campbell, as well as another classic rock star...

Guitarists
MXR 100 Rockman: the classic '80s effect now in a convenient stompbox format
“The X100 is very good at what it does – some might say even too good”: MXR Rockman X100 review

By Amit Sharma Published

The legendary Tom Scholz headphone amp and signal processor gets reborn in pedal form

Effects & Pedals
Phil Collen's Jackson T-Style Prototype
“The neck is twice the thickness of many standard necks”: The making of Phil Collen’s monster new Jackson Tele-style

By Andrew Daly Published

Jackson Master Builder Joe Williams shines a light on the process behind the Def Leppard guitarist’s prototype Jackson T-style, which may well enter production as a future signature model…

Electric Guitars
A portrait of Phil Collen against a black background. Collen holds a Jackson s-style
Phil Collen on Def Leppard x RATM, his favorite Jacksons – and why Pyromania still blows him away

By Andrew Daly Published

Taking five between packing out stadiums, Collen shares his philosophy on digital amps, what Mutt Lange taught him, and how Tom Morello found himself on a Def Leppard track

Guitarists
Phil Collen of Def Leppard performs onstage during the "Summer Stadium" tour at Truist Park on July 13, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia
Jackson has made Phil Collen a Tele-style model with a neck twice as thick as a regular guitar’s

By Matt Owen Published

The Def Leppard guitarist has remained loyal to Strat-style models for much of his career, but he's developed a new affinity for single-cuts

Electric Guitars
Phil Collen of Def Leppard performs onstage during the "Summer Stadium" tour at Truist Park on July 13, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia
Phil Collen's first Def Leppard solo is one of his most famous – and he did it in one take

By Matt Owen Published

Recruited by Def Leppard in 1982, Collen was put straight to work on Pyromania, and contributed a rather notable lead effort he nailed in one go

Guitarists
Phil Collen live in Tokyo, 1984
Phil Collen on how Def Leppard accidentally reinvented rock guitar on classic album Pyromania

By Jenna Scaramanga Published

Pyromania is 40 years young this year is still fresh as a daisy. Collen explains how tones, solos, Mutt Lange and the art of recording one string at a time forged a pivotal moment in rock

Bands
Phil Collen and Jeff Beck
Phil Collen on Jeff Beck: “Jeff’s amp blew up and his pedalboard didn’t work, so they just brought in another Marshall – he sounded exactly the same. He didn’t even flinch”

By Jenna Scaramanga Published

The Def Leppard guitarist reflects on the life and legacy of Jeff Beck, and explains how Beck's trailblazing style is all over the the Leppard catalog

Guitarists
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