Share the post "Book Review: DEFINITELY: THE OFFICIAL STORY OF DEF LEPPARD"
Genesis Publishing [Release Date 09.05.23]
Def Leppard’s profile is as high now as at any time since their eighties heyday. The Stadium tour travelled America and has hit the UK this summer, ‘Diamond Star Halos’ was released to general acclaim last year, followed by their ‘Drastic Symphonies’ project. On top of that, they have enlisted the renowned music publishers Genesis for this authorised coffee table style book. It looks great and retailing at £35 is very good value for money- after an earlier pricey special limited edition.
The text takes the form of an oral history in the form of quotes from the Band with minimal linking text. To keep a chronological narrative they have mixed up current reminiscences with contemporary quotes, which is openly acknowledged at the end of the book. There are quite a few archive comments from Steve Clark, but very few from Pete Willis, who could claim to be the founder alongside Joe Elliott and Rick Savage.
The presentation is immaculate and where the book really scores is the picture selection of photos reviews and memorabilia, many courtesy of Joe Elliott’s mother who meticulously kept cuttings. On some instances more captioning would have helped but that is a minor gripe.
The tales of their earlier years are particularly insightful and show not just their ambition and dedication, but also quite how young they were. Your only complaint would be if you are- like me- one of those old school fans who dislike Def Leppard dissing their heavy metal roots, as there are quotes more than once throughout the text boasting they are a pop band at heart.
All chapters of their career get equal coverage, not just their heyday, and reading it was like a personal journey back through my musical life which the band have been a big part of since 1984, and made me want to revisit the more recent albums which got less attention before being put on the shelf.
The whole project shares the slick professionalism and attention to detail that characterise both their recorded work and live shows. Part treasure chest of memorabilia, part tour programme and part oral history, it would be hard to better this opus as the definitive written and pictorial record of their long career to date. *****
Review by Andy Nathan
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Latest session: Sunday 14 April
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 7 April 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 2 April 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account
Popular (last 10 days)
Share the post "Book Review: DEFINITELY: THE OFFICIAL STORY OF DEF LEPPARD"
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
