"The farewell tours are not for us, I used to joke that Scorpions have been doing it for 14 years, we still have new songs!" Laughs the singer of the British formation to more than 100 million albums sold, met by AFP, passing through Paris.

"We will definitely reach the end of the adventure one day, but I don't know when and I don't see why we wouldn't go until 2035, then we would just be the same age as the Rolling Stones today" , still launches the sexagenarian, platinum mid-length hair and glasses with smoked blue lenses, 16 years younger than Mick Jagger.

A posture that could pass for boastfulness.

Except that Def Leppard (name derived from "Deaf Leopard", "Deaf Leopard" in English) is at the top of the American hard-rock chart with his 12th studio album "Diamond Star Halos".

And that the formation has known everything and overcome everything.

Like the death in the early 90s of its guitarist Steve Clark, 30, victim of a fatal mixture of alcohol and drugs.

Like the car accident in which drummer Rick Allen lost his arm in the 80s, when the band was on the rise.

Reference to T. Rex

While others would have left him by the wayside, Def Leppard gave this musician the time to develop a new technique, with suitable drums, to carry on with him.

Rick Allen today visits the fitness centers of military wounded in combat to share his experience.

With him, Def Leppard will tackle a tour of the USA and Canada which will stretch from mid-June to September, sharing a common ticket with other leather and nails veterans, Mötley Crüe, Poison and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.

The quintet surprised everyone with this new album created remotely during the pandemic when its members of retirement age live in three different countries and no record company had placed an order.

The title "Diamond Star Halos" is a reference to T.Rex (lyrics from "Get It On") and the group increasingly assumes its glam-rock influences unlike Iron Maiden, always digging the same furrow, or Guns N 'Roses running behind her past glory.

Singer Joe Elliot and bassist Rick Savage (d) of the group Def Leppard, in Paris on April 27, 2022 Thomas COEX AFP

bowie pianist

Def Leppard escapes from the shadow of "the albatross + Hysteria +", according to Elliott's funny formula.

He speaks here of the success of this 1987 album which has become castrating over the years for its parents.

"Now, we no longer compare our songs to those of + Hysteria + and we are no longer afraid to return to our DNA, the artists we listened to when young like Bowie or Elton John", says the singer.

Mike Garson, pianist who played with Bowie, also participates in "Diamond Star Halos".

Next to the titles cut for hard-rock radios in the USA like "Kick", a piece like "Goodbye For Good This Time" includes piano, strings and even a passage of flamenco guitar.

"At AC/DC, we don't expect piano, but power, with us all cocktails are allowed, this album is our declaration: we are ready for the next decade", insists Elliott.

The singer has always been ready to fight, anyway.

"I remember a tour in Europe in the 80s/90s, we were in Saint-Sebastien in Spain, a spectator threw me a coin which opened my eyebrow arch, the blood flowed and I jumped into the audience to fight, what a memory!".

© 2022 AFP