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Def Leppard Team Up with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for ‘Drastic Symphonies’

Rock legends Def Leppard team up with The Royal Philarmonic Orchestra to reimagine their classics on a new album ‘Drastic Symphonies’…

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Def Leppard

Rock and Classical royalty unite as Sheffield rock superstars Def Leppard and London’s iconic The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra reimagine some of the rockers greatest tracks for a brand-new album entitled Drastic Symphonies.

The album, which sees the band deconstruct and rebuild a mix of their biggest hits and hidden gems sees the band interwine audio from the original masters and performed them alongside The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Further to this, the album also includes new vocals and guitars whilst, at different points throughout the album, you can hear Joe Elliott duetting with his younger self.

Vocalist Joe Elliott says,

“Def Leppard has always enjoyed veering off the expected path – working with the likes of Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift & Alison Krauss for example. So, when the offer to revisit some of our back catalogue with the Royal Philharmonic was presented to us, to a man we all jumped at it. Although we’re far from the first band to ever do this, working directly with an orchestra at Abbey Road on some of our more orchestrated songs seemed too good of an opportunity to pass up.”

Guitarist Phil Collen says, “When the offer of doing an orchestral album with the RPO was suggested we were honoured. But we didn’t just want an orchestra plonked over our previous recordings. We decided to create something special where we would have something classic but present it in a brand new way that would involve making everything work in the context of Drastic Symphonies. Recording new parts, remixing previous sounds, taking some of our instruments out so the orchestra could breathe and literally making a new album.

It was an amazingly inspirational process culminating in the live recording of the RPO at Abbey Road studios in London. An absolute team effort that took a good part of a year. It’s a new Def Leppard album, it’s a Greatest Hits plus album, with some rarely heard songs, it’s a live RPO album and we think it’s perfect. We’re so proud of how Drastic Symphonies turned out and can’t wait to share it to the world.”

The album will be available on CD, 2LP black vinyl, limited 2LP coloured vinyl, limited 2LP picture disc, CD/Blu-Ray (Atmos) and digitally.

Drastic Symphonies Tracklisting:

1. Turn To Dust
2. Paper Sun
3. Animal
4. Pour Some Sugar on Me (Stripped version)
5. Hysteria
6. Love Bites
7. Goodbye For Good This Time
8. Love
9. Gods Of War
10. Angels (Can’t Help You Now)
11. Bringin’ On the Heartbreak
12. Switch 625
13. Too Late for Love
14. When Love & Hate Collide
15. Kings Of the World

Def Leppard will release Drastic Symphonies in May 2023 and you can pre-order your copy here.

Def Leppard ‘Drastic Symphonies’ Album Artwork

Def Leppard ‘Drastic Symphonies’ Album Artwork

I have an unhealthy obsession with bad horror movies, the song Wanted Dead Or Alive and crap British game shows. I do this not because of the sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll lifestyle it affords me but more because it gives me an excuse to listen to bands that sound like hippos mating.

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