Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen recently shared an update on the band’s upcoming follow-up to their 2022 album ‘Diamond Star Halos’ during an interview with Radio Futuro.
Collen discussed the band’s ongoing recording process and explained why the new album might not be released until 2028, despite fan expectations for a 2027 release.
“Well, we are Def Leppard, so it may be ’28, but we’re always recording,” Collen said. “We’re constantly recording.”
He further explained that the band did not stop working after completing their previous record.
“In fact, when we finished the last album, we didn’t really finish it; we just kept carried on recording,” he continued. “So that’s how we do it. So, yeah, it’ll be ready when it’s ready.”
‘Diamond Star Halos’ was released in May 2022, marking the band’s twelfth studio album. Phil Collen’s comments highlight Def Leppard’s continuous creative approach as the band looks ahead to its next studio release following the 2022 record.
‘Diamond Star Halos’ was made entirely remotely, with Joe Elliott saying the band relied on phone calls, emails and MP3s rather than in-person sessions. He described the process as “a kind of digital jigsaw puzzle,” noting that the members did not see each other for more than two years while making the record.
That approach marked a major shift for Def Leppard, who had traditionally gathered in Dublin to work with Elliott’s home studio setup. The pandemic forced the band to record from different locations and send material to longtime producer Ronan McHugh, who assembled the songs into finished tracks.
The band also returned to the road in a big way after the album’s release. The group headlined The Stadium Tour with Mötley Crüe, Poison and Joan Jett, one of the biggest live packages of recent years.
Phil Collen has also kept busy outside Def Leppard with other projects over the years. His side work has included bands such as Man Raze and Delta Deep, underlining how he has continued to balance the group’s main catalog with other musical outlets.
Def Leppard’s longevity has remained a defining part of the story as the band looks toward its next album. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers continue to combine new studio work with the kind of large-scale touring that has kept them a mainstay of classic rock.
