NEW YORK, April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Def Leppard, Great Britain's premiere arena rock band, is set to debut their 14th studio album release this coming Tuesday, April 29th. SONGS FROM THE SPARKLE LOUNGE contains 11 new songs including the new hit single "Nine Lives," featuring a groundbreaking collaboration with country music superstar Tim McGraw. The song is currently sitting atop the Classic Rock chart at #1 and also holding at #14 on Mainstream Rock radio. The band will kick off the release of their new album with a slew of high profile television performances on ABC's Dancing With The Stars (April 29th), Jimmy Kimmel Live (April 30th), and The Ellen Degeneres Show (April 29th).
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080427/LASU002)
SONGS FROM THE SPARKLE LOUNGE will include a limited edition custom PIKCARD(R), which unlocks the Def Leppard online "Vault" (named after the band's best-selling greatest-hits CD). Inside the "Vault," Def Leppard fans will have exclusive access to a variety of content, contests and memorabilia, featuring highlights such as personal photos from the road, registration to the band's fan club, entry into an exclusive contest to win backstage passes and VIP access the next time Def Leppard comes to the winner's town, new album lyrics -- handwritten by Joe Elliott -- and personal messages from the band.
In addition to the album, Def Leppard have partnered with Activision Inc.'s Guitar Hero(R) III: Legends of Rock on an epic three-song track pack that will give fans an exclusive opportunity to sample the band's #1 new radio single, "Nine Lives," before their upcoming studio album hits stores. The track pack will be available starting April 24th and also features live versions of "Photograph" and "Rock of Ages," two of Def Leppard's most beloved chart-toppers from their multi-platinum PYROMANIA album.
Recorded last year during month-long stints at lead singer Joe Elliott's Dublin studio, the album's title refers to a backstage area called "The Sparkle Lounge" on Def Leppard's 2006 tour where the band would go to write songs. In addition to the album's hit single "Nine Lives," other standout tracks on the album include "C'mon C'mon," which will be the album's next single, "Go," reminiscent of the band's classic track "Rocket" in its power and aggressive tribal beat; "Love," an emotive and moving epic song; and the anthemic "Tomorrow," a song written by guitarist Collen about the death of his father.
Def Leppard have also announced new US tour dates that will kick off this August. The dates include cities that the band postponed recently due to an upper respiratory tract infection affecting the band's lead singer, Joe Elliott. New Def Leppard tour dates include:
August 1 Nashville, TN Sommet Center August 2 Birmingham, AL Verizon Wireless Center August 3 Biloxi, MS Mississippi Coast Coliseum August 6 Hamilton, ON Copps Coliseum August 7 London, ON John Labatt Centre August 9 Quebec City, QC Colisee Pepsi August 10 Ottawa, ON Scotiabank Place August 13 Winnipeg, MB MTS Centre August 15 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena August 16 Des Moines, IA Iowa State Fair August 17 Omaha, NE Qwest Center August 20 Ft. Wayne, IN Memorial Coliseum August 21 Youngstown, OH Chevrolet Centre August 23 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena August 24 Syracuse, NY New York State Fair
With more than 65 million albums sold worldwide and two prestigious Diamond Awards to their credit, Def Leppard -- Joe Elliott (vocals), Vivian Campbell (guitar), Phil Collen (guitar), Rick "Sav" Savage (bass) and Rick Allen (drums) -- continues to be one of the most important forces in rock music. Over the course of their career, the band has produced a series of classic groundbreaking albums that set the sound for generations of music fans and artists. The group's spectacular live shows, filled with powerful melodic rock anthems, have become synonymous with their name and are an institution in the touring industry as they continue to sell out arenas worldwide.
For more information on Def Leppard, SONGS FROM THE SPARKLE LOUNGE, and upcoming tour news, please visit the band's web site at http://www.defleppard.com/.
PRN Photo Desk,
