SOME say there's no substitute for honest hard work.

Currently enjoying a renaissance, not least courtesy of new album Songs From The Sparkle Lounge, chirpy Leppard leader Joe Elliott is inclined to agree.

"You look at the music business right now and there's very little value put on new music," says the Sheffielder.

"For some reason, psychological maybe, that's upped the ante on the live side of things. Audiences are taking to seeing bands live.

"Rock music translates to a live stage a lot easier than rap does and a lot of pop bands can't actually perform.

"So when an audience that likes a band sees the five people who made an album are the same five people who get up on stage without tapes and can perform live, they see a value in it.

"That works for us and Aerosmith and U2. All the people who get up and sweat and play and sing are the ones getting the rewards."

Heading towards their 30th anniversary with one of their most successful tours of the US last year, selling out 50 arenas in between making the new record, Leppard are in real danger of seeing off some of their younger would-be rivals.

"It applies to everybody," he says of their previous dip in popularity. "REM and Paul McCartney couldn't sell records then suddenly they're back again.

"You've got to go down to come up. That's just life."


READ MORE
Your letters.
Today's features.
Latest sport.
Main news index.