We're talking the cover of the latest Def Leppard album with its montage of famous and not-so-familiar faces.

In there are band members at various ages, a few relatives, even Richard 'Hamster' Hammond.

But it seems the head of the Catholic church wasn't having any of it.

"We had all sorts on there but we had all these legal issues so Dennis The Menace, Popeye, The Pope and Elvis all had to come out", reveals singer Joe Elliott.

"And every time we took one out we said 'Shove one of us in'. That's why there's loads of us.

"Ian Hunter gave us his blessing and I met Hammond at the Zeppelin gig.

"But about 48 hours before it was pressed we had to take such and such off.

"The whole idea was to look like Sgt Python – part Sgt Pepper, part Live At Drury Lane.

"Imagine you woke up from a really weird dream and there was this panda in Kiss make-up standing next to Elvis and a baby.

"But then we had to start dissecting it because The Pope doesn't necessarily want to stand next to Elvis.

"It's what the Beatles went through. People didn't give their permission and they wished they had done later.

"It's not a compromise, just a work in progress – which is why you get the mums and dads in there."

So staring out from the sleeve of Songs From The Sparkle Lounge is bassist Rick Savage aged two, guitarist Phil Collen when he was in previous band Dumb Blondes, the bald guy from the High & Dry album cover, even the tour accountant.

"And me when I was two with my cowboy hat on," adds Joe. "We've always have a bit of humour in what we do.

"We ain't trying to do Bob Dylan here. It's just rock 'n' roll. People tend to forget at the end of the day this is the alternative to going to work."

Sparkle is the first studio album in six years. The Lepps took a year off in 2004, their first since conquering the world in the '80s. It was a reminder that some things are more important than worrying about sales.

"Phil's dad was dying so he got to spend a bit of time with his old man and I got married. We were just dealing with a lot of personal stuff. And I had my first summer ever at my house," says Joe, who also used the Dublin abode to make the record.

"The guys come over to stay. We've got a pool table, gym – it's like a home from home for everybody. It's kind of like going on an oil rig but a lot more fun.

"It keeps the costs down and we can really concentrate. We work 11 til 11, watch a movie, somebody yawns, they walk 20 feet to a bedroom. It's much easier than going to a hotel – it's raining, you can't get a cab and room service has closed.

"We started January last year and finished January this year, but it was recorded over about 11 weeks.

"We do a month at a time so nobody is isolated from their family for too long.

"And the beauty of doing it in Dublin is we don't work weekends. Everybody needs time to let their ears soak in what they're doing.


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