Alright, folks, we’ve had some legends drop by, but this one? This one rocked.
Phil Collen—yes, THAT Phil Collen from Def Leppard—hopped on Substack Live, and this wasn’t just a nostalgia trip. This was a masterclass in longevity, discipline, shredded abs & shredding riffs! Quite a combo!
💪 Veganism, Fitness, and Outworking All of Us
First off, Phil is 67 years old. I repeat, SIXTY-SEVEN. And the man could still outrun, out-lift, and outlast nearly everyone reading this. What’s his secret? No smoking, no drinking, lots of leafy greens, a commitment to working out like a beast.
“You have to adjust as you get older,” Phil said. “You navigate the icebergs as they come.” That’s a rockstar way of saying, Take care of yourself, or life’s gonna take care of you.
🎤 Backstage at a Def Leppard Show: Not What You’d Expect
Let’s talk stereotypes. You think backstage at a Def Leppard concert, you think booze, wild parties, lots of ladies, maybe a rogue television getting thrown out a window (Led Zeppelin from a hotel room, true story).
Reality? And I can say this because I shared the story with Phil and tens of thousands of our best friends watching, about the first time my wife and I went backstage at a Def Leppard show to see Phil. It was hilarious. We joked that we were at The Esalen Institute that Don Draper liked to frequent in Mad Men. There was no whiskey or tequila was on the menu. It was water, Gatorade or soda. Take your pick.
That’s right, Phil—after losing his best friend in the band to a drug overdose—joined his bandmates in trading in excess for longevity. Because, you know, they actually want to keep playing decades after their hair metal heyday. (And they have. And are still filling stadiums where I caught them yet again last summer).
🎸 The Music Never Stops
Even after decades of tours, platinum records, and absolute bangers like Pour Some Sugar On Me, Def Leppard is still making new music—because for them, it’s never just been about the hits. They love, as Phil said, “the creative process.”
They’re still writing.
They’re still experimenting.
They even did a full album with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (which, fun fact, topped the Billboard classical crossover chart for 16 weeks!).
And yes, Phil gave us live riffs of the aforementioned Pour Some Sugar On Me, Foolin’ & Hysteria on air! (No big deal. Just casually legendary). I asked him to do it, half-joking/ assuming he’d wave me off. Instead he waved a guitar pick like a legend.
🔥 The Industry Has Changed, But the Passion Hasn’t
Phil isn’t shy about the state of the music industry. Back in the day, music was an art form. Then, corporate greed infected music like a The Walking Dead virus—a theme oft repeated during our record-breaking 12-hr livestream, whether about the movie industry, a Ukraine invsation or media monopolies.
Suddenly everything became about maximizing profits. So sadly familiar.
But Def Leppard? They stuck to their guns. They still tour, they still give a damn about the music and they refuse to sell out. That’s why their fans have stuck with them through every decade.
🎶 The Future of Def Leppard
So what’s next? More music. More touring. More proof that rock and roll doesn’t age—it just gets better.
Phil and the guys will be back on the road this summer, playing festivals across North America. And if you haven’t seen ‘em yet, do yourself a favor—go see them live.
Because if there’s one thing we learned from this conversation, it’s that Phil Collen is still living his best rockstar life. And he’s just getting started. I feel so lucky we got to have him on the livestream!
Onward. Upward. And always loud.
— Cliff
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