Phil Collen of Def Leppard has criticized the rock industry for its treatment of women, praising the Mexican sister trio The Warning for breaking through in a male-dominated scene. Collen made these comments in an interview via Sopitas.
Collen was discussing The Warning, a three-member all-female band that opened for Def Leppard in Mexico in 2017. The guitarist spoke about their rise in the rock world and the obstacles that women face in the genre.
“The Warning were great,” Collen said. “And they were so young, a three-girl band. It was incredible. I think there’s a very macho and sexist attitude toward women in rock music. So when someone like them succeeds, I love it.”
He added his support for the band’s continued growth. “With The Warning, all my best wishes, all the love I can give them, everything. It’s great. It really inspires me to hear that they’re doing so well.”
Collen made these remarks while discussing The Warning’s success in the rock scene, which he sees as still dominated by men.
Phil Collen is the co-lead guitarist and one of the backing vocalists for English rock band Def Leppard, joining the band in 1982 after Pete Willis departed. He came aboard during the recording of the Pyromania album, and his partnership with fellow guitarist Steve Clark created the band’s signature dual-guitar sound. In 2015, Collen published his memoir, Adrenalized, which covers his early life in London, his experiences touring and recording with Def Leppard, and his personal journey toward sobriety and veganism.
The Warning is a Mexican rock band formed in 2013 by three sisters from Monterrey: Daniela on guitar and vocals, Paulina on drums and vocals, and Alejandra on bass guitar. The band first caught international attention in 2014 when their cover of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” went viral on YouTube and earned praise from Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett. The trio also attracted the attention of major acts including Muse, Def Leppard, and Coldplay before opening for Def Leppard in Mexico in 2017, when they were still teenagers. Def Leppard’s team and audiences responded enthusiastically to their performances, and frontman Joe Elliott played their songs on his radio show.
The Warning’s breakthrough accelerated significantly in 2026 when their single “Kerosene” topped Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, making them the first all-women band and the first Mexican band to reach number one on that chart in its 45-year history. The band released their fifth studio album, Everything’s Falling, in August 2026 through Lava/Republic Records. Their achievements have also brought nominations at major awards shows, including a Latin GRAMMY nod for Best Rock Song for “Qué Más Quieres.”
Despite their rising success, the Villarreal sisters have spoken about the ongoing challenges women face in rock music. In an interview with CNN en Español, they described proving themselves in the genre as a “constant battle” and noted that women do not always receive the same opportunities as their male counterparts. Their experience reflects the same issues Collen highlighted in his comments about the rock industry’s culture.
