Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen has addressed the timeline for the band’s next studio album, the follow-up to 2022’s “Diamond Star Halos,” in a conversation with Radio Futuro.
Collen explained why fans shouldn’t expect the record in 2027 as previously anticipated, pointing to the band’s ongoing and open-ended approach to recording.
“Well, we are Def Leppard, so it may be ’28, but we’re always recording. We’re constantly recording,” Collen said.
He went on to describe how the band’s process naturally extends timelines. He noted that even their last album continued to evolve after they thought it was done.
“In fact, when we finished the last album, we didn’t really finish it; we just kept carried on recording,” Collen continued. “So that’s how we do it. So, yeah, it’ll be ready when it’s ready.”
The comments come as Def Leppard has spent much of the past year signaling steady, if slow-moving, progress on the new record.
The band has described the project as its “most diverse” album to date. Members have previously pointed to an early 2027 release as the target, even as that window keeps shifting.
Frontman Joe Elliott has said the group has been recording new material during downtime while on tour, working on songs between shows rather than in one concentrated studio block. That approach has resulted in a substantial stockpile of material. The band has close to two albums’ worth of songs recorded and is still sorting out which tracks will make the final cut.
The record will mark Def Leppard’s first collection of new material since “Diamond Star Halos.” It already has a head start with fans. The single “Rejoice” was released ahead of the band’s Las Vegas residency earlier this year. It is expected to open the upcoming album once it arrives.
Despite the growing pile of recorded songs, no official release date has been set. Def Leppard has yet to announce further details on the album’s title or tracklist.
