In a new article from The Quietus, Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott talks Harry Sword through his guiding audio lights, from Bowie to glam to punk and back.

Says Harry Sword: "Does any band sum up stadium rock dynamics more absolutely than Def Leppard? They build songs to reach the most unwieldy contours of spaces designed for purposes other than music; to bounce around the concave enormodomes of the Mid West, hit the far corners of Canadian ice hockey arenas or power through to the back of Wembley. It's music made to punch through, no matter how far back you're standing. Listen to the gaps Rick Allen leaves between each mighty kick - it's like he's factoring in the spacial reverb.

"This is a band who have always been unashamedly primed for the biggest stages. Formed in Sheffield in 1977, the music press sought to associate Leppard with the nascent NWOBHM movement but they had little to do with it musically. Iron Maiden, Diamond Head, Angel Witch, Saxon et al were galloping along rough shod with fantastical lyrical themes. Leppard, meanwhile, were ploughing a more traditionalist hard rock furrow more closely aligned with the bombastic arena dynamics of the likes of KISS, Montrose and Aerosmith, alongside a distinct British glam influence.

"After 1980's debut LP On Through The Night they worked with pin drop perfectionist producer Robert 'Mutt' Lange and - under his fastidious tutelage - began the painstaking approach to making rock records that would become their studio hallmark."

Read more and find out who makes Joe Elliott's "baker's dozen" at thequietus.com.

Joe Elliott recently released a touching video tribute to his friend and early guitar hero, the late, great legendary musician Mick Ronson.

“I had an opportunity on a day off on tour to shoot a video... it just seemed rude not to!, “ says Elliott. “This video is my gift to the memory of Mick Ronson who gave me so much in my youth and then later on when we got to know each other.”

The video was unveiled on the 46th anniversary of the filming of David Bowie and the Spiders From Mars’ shadowy and subversive video for “John, I’m Only Dancing”. Directed by iconic rock photographer Mick Rock, the video featuring Bowie and the band in their best glam attire and androgynous dancers, was banned by Top Of The Pops in the UK and was never released in America as it was deemed too risqué by the record label.

UMe recently released Beside Bowie: The Mick Ronson Story, The Soundtrack. The album comes on the heels of the film's streaming debuts on Hulu and Amazon Prime following last year's successful theatrical run and the DVD/Blu-ray releases.

The soundtrack is the first official career retrospective compilation for the guitar virtuoso, Mick Ronson, known affectionately as "Ronno". As well as highlights from Ronson's solo records, the compilation includes material from his key collaborations with David Bowie, Elton John, Ian Hunter, Michael Chapman and Queen. The album also includes a previously unreleased cover version of "This Is For You" by Def Leppard's Joe Elliott and a piano tribute to Ronson from Bowie's piano-man and band alumni Mike Garson (David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins). The soundtrack includes extensive essay & liner notes and will be available on CD and digital, heavy-weight 180-gram black vinyl. There will also be a limited edition red vinyl version available exclusively at uDiscover.

For the career-spanning documentary, producer/director Jon Brewer (BB King: The Life Of Riley, Nat King Cole: Afraid Of The Dark, Jimi Hendrix: Guitar Hero, The Most Dangerous Band In The World) gained the unprecedented access and permission for use of materials relating to the life of rock hero Mick Ronson, who was largely commercially overlooked despite his direct contribution and pivotal involvement in countless iconic compositions of David Bowie and The Spiders From Mars.

Despite his production and guitar work with Lou Reed, Morrissey, Ian Hunter and Mott The Hoople, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp and many others, it is Ronson's dynamic support, contribution, and co-creation of the expansive and multi-faceted career of David Bowie and in fact that era of music, that the film and this soundtrack exposes. Featuring exclusive narration by David Bowie and exclusive contributions by Rick Wakeman, Joe Elliott, Roger Taylor, Ian Hunter, Angie Bowie and many more, Beside Bowie: The Mick Ronson Story is a tribute to an uncomplicated man who achieved the pinnacle of success in the music industry as well as the rarefied respect from his contemporaries for his production and guitar skills.

His humble beginnings (in the northern English city of Hull) underpinned the values and modest, unpretentious personality of Ronson. Originally working with Hull City Council while he pursued his craft with consummate dedication, word of his talent reached Bowie who grabbed at the chance to work with Ronson, and from there rock history was made. The Man Who Sold the World, Aladdin Sane, Hunky Dory, "Jean Genie, all were constructed with Ronno on guitar. In 1974, he was voted #2 'Best Guitarist' in Cream magazine (notably Eric Clapton came in third).

Sadly, in 1993 Ronson passed away before receiving the recognition he so richly deserved before taking that final bow, as seen on film, at his last show. He had been making a solo album at the time, which was subsequently finished by his contemporaries. Emperor Media have achieved ultimate authenticity and access in chronicling the life and works of this man, an extraordinary talent who became a cornerstone of rock music and who stood "Beside Bowie"during one of the most memorable periods of his dazzling career.

Tracklisting:

Queen, Ian Hunter, David Bowie, Mick Ronson, Joe Elliott & Phil Collen - "All The Young Dudes" (Live)
Recorded live at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert For AIDS Awareness, April 20, 1992 at Wembley Stadium, London

Michael Chapman - "Soulful Lady"
Originally appeared on Fully Qualified Survivor (1970)

Elton John - "Madman Across The Water"
Originally appeared on Rare Masters (1992)

David Bowie - "Moonage Daydream"
Originally appeared on The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)

David Bowie - "Cracked Actor"
Originally appeared on Aladdin Sane (1973)

David Bowie - "Time"
Originally appeared on Aladdin Sane (1973)

Ian Hunter - Once Bitten, Twice Shy
Originally appeared on Ian Hunter (1975)

Mick Ronson - "I'd Give Anything To See You"
Originally appeared on Just Like This (1999)

Mick Ronson - "Hard Life"
Originally appeared on Just Like This (1999)

Mick Ronson - "Midnight Love"
Originally appeared on Heaven and Hull (1994)

Mick Ronson - Like A Rolling Stone
Originally appeared on Heaven and Hull (1994)

Joe Elliott - "This Is For You" *

Queen, David Bowie and Mick Ronson - "Heroes" (Live)
Recorded live at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness, April 20, 1992 at Wembley Stadium, London

Mike Garson - "Tribute To Mick Ronson" *

* - Previously Unreleased

Purchase the soundtrack on CD/Digital and Vinyl.

Upcoming Def Leppard tour dates with Journey:

September
5 - Albuquerque, NM - Isleta Amphitheater
7 - Phoenix, AZ - Talking Stick Resort Arena
8 - Las Vegas, NV - T-Mobile Arena
21 - San Francisco, CA - AT&T Park
23 - San Diego, CA - Petco Park
25 - Salt Lake City, UT - Vivint Smart Home Arena
26 - Nampa, ID - Ford Idaho Center Arena
28 - Portland, OR - Moda Center
29 - Seattle, WA - Gorge Amphitheatre

October
1 - Vancouver, BC - Rogers Arena
4 - Sacramento, CA - Golden 1 Center
6 - Los Angeles, CA - The Forum