Def Leppard’s Phil Collen Wanted to Avoid ‘Showing Off and Name-Dropping’ in New Memoir

Phil Collen's new memoir, Adrenalized: Life, Def Leppard, and Beyond, was published today (Oct. 27). But in a new interview, the self-effacing guitarist reveals that he was originally reluctant to write the book.

As he told Billboard, "I didn't really want to do it. I think memoirs and books like that are a bit egotistical, and I don't really like them. I think that whole thing of people going, 'Well, you know, it was really kind of cathartic for me to do a book...' That's a load of bulls---. It's egotistical. It's just talking about yourself, isn't it?"

However, once he decided to put his life down on paper, he, along with co-writer (and Ultimate Classic Rock contributor) Chris Epting, used a few autobiographies that he admired -- those by Keith Richards, Bob Dylan and Mike Tyson -- as templates for how to get past those pitfalls.

"I thought they were great because they actually dealt with things that were happening in these fascinating people's lives," he continued. "It wasn't really about showing off and name-dropping; these people had a lot to say about what they did and how they got there. Obviously, my life isn't as interesting as, say, a Mike Tyson's life or Keith Richards' -- although having said that, the growing-up part's almost identical to Keith Richards' book or Rod Stewart's book. From there onward, it kind of takes a turn."

Def Leppard's new self-titled album, their first since 2008's Songs From the Sparkle Lounge, is coming out this Friday (Oct. 30). They've released two songs to date, "Let's Go" and "Dangerous." In January 2016, they will embark on a three-week tour of the U.S., with Styx and Tesla as supporting acts. You can find all the dates here.

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