Just back from hosting the Def Leppard cruise after being stuck in S FL for a couple days after due to snow in NJ. This is the first time I’ve been able to log in here. Have much to catch up on but a few quick things:
The cruise was not the “Cruise from hell” as it was dubbed by TMZ when they ran a clip of me announcing Jimmy Bain’s death this morning on their site. Yes Jimmy’s passing was tragic and sad. But it happened quietly in his cabin alone on the ship. There was no sign of any foul play and nobody on board saw it. An autopsy is still to come. I saw Jimmy last Wednesday night at the pre party and he did tell me he was not feeling well, but played the show and did fine. By all accounts he had been sober over a year. I know he had a history but tales of things surrounding his death have been greatly sensationalized to say the least. The ship and staff handled it well and Last In Line did the best they could. We did a nice memorial on board and the band played a short set with Eric Brittingham sitting in. RIP Jimmy and condolences to his friends and family.
Joe Elliott did have an issue with his voice. It even resulted in the band postponing a show on their current tour. Joe and I both filled the crowd in on what was going on. Leppard played a short set with lead vocals (very good ones I may add!) by Phil Collen, Vivian Campbell, Eric Martin, Kip Winger and Andrew Freeman. What hasn’t been reported much is that Leppard are giving EVERY fan on the ship a free ticket to see them again anywhere in the world they want to go. This was far from an ideal situation but again handled well and most fans were appreciative and saw a unique Lep set to say the least.
The weather. It wasn’t great. It also wasn’t awful the whole time at all. You can’t do anything about weather. I took a vacation cruise last year that went to Canada in the Winter instead of Caribbean. It happens. It’s mother nature. I’m home now in NJ. You want to see bad weather? Come here!
I’m not trying to make excuses here. Just some reality because of course much is being reported by people not on the ship! I was, and most had a great time and many other great bands played. And with the concessions from the band for Joe not singing I think they are being as fair as possible. I’ll discuss more when I am back live on air this Monday. Thanks to all I hung with on board. Bring on MORC next month!
THANK YOU to all asking about TMS. We are and will try ALL outlets for a new home. But it isn’t as easy as just calling out a network. I will keep you posted when we have news. But appreciate ALL the support!
New podcast tomorrow with Dave Mustaine. More soon.
8 Responses
Maybe this is just me… but if you can’t hear Joe having some other great singers step in with the band would be a unique experience for die hard fans.
It was! And Joe stayed and watched it all. Andrew Freeman was great and amazed at Viv and Phil singing Hysteria dead on! and all REAL
I always try to be positive and had I been there I would have still had a good time too. Just being near the members of Def Leppard would still make for a great time. I saw them I believe on the first tour here following Rick Allen’s accident. We try to contact outlets for TMS. That show has meant so much to me and family. We will hope for the future.
The new album is good but I just wish it had 1 or 2 of those super dark and heavy songs they did back in the day that usually had sirens or bombs going off in the background.
It’s too bad this site posts stuff from tmz (lower case letters intentional). What a bunch pussies. That old man that “hosts” it is a sicko. What person, especially a man, at that age, gives a crap about the gossiping, rumor mill, teeny-bopper crap that they “report”? It pisses me off that this show has any credibility what so ever.
A gay man
Eddie,
The podcast this morning was great. Thank you for addressing the Def Leppard cruise events at the start of the podcast. So sad about Jimmy dying on the cruise. And even though Joe lost his voice, it was very cool how Def Leppard handled it and what they offered the fans on board. I hope this doesn’t hurt them if or when they decide to do another cruise. It was just bad luck and tragedy and it was nobody’s fault and nobody could do anything about it. It was like Rocklahoma last year: I mean, weather can’t be helped. But that was just bad luck to. But that’s not stopping me from planning to go to Rocklahoma again this year.