Def Leppard Guitarist Phil Collen Defends Vince Neil in New Interview

Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen is defending Mötley Crüe frontman, Vince Neil, who had to get off stage mid-way through a show last month due to vocal problems.

Collen says that Neil will be in tip-top shape next year when the band joins Def Leppard, Poison, and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts next summer for the rescheduled Stadium Tour dates, which includes a stop at CIti Field in Flushing, New York June 24.

“Ay, look — he’s got a year. There’s a lot at stake. You wanna be your best. With Nikki (Sixx), y’know, just before the tour, it’s like, ‘We’re gonna work out together — we’re gonna do all this stuff!’ With Vince, y’know, he’s got a year to go, hopefully, everything’s cool by then. I hope so — finger’s crossed,” he told the Jeremy White Podcast. “I’ll probably go onstage with them at some point.”

As for why the “Stadium Tour” is on ice for another year, Collen said it has to do with vaccinations and capacity limits due to the pandemic.

“I wouldn’t want to go there and play to (a) quarter of a stadium. If we out went now, that’s what that would actually mean. It’s not ready yet. It’s not fully back — and some places are not even allowin’ 100 percent yet,” he said.

Watch Vince below:

• Def Leppard / Motley Crue / Poison / John  Jett & The Blackhearts 2022 “The Stadium Tour” dates (subject to change):
  June 16 – Atlanta, GA – SunTrust Park
  June 18 – Miami, FL – Hard Rock Stadium
  June 19 – Orlando, FL – Camping World Stadium
  June 22 – Washington, D.C. – Nationals Park
  June 24 – Flushing, NY – Citi Field
  June 25 – Philadelphia, PA – Citizens Bank Park
  June 28 – Charlotte, NC – Bank of America Stadium
  June 30 – Nashville, TN – Nissan Stadium
  July 2 – Jacksonville, FL – TIAA Bank Field
  July 5 – St. Louis, MO – Busch Stadium
  July 8 – Chicago, IL – Wrigley Field
  July 10 – Detroit, MI – Comerica Park
  July 12 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium
  July 14, 15 – Cleveland, OH – FirstEnergy Stadium
  July 17 – Milwaukee, WI – Miller Park
  July 19 – Kansas City, MO – Kauffman Stadium
  July 21 – Denver, CO – Coors Field
  August 5, 6 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park
  August 10 – Buffalo, NY – New Era Field
  August 12 – Pittsburgh, PA – PNC Park
  August 14 – Minneapolis, MN – U.S. Bank Stadium
  August 19 – Houston, TX- Minute Maid Park
  August 21 – San Antonio, TX – Alamodome
  August 22 – Arlington, TX – Globe Life Field
  August 27 – Los Angeles, CA – SoFi Stadium
  August 28 – San Diego, CA – Petco Park
  August 31 – Seattle, WA – T-Mobile Park
  September 7 – San Francisco, CA – Oracle Park