Def Leppard Contemplating Modern Country Music

They've collaborated with Tim McGraw and recently hit the stage at the CMT Music Awards with Taylor Swift - but Def Leppard want to make one thing clear: after three decades these hard-rocking Brits have not "gone country."

Guitarist Vivian Campbell says the crossover buzz is more about country acts channeling their inner rock stars. He tells Virginia's Daily Press that even though the group's 2008 single 'Nine Lives' (co-written by and featuring Tim) was delivered to country radio, "country radio sent it right back."

And as for Taylor, he says, "I don't consider her to be country at all. If you took those instruments out of the mix, she's a pop singer. She's not singing about pickup trucks and her dog dying."

Campbell may have a handle on pop-flavored country music, but he's clearly not as up on traditional country acts as he offers this observation: "I'm sure Merle Haggard is turning in his grave, but this has been happening for years."

We are pleased to report to Mr. Campbell that at age 72, Merle Haggard is indeed alive and kicking.

Campbell's bandmate, guitarist Phil Collen says that although he enjoyed the group's CMT awards-show performance, it was "in sharp contrast" to their usual fare (the group is touring with fellow rockers Poison and Cheap Trick this summer). But, he notes, some of the country acts in attendance actually seemed as out of place as the group itself.

"I think where it's going, it's got nothing to do with country at all," Collen tells the Virginia-Pilot. "The segue between awards was like MTV-style metal music – it was pretty weird actually. The next night I went to see Alison Krauss at the Grand Ole Opry, and that was real authentic. Even the vibe was different; everyone was ever so humble. It was such a different world from the CMT thing."

Collen gives Taylor props for her songwriting skills, saying, "I loved the chord progressions – and even some of the melodic things were very familiar. Taylor got into singing because of Shania Twain and, obviously, with the Mutt Lange connection. He wrote a lot of songs with us. It was almost seamless."