Def Leppard Frontman Launches Mott the Hoople Cover Band

When you're used to dealing with layers of multi-tracked vocals and crisp, processed guitars all the time, sometimes you just want to get your hands dirty. That would explain Down 'n' Outz, a rough-and-ready Mott the Hoople-related cover band featuring Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott backed by the electric blues rock of the London Quireboys. The group will release its debut album, 'My ReGeneration,' on July 13.

"Mott the Hoople has always been my favorite band and it's nice to see the rest of the rock world finally catch up and give them their due," Elliott said. He actually formed the Down 'n' Outz with some other musicians to open for Mott the Hoople as a one night stand at one of their reformation shows at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, England. Their performance was so well received that Elliott decided to take the project even further and a record a demo.

"It was suggested to me that the Quireboys would be up for offering their services," Elliot said. "This was perfect. I was a fan since their first album, and I loved the idea of working with a band as enthusiastic to do this as I was."

Instead of recording a cover album of hits, Elliott decided to work with some of Mott the Hoople's more obscure material as well as songs by spin-off acts Mott, Ian Hunter and British Lions. "These are songs that are close to my heart," Elliott said. "Songs that I've played every week for the best part of 35 years on record, cassette, CD, Ipod and now live."

'My ReGeneration' was produced by Joe Elliott and co-produced by Ronan McHugh and recorded in Elliott's own studio, Joe's Garage, and Moor Hall Studio in Bedfordshire. A DVD of the Hammersmith performance will follow.

Down 'n' Outz will play the main stage of the inaugural High Voltage festival at Victoria Park, London on July 25.

'My ReGeneration' track list
1. 'Golden Opportunity'
2. 'Storm'
3. 'Overnight Angels'
4. 'Career (No Such Thing as Rock 'n' Roll)'
5. 'England Rocks'
6. 'Shouting and Pointing'
7. 'By Tonight'
8. 'Apologies'
9. 'Who Do You Love'
10. 'One More Chance to Run'
11. '3,000 Miles From Here'
12. 'Good Times'
13. 'The Flip Side of the Shameless Whelk'