Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen says his band getting inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year is a sign the organization is running out of artists to honor.
Collen acknowledged in a recent radio interview that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is an honor but added that he's more concerned with looking forward with Def Leppard.
"They're just running out of people to put in there, to be quite honest," he said, before pointing to the Hall of Fame's shrinking notable omissions list.
"And there's not that many bands left — that's the other thing. ... If you stick out there long enough ... they're gonna go, 'Oh, who do we put in this year?' And they kind of scrape the barrel. So, yeah, we'd get in at some point, I guess."
Def Leppard front man Joe Elliott has said in the past that he doesn't really understand the hubbub either.
Collen says the Hall of Fame designation means more to the fans than it does to Def Leppard. But he added, that fact alone makes it worth showing up and celebrating.
Ultimately, the Hall of Fame induction is a sign that Def Leppard is still relevant. To still be packing arenas so many years into his career with the band "is a big deal," Collen said.
"All the other stuff — award ceremonies and all that stuff — not really my thing, I've gotta say."
After touring for most of 2018, Def Leppard's Hall of Fame appearance will be its only performance until June, when the band plans to embark on a tour of Europe and Canada.
Get all Def Leppard's tour dates here.
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