Check out that very Fender-ish headstock on his Jacksons...
Phil Collen Guitars:
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gball
Ambassador of Boogie
I like Phil, seems like a cool guy. I like the first three Def Leppard albums, so he at least played on a couple of those songs. I like Phil's guitars. I do not like Phil's attempts at shredding. Phil is a very good guitar player when he's doing more traditional rock/blues stuff, but definitely not a gifted shredder.
OP
I agree....I am not a shredder either, even less after my finger amputation and reattachment a few years ago.
gball
Ambassador of Boogie
I don't even attempt it anymore. I tried when I was younger and was never really comfortable with it and really didn't put in the time to get better at it because although I like the style as a listener when done well (I'm looking at you John Petrucci) It doesn't move me as a player.
OP
You make a good point about music appreciation as a listener as opposed to a player.
As a listener I like Motorhead, Saxon, and Dio. - Those are my top three favorites - I prefer the bluesy licks to EVH or YJM's work. Other honorable mentions are Europe, Asia, Toto, Def Leppard, Judas Preist, Maiden, Gary Moore, SRV, Whitesnake, and Ozzy.
As a player, I tend to write things more in the Motorhead vein of harsh simplicity. I really like the chord progressions. Simple.
As a studio player, I can create good solos that match the song, even if it's not my particular area of interest and/or expertise, but I am better at the Motorhead-ish style stuff. It just comes naturally.
OP
This post got me thinking back to one of my all time favorite solos...Def Leppard's "Die Hard The Hunter" - this really moved me back in the day so to speak and it still does today. While not a super technical arrangement, it has an incredible vareity of bends and tones.
Another great tune is "House of Broken Love" by Great White....
gball
Ambassador of Boogie
Just now went back and listened to Die Hard The Hunter. Yes, that is really a great solo.
I was deep into the first two DL albums and got to see them perform on their first two US tours. The third record was pretty good to me but was definitely already leaning too far toward pop sensibilities for my taste, which leaned in the same direction as yours. After that one I just couldn't listen to them anymore (Hysteria was tragic), and they had lost their secret sauce (Pete Willis) so that was it for me.
Probably my favorite single solo of the era is Michael Schenker on the live version of "Lights Out" (I thought UFO never seemed to get the love they deserved)
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OP
I agree 100%.
Although I greatly respect and admire both Vivian Campbell and Phil Collen, I agree something was lost in the exit of Willis and Clarke....and I say that with great reverence, because I know how it feels to be booed as the replacement guitarist....