Delta Deep sound surprised Collen

Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen admits the sound of his blues band Delta Deep surprised him once they started work.

He’d expected to hear a laid-back form of music – but that was before Stone Temple Pilots bassist Robert DeLeo, Crusaders drummer Forrest Robinson and vocalist Debbi Blackwell-Cook went to work.

Collen tells Alternative Nation: “It reminds me of early Led Zeppelin – it’s got a feel like that. I didn’t really expect that.

“I thought it was going to be more subdued, a bit of groove and blues. But it turned into this other thing. It’s got elements of Zeppelin, Def Leppard, STP, only it’s this soulful, funky, rock thing.”

He was particularly surprised by Robinson’s contribution. “The Crusaders is a jazz group – but when I first met him he said, ‘All I really want to play is double-kick metal.’ Never judge a book by its cover.”

Collen says the band operate as a three-piece of guitar, bass and drums, adding: “There’s so much going on that you’ll fill all of the gaps. Not just with notes, but with aggression. ‘Steroidal’ and ‘muscular’ are the only words to describe it.”

Delta Deep tour the US starting next month.

Delta Deep 2016 tour dates

Mar 28: Washington Howard Theatre, DC
Mar 29: Philadelphia Ortlieb’s Lounge, PA
Mar 30: Asbury ParkWonder Bar, NJ
Mar 31: Northampton Iron Horse Music Hal, MA
Apr 03: New York, B.B. King’s, NY
Apr 05: Boston Cavern Club at Hard Rock Cafe, MA
Apr 06: Pawling Daryl’s House, NY
Apr 08: Bay Shore YMCA Boulton Center, NY

Delta Deep: Delta Deep

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.