UK-based presenter and rock journalist Kylie Olsson has debuted a new episode of her AXS interview series Life in Six Strings, featuring a conversation with Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen.
In the episode, Olsson gets a tour of Collen’s guitars, noting that she could spend hours getting lost in his room of axes. He says, “I’m recording all the time, and I dug some other ones out.” One of the guitars was the first he ever received, which he got as a 16-year-old after attending a Deep Purple concert. Another guitar Collen showcases is one he received for his 21st birthday, a black and white instrument he picked out because it was the same one Ritchie Blackmore played.
In another clip, the duo takes a tour through a Fender manufacturing and design plant, with Olsson noting, “This is basically Disneyland for guitar nerds.” Collen added, “Every time I’ve come here — I’ve been coming here for years—I still get really excited.” Collen shared another story, saying, “Before I actually got a guitar, I used to go into the Fender SoundHouse in London. I would look at the guitars and just touch them. I couldn’t play them. I couldn’t play a single chord. It never ceases to be exciting.”
They also checked out a replica of the Def Leppard stage, and Olsson asked why Collen chose the guitar in the first place. He explained, “Just the sound of it. It would sing. It was a release. I was living in the East End, working in the factory. It was not cool. This was a release. It was freedom and all of those things. When we finally got to go on tour and do it all day long, it was amazing.” Collen also reflected on his career, saying, “I think it means more at 65 than it did when I was, say, 25.”
Past guests on the series include Mötley Crüe’ Mick Mars, Blues-rock legend Joe Bonamassa, Steve Vai, and more. Check out new episodes on Mondays, 8:30/7:30c.
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