'Music Helped Us Survive Everything'

NEARLY 50 YEARS AFTER THEIR DEBUT, THE BRITISH ROCKERSWHO HAVE ENDURED HARD TIMES AND PERSONAL TRAGEDYARE STILL PROMPTING HYSTERIA

- RACHEL DESANTIS

Forty-six years into their career, Def Leppard are still hot. And, er, sticky sweet. The British rockers-whose mix of heavy metal with pop hooks on hits like "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and "Photograph" has helped them sell more than 100 million records-are still at the top of their game. "We've never been as good as we are now," says guitarist Phil Collen, 65. "The singing's better, the playing's better. Our shows are just better."

Def Leppard's staying power is no small feat for the Sheffield, England, natives. The bandcomposed of Collen, lead singer Joe Elliott, 64, guitarist Vivian Campbell, 60, bassist Rick Savage, 62, and drummer Rick Allen, 59-has faced plenty of setbacks over the years, from the 1984 car accident that claimed Allen's left arm to the overdose death of ousted guitarist Steve Clark in 1991 and Campbell's 2013 cancer diagnosis. "There's a lot of depth and emotion beyond all those incidents within this band," says Elliott. "Everybody's equal, and everybody's pulling for the team."

Last summer their coheadlining tour with Mötley Crüe raked in $173.5 million with 1.3 million tickets sold-a career high for both bands. Following the release of their orchestral-remix album Drastic Symphonies, Def Leppard are on the road again with their rocker pals, performing through August on the U.S. leg of their joint shows. Here, Campbell, Collen and Elliott talk life on tour and how their families keep them humble.

How has it been touring with Mötley Crüe?

PHIL COLLEN Great! We just did South America, and it was like being a bunch of kids at school.