Thanks for the update!

Another minor update, according to Phil Collen's wife (of all people), the re-issue is due out this summer.

On a side note, they've decided to release "It's All About Believin'" as a single. Pointless as it's not a brilliant song and Mirrorball is coming up to a year old. They could have written and recorded a couple of new ones in that time.

Have you read Vivian and Phil's fb walls? There's some entertaining tidbits and I can't fathom how Vivian is still in the band.

No, I don't do Facebook anymore.

What makes you say that about Viv?

They get pretty snarky at people from time to time when the same question is asked over and over. Phil recently lost it on someone bitching about the lack of new music. Vivian...I just get the feeling he's the last to know about everything and he complains with the fans about the last decades albums style. It just feels like everyone in that band is on a different page.

I'm inclined to agree with Vivian then. There have been some nuggets scattered among the releases, but songs written entirely by outsiders, songs and strategies that directly rip from a more successful peer, rehashing old hits.... I do expect better and know they are capable.

Anybody listen to Manraze' Low?

I've had that impression actually, come to think of it. Each member of the band seem to give off different and sketchy information regarding new releases, etc.

The lack of new music bothers me as well. Just 2 studio albums in the last decade? Really? Even during their "dark" period in the 90's they were still consistent and active with writing/recording. Rather than constantly touring America co-headlining with other (hate using this term) "has-beens", they could have easily knocked out a few more albums and maintain some sort of vision and direction with their writing. The reason I say that is we waited 6 years for Sparkle Lounge and whilst it was decent listening for the most part, it just seemed like a bunch of random ideas and cast-offs thrown together. Compare this to Slang, Euphoria and even X which sound like much fuller albums. Plus the new songs on Mirrorball were very uninspired.

I'd forgotten about the studio tracks on Mirror Ball. Utter crap. Should have been more live songs in their place.

I did like Undefeated to be fair, particularly when they opened with it live. Though as a hardcore fan I probably shouldn't. The other two were quite lame.

I've never bothered to check out Manraze. Silly question but how do they differ from Def Leppard?

I really recommend checking out Phil and Viv's FB page for the questions they answer. Phil finally drops cocky "We're the best band in the world" garbage and flat out says no one gives a shit about their new material. To the point where they don't want to make another album. Vivian and Phil are not on the same page at all.