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Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen believes that tourmate and Mötley Crüe frontman, Vince Neil, will be in shipshape by the time the two bands hit the road. Both Leppard and the Crüe will join forces with Poison and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts in 2022 for the eagerly anticipated 30-date “Stadium Tour.”

Back on May 29th, during Vince Neil’s first post-Covid solo gig, he was forced to leave the sate after losing his voice. In addition to that, since the “Stadium Tour” was first announced, fans and critics have been pondering if Neil, who’s far from being in the shape during the band’s late-’80s heyday, would have the physical stamina to undertake a major headlining tour.

Phil Collen appeared on the Jeremy White Podcast, and explained why — even with venues and cities opening up as the vaccine takes hold across the country — why the tour couldn’t play this summer: “I wouldn’t want to go there and play to (a) quarter of a stadium. If we out went now, that wast that would actually mean. It’s not ready yet. It’s not fully back — and some places are not even allowin’ 100 percent yet.”

Regarding the less-than-stellar performance Vince Neil offered up to fans last week, Collen was more forgiving than the rock pres that covered the gig: “Ay, look — he’s got a year. There’s a lot at stake. You wanna be your best. With Nikki (Sixx), y’know, just before the tour, it’s like, ‘We’re gonna work out together — we’re gonna do all this stuff!’ With Vince, y’know, he’s got a year to go, hopefully, everything’s cool by then. I hope so — finger’s crossed! I’ll probably go onstage with them at some point.”