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Three generations of rock-'n'-rollers will visit Usana Amphitheatre on Aug. 31: Heart, Def Leppard and Evan Watson.
OK, maybe that's only 2 1/2 generations.
Heart features sisters Nancy and Ann Wilson, who are 57 and 61, respectively. The ages of the members of Def Leppard range from 47 to 53. And Evan Watson, who opens the show, is the youth in the crowd at 26.
While the age difference between the Wilsons and the oldest member of Def Leppard isn't much, you could argue that Heart reached its critical and commercial zenith in the 1970s, while Def Leppard was a king of the 1980s. Yet both have continued touring and even recording new albums: Heart released "Red Velvet Car" in 2010; Def Leppard dropped "Songs from the Sparkle Lounge" in 2008 and recently included three new songs on this year's live album, "Mirrorball."
Nancy Wilson, Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell and Evan Watson each talked to The Salt Lake Tribune about how there doesn't have to be a generation gap in music.
Heart • The origins of Heart began in 1967 in the bands The Army and Hocus Pocus. But it wasn't until the Wilson sisters joined that the band was rechristened Heart.
The band's heyday came in 1976 with "Dreamboat Annie" (which contained "Crazy on You") and followed in 1977 with "Little Queen" (which boasted "Barracuda," which every "edgy" "American Idol" contestant has covered since).
Once the MTV era arrived in full force, the band enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in the mid-1980s, with "These Dreams" and "Alone" (which every square "American Idol" contestant has covered since).
"We've been doing more '80s on this tour because of touring with Def Leppard, who are 10 years our junior," Wilson said.
Since the sisters in Heart have only released two albums since 1994, it comes as a surprise to learn that Ann and Nancy are working on new material. "Our new stuff, we're writing heavy electric," Nancy Wilson said. " 'Red Velvet Car' was heavier acoustic. … [Recording albums] helps us to stay vital. It's less and less lucrative, and more for the love. There is a groundswell of fan appreciation for what is real."
Much anticipation is building for the Wilsons' forthcoming biography, written by Charles R. Cross, who wrote the definitive, acclaimed Heavier Than Heaven biography of Kurt Cobain. Nancy said she and Ann have been enduring five-hour interviews, helping Cross research what should be a warts-and-all document of rock 'n' roll from the 1970s until now.
The Wilson sisters are Seattle icons, and as such have collaborated with groups such as the seminal Seattle grunge act Alice in Chains over the years. Wilson remembers founding Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr, who died in Salt Lake City earlier this year. "We were at a few parties together," she said. "He was charismatic and lived up to his [Starr] name." She added that she had watched some episodes of "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew," which one season chronicled Starr's struggles with addiction. "We've all struggled with addiction," she said. "Some people win, and some people lose."
Def Leppard • For longtime fans of the British rock behemoth, Vivian Campbell is still considered the new guy.
But the late Steve Clark, whom Campbell replaced, was in the band for 13 years. Campbell has been in the band since 1992, almost two decades.
Def Leppard took the summer of 2010 off, a much-needed break, Campbell said. "We'd been touring every summer for many consecutive summers," he said of the glam-inspired band that has sold more than 65 million albums and is responsible for hits such as "Photograph," "Rock of Ages" and "Pour Some Sugar on Me." "It gave us a chance to recharge our batteries."
During the hiatus, Campbell was able to realize his longtime dream: joining Thin Lizzy for a time. He played with the band on a United Kingdom and European tour before leaving to rejoin Def Leppard, which was getting ready for the 2011 tour. The Irish Thin Lizzy was Campbell's favorite band when he was growing up. "It really ignited my passion to play guitar," he said. "It was like being 16 again."
This summer, he has been joining the opening act, bluesy Evan Watson, on nearly every show. "I love working with Evan," Campbell said. "I'm a sucker for the blues. If it brings more attention to him, all the better. He's a talented kid."
Evan Watson • It's been a dream year for Watson, who has toured with Meat Loaf and is now opening for two of the biggest acts in rock history. "I have a great booking agency," Watson said with a laugh.
Watson grew up in Indiana and is a graduate of The College of Wooster with a philosophy degree. After college, he moved to New York City and quickly became a live favorite on the club scene, his music influenced by Southern rock and the blues.
His first major tour was with Meat Loaf, who Watson said took him under his wing and gave him valuable advice about performance art and life on the road.
Meat Loaf even asked Watson to write a song for him that he could record for his next album. Watson said he started writing epic, superdramatic songs in the vein of "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" and "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)." But it seemed forced, and Meat Loaf instead picked Watson's older song "The Giving Tree," which will be released in September on the album "Hell in a Handbasket."
Watson's latest record is "South." Emulating Prince, he played every instrument on the album and recorded, produced and mixed it himself. "[My earlier album] 'House Named Blue' had a lot of production," he said. "People always told me they wanted to be raw, so I gave it to them."
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A gig times three
P Def Leppard with Heart and Evan Watson
When • Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
Where • Usana Amphitheatre, 5150 S. 6055 West, West Valley City
Tickets • $29-$99, at SmithsTix