Guitarist Phil Collen (Def Leppard) spoke to Inside Hook where he mentioned why he is shirtless on stage, showing his abs as often as possible.
He said:
“I get hot on stage, but also I do look good. Maybe it’s shallow, but that’s okay. I’m a performer, musician and artist. And performing is this whole thing. On stage, I want to look like a rock star.”
At 63 years old, Phil Collen is a prime example of the “no-excuse” rule when it comes to being active, fit and healthy.
As a rock and roll guitarist in an internationally successful rock band, Collen didn’t start out as a health and fitness enthusiast. After years of playing hard, partying hard, and leading a self-described “very unhealthy lifestyle,” Phil decided to make a change. In his early thirties, Collen decided to quit drinking and partying.
His live-saving conversion came just before his Def Leppard bandmate and “terror twin” of the party scene, Steve Clark, died of a prescription drug and alcohol overdose in early 1991. Inspired to lead a healthier lifestyle, the sober Collen no longer needed to “recover” each day from the previous night’s debauchery, and instead found himself with numerous free hours in his day. Collen began exercising, running to start, and later taking up the martial art of Muay Thai kick boxing.