Double shifts with Def Lep and Man Raze don't worry Collen

Phil says he's learned how resilient he is in the past fortnight - and he's even learned to sing

Phil Collen played the Tuborg Tent yesterday with Man Raze, and he's preparing to close the main stage of this year's Download with Def Leppard later tonight.

You might think it would be a big ask for a distinguished gentleman of several years' experience. But you'd be wrong - Collen says not only can he handle both jobs, he's learning from it as well.

He tells Download FM: "Last week I was rehearsing in the morning with Def Leppard and at night with Man Raze, then vice-versa - and I can deal with it. We can all deal with a lot more then we think we can.

"I've learned to sing in the last two weeks. I could always sing - I've been doing it for 30 years - but I've learned to control it. It's the first time I've been able to say that."

Man Raze stars Collen, Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols and Simon Laffy of Girl, Collen's band before he joined Def Lep. But it's much more than a side-project for the trio. They're enjoying the musical freedom and the new challenges - and Collen says there's no undue pressure from the Def Lep camp.

he explains: "Joe Elliott's been a huge supporter - our biggest fan. He's been like our A&R man. We recorded the album at his house."