Last week, Def Leppard announced a 48-date tour with Styx and Tesla, which will kick off in Tampa, Fla., on July 23. This week, frontman Joe Elliott made the rounds promoting the huge summer tour, and in an interview with HuffPost Live, the singer insists that his band would “politely refuse” an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, saying it’s “not that important.”

In speaking further about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Elliott said that he could name 100 other artists “more important that us that aren’t in there.” Ironically, Elliott added that he helped with the initial fundraising to build the Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Then he quipped, “For some reason that doesn’t count for anything.”

Elliott continued, "In fact, we've kind of all decided that even if we get asked we're just going to -- how can I put this? -- politely refuse, like the Sex Pistols did," Elliot said. "Unless there was some sort of online campaign by our fans 'cause they were annoyed with us."

Elliott said he puts more stock in Def Leppard fans than the people that make the decision of who gets into the Rock Hall. "The biggest compliment I ever got was my first platinum disc because it's a representation of one million people who've bought your album," he said. “Those million mean a lot more to me than some people that decide whether you fit for the Hall of Fame." Watch the interview in the player above.

Def Leppard are currently working on their ninth studio album, the follow-up to 2008’s Songs From the Sparkle Lounge. As mentioned, their summer tour launches in Tampa, Fla. ,on July 23 and wraps in Bismarck, N.D., on Oct. 4. Check out the tour dates here.

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