In the realm of rock and roll, Phil Collen is renowned for his electrifying guitar riffs with Def Leppard, but behind the stage persona lies a story of love, transformation, and an unexpected encounter with his third wife, Helen L. Simmons.
Collen, the lead guitarist for the iconic British heavy metal band, Def Leppard, found himself entwined in the symphony of love when he met Helen Simmons in 2008. Described as the “short-haired shirtless one” on stage, Collen is far from the stereotype of a rockstar in his personal life, displaying a masterful understatement that contrasts with the roaring guitars and dynamic performances on stage.
The prelude to their union was marked by the complexity of Collen’s love life, as he candidly described it on the eve of his marriage to Simmons. With three children from two marriages and a trail of relationships from a life on the road, Collen had navigated the tumultuous waters of love before finding a serendipitous connection with Simmons.
The two crossed paths in Reading, Pa., in 2008, where Simmons, a Brooklyn native and costume designer, was training for a career shift with I Love All Access, a Los Angeles-based company offering VIP concert tickets. Their first encounter was a passing introduction in a hallway, a moment that left a subtle imprint.
It wasn’t until the summer of 2009 that their paths converged again, as Simmons became the liaison for her company during Def Leppard’s “Sparkle Lounge” tour in the United States. Collen, recognizing Simmons from their prior meeting, initiated a conversation that would change the course of their lives.
Simmons, not a follower of Def Leppard at the time, recalls her first impression of Collen on stage, admitting, “I’m a Michael Jackson fan. I didn’t know who he was until I saw him on stage that night.” Despite their differing musical tastes, a connection began to spark.
Their interaction was casual, but Collen, with characteristic understatement, recalls knowing Simmons was “the one” within an hour of meeting her. However, the early days were not without complications. Both were entangled in existing relationships, adding layers of emotional complexity to their budding connection.
A pivotal moment arrived two days later when Collen, in a matter-of-fact manner, asked Simmons for seven minutes of her time. The specificity of the request, as Collen explained, was a calculated choice. “I knew I needed more than 5, and I figured 10 would be too long.”
In those crucial minutes, Collen laid bare his feelings, expressing, “I don’t know what your situation is, whether you’re married or have kids, but I know that you are the one who is meant for me.” Despite the unconventional proposal, Simmons listened quietly, and as Collen assured her that he would wait, a connection solidified.
Their journey from that moment was not immediate, taking two weeks for both to untangle from their respective relationships. A first date, chaperoned by bandmates and roadies during Def Leppard’s Cleveland stop, involved bowling and marked the beginning of a profound connection. Collen reflects on the date, stating, “Then we were in trouble,” hinting at the magnetic attraction that drew them together.
Collen, a follower of Sant Mat, an Eastern philosophy, believes in the interconnectedness of energy. He describes their instant connection as if they had known each other for years but had to wait until that precise moment to meet.
Simmons, too, found a mystical quality in their match, recalling, “When I was younger, I imagined the kind of man I could love. I couldn’t see his face or hear his voice, but I felt his essence.” Their relationship, she says, embodies the love she had always imagined.
Their engagement unfolded on the shores of West Palm Beach, Florida, last August, against the backdrop of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Manalapan. The joyous occasion was quickly followed by Collen filing for divorce from his second wife. Subsequently, Def Leppard’s 2009 tour, marred by mental and physical exhaustion, was abruptly canceled.
The wedding ceremony took place on July 16, overlooking the same beach where Collen proposed. The couple, surrounded by over 60 guests, embarked on a journey of matrimony in the face of sweltering Florida humidity. As Debbie Blackwell Cook, the bride’s godmother, sang “The Man I Love” by George Gershwin, Collen and Simmons exchanged vows officiated by Eddie Rodriguez of the Conversations With God spiritual center in Miami.
The reception that followed adhered to the couple’s shared lifestyle choices, featuring a no-alcohol, no-animal-product menu. The guests, seated in the warmth for a 6:30 p.m. wedding that commenced nearly an hour later, embraced the unique celebration.
The union of Phil Collen and Helen L. Simmons goes beyond the realms of a conventional rockstar love story. Their journey, marked by serendipity, patience, and a harmonious connection, unfolds against the backdrop of a rock and roll legacy and the transformative power of love. As they navigate the chapters ahead, Phil Collen and Helen Simmons stand as a testament to the enduring strength of love amid the roaring symphony of life.