Def Leppard

Def Leppard

Def Leppard are an English rock band from Sheffield, formed in 1977 and active since then. Their line-up since 1992 consists of Joe Elliott on lead vocals, Rick Savage on bass and backing vocals, Rick Allen on drums, Phil Collen on guitar and backing vocals, and Vivian Campbell on guitar and backing vocals. The band also includes former members Pete Willis and Steve Clark.

Style and early years

Def Leppard emerge from the early 1980s new wave of British heavy metal scene. Their sound develops into melodic hard rock, and they are also associated with alternative rock, AOR, classic rock, glam, glam metal and glam rock. The band records for Bludgeon Riffola and Def-Lepp-Music.

Albums and breakthrough records

Their debut album, On Through the Night (1980), reaches the Top 15 in the UK but draws little international attention. High 'n' Dry (1981), produced by Mutt Lange, helps establish their melodic hard rock style. Its track “Bringin' On the Heartbreak” becomes one of the first rock videos shown on MTV in 1982.

Pyromania (1983) is the first album to feature Phil Collen in place of Pete Willis. It includes “Photograph” and “Rock of Ages”, both of which top the US Rock Tracks chart and reach the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. The album reaches number two in the US and is certified Diamond there.

Hysteria (1987) is a more pop-oriented release that tops the UK, US, Canadian and Australian charts and remains on the charts for more than two years. It sells over 15 million copies worldwide and produces six Top 20 US singles, including “Love Bites”, “Pour Some Sugar on Me”, “Hysteria”, “Armageddon It”, “Animal” and “Rocket”. “Animal” becomes their biggest UK hit.

Later work and recognition

After the death of Steve Clark in 1991, Def Leppard record Adrenalize (1992) as a four-piece before Vivian Campbell joins for the following tour. The album reaches number one in the UK, US and Australia and includes “Let's Get Rocked” and “Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad”. The latter reaches the Top 10 in the US, UK and Canada. Adrenalize sells over eight million copies worldwide.

Retro Active (1993) includes the acoustic Top 5 hit “Two Steps Behind”. The compilation Vault (1995) features “When Love & Hate Collide”, which reaches number two in the UK, and the collection reaches the Top 10 in several countries.

The band sells more than 100 million records worldwide. Pyromania and Hysteria both receive RIAA Diamond certification, making Def Leppard one of only five rock bands with two original studio albums that each sell more than 10 million copies in the US. They are ranked number 31 in VH1’s “100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock” and number 70 in “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”. In 2019, they are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Studio albums

On Through the Night (1980), High 'n' Dry (1981), Pyromania (1983), Hysteria (1987), Adrenalize (1992), Slang (1996), Euphoria (1999), X (2002), Yeah! (2006), Songs from the Sparkle Lounge (2008), Def Leppard (2015), Diamond Star Halos (2022).