Tag: Def Leppard

Def Leppard – Pour Some Sugar On Me

The legendary English band under the sign of New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Currently, they play in the composition – Joe Elliott (lead vocals, guitars, keyboards), Phil Collen (lead guitars, vocals), Vivian Campbell (rhythm guitars, vocals), Rick “Sav” Savage (bass guitars, guitars, keyboards, vocals) and Rick Allen (percussion instruments, vocals).
At the beginning there was the Atomic Mass group, which was founded in 1977 by then Tapton School students – Rick Savage (bass), Pete Willis (guitar) and Tony Kenning (drums). The Irishman Joe Elliott applied for admission. The guitar was already taken, so it was decided that he would take on the role of vocalist. They gave their first performance at a local school. Soon after, Elliott proposed to change the name to “Deaf Leopard” and eventually stood on Def Leppard to make it sound “less punky”. In January of the following year, guitarist Steve Clark joined the formation, who impressed the boys on rehearsal with his version of the song “Freebird” from the repertoire of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Exactly a year later they released their debut EP “The Def Leppard E.P.”. Because Kenning left the band, Frank Noon succeeded him for recording sessions. Within a month, the drummer Rick Allen joined the band. The mini album was selling well considering the expansion of punk and new wave in those days. The musicians decided to go in the direction of NWOBHM, in which then the flag star was Iron Maiden. Meanwhile, they were gaining more and more popularity, they also managed to sign a contract with Phonogram, and their interests in the United States were to be represented by Mercury Records.

Their first full-length album “On Through the Night” appeared in stores in mid-March 1980. Although he did well in the charts – many British fans turned away from the group at the time, accusing the musicians of “Americanising the image” and focusing on the local music market. Indeed, the group toured primarily across the ocean, supporting AC / DC, Pat Traversa and Ted Nugent, among others. Then they also caught the attention of the AC / DC producer, who would agree to cooperate on the second British album. Longplay “High ‘n’ Dry” was released in July the following year. It is thanks to the skillful management of studio work – the full definition of their specific sound can be heard on the disc. The songs also included a band’s big hit – “Bringin ‘On the Heartbreak”, to which the promotional clip was one of the first metal broadcast on MTV in 1982, bringing the band a huge wave of popularity, especially in the United States. Soon after, the musicians went on a concert tour during which they performed before Ozzy Osbourn and Blackfoot. In the middle of the year, Pete Willis said goodbye to the squad. Phil Collen replaced him. All this happened simultaneously with the preparations for the next album – “Pyromania”, which premiered in January 1983. He was promoted by the single “Photograph”, to which the music video on MTV broke the popularity of the then hit “Beat It” by Michael Jackson. The hit also came from the hits – “Rock of Ages” and “Foolin”. In 1983 alone, the publishing house distributed more than 6 million copies, resulting in over 100,000 copies sold each week! Positions at the top of the list of the best albums a year threatened only by the unmatched “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. The album received diamond status, which meant over ten million sales of the publishing house. As part of the promotional concert, they played, among others, before Billy Squier. Meanwhile, the Gallup Institute reported that in 1984 respondents indicated Def Leppard (alongside Rolling Stones, AC / DC and Journey) as their favorite band.

Def Leppard: The Legends of British Heavy Metal

The Rise of a Rock Phenomenon

Def Leppard, one of the most iconic bands to emerge from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) movement, has carved out a legendary career spanning decades. The band’s current lineup consists of Joe Elliott (lead vocals, guitars, keyboards), Phil Collen (lead guitar, vocals), Vivian Campbell (rhythm guitar, vocals), Rick “Sav” Savage (bass, guitars, keyboards, vocals), and Rick Allen (drums, vocals).

From Atomic Mass to Def Leppard

The origins of Def Leppard trace back to 1977 when Rick Savage (bass), Pete Willis (guitar), and Tony Kenning (drums), then students at Tapton School, formed a band called Atomic Mass. When Joe Elliott auditioned, he initially aimed to play guitar, but with that position filled, he took on the role of lead vocalist. Elliott later suggested renaming the band “Deaf Leopard,” which was modified to “Def Leppard” to give it a more unique and less punk-inspired identity. In early 1978, guitarist Steve Clark joined after impressing the group with his rendition of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird.”

Early Recordings and Breakthrough

In 1979, the band released their debut EP, The Def Leppard E.P., shortly after drummer Frank Noon stepped in to replace the departing Tony Kenning. Rick Allen soon became the permanent drummer, solidifying the classic lineup. Despite the dominance of punk and new wave, the EP performed well, and Def Leppard aligned themselves with the NWOBHM movement, led at the time by Iron Maiden. Their growing popularity led to a contract with Phonogram in the UK and Mercury Records in the U.S.

On Through the Night and a Shift in Direction

Def Leppard’s first full-length album, On Through the Night, was released in March 1980. While the album charted successfully, some British fans accused the band of “Americanizing” their sound and focusing too much on the U.S. market. Def Leppard primarily toured in the United States, opening for acts like AC/DC, Pat Travers, and Ted Nugent. This exposure caught the attention of AC/DC producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange, who agreed to produce their second album.

High ‘n’ Dry – Defining Their Sound

Released in July 1981, High ‘n’ Dry showcased the band’s evolving sound under Lange’s production. The album featured the power ballad Bringin’ On the Heartbreak, whose music video was one of the first metal songs broadcast on MTV in 1982. This exposure boosted Def Leppard’s popularity, especially in the U.S. The band toured extensively, sharing the stage with Ozzy Osbourne and Blackfoot. However, during this period, Pete Willis was dismissed due to personal issues and replaced by Phil Collen.

Pyromania – A Global Breakthrough

Def Leppard’s third album, Pyromania, released in January 1983, propelled them to superstardom. Led by the hit single Photograph, which dominated MTV and outperformed Michael Jackson’s Beat It, the album became a cultural phenomenon. Other chart-topping hits included Rock of Ages and Foolin’. By the end of 1983, over six million copies had been sold, with weekly sales exceeding 100,000 units. Pyromania achieved diamond certification, surpassing ten million copies sold. The album’s only major competition that year was Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

A Lasting Legacy

As part of their Pyromania tour, Def Leppard performed with artists like Billy Squier, further cementing their reputation as one of rock’s biggest acts. By 1984, a Gallup Institute survey ranked them alongside legends such as The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, and Journey as one of the most beloved bands of the decade.

Def Leppard’s journey from a school band in Sheffield to global rock stardom remains one of the most inspiring stories in heavy metal history. Their sound, resilience, and dedication to their craft continue to influence generations of musicians and fans worldwide.