Def leppard biography

British rock band

"Leppard" redirects here. For the animal, see Leopard.

This article is about the band. For their self-titled album, see Def Leppard (album).

Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in Sheffield in Since , the band has consisted of Rick Savage (bass, backing vocals), Joe Elliott (lead vocals), Rick Allen (drums), Phil Collen (guitar, backing vocals), and Vivian Campbell (guitar, backing vocals). They established themselves as part of the new wave of British heavy metal of the early s. Their greatest commercial success came between the early s and mid–s.

With a line-up of Savage, Elliott, Allen and guitarists Steve Clark and Pete Willis, the band's first album, 's On Through the Night, reached the Top 15 in the UK but received little notice elsewhere. Their second album, 's High 'n' Dry, was produced by Mutt Lange, who helped them to define their melodic hard rock style. The album's most popular track "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" became one of the first rock videos played on MTV in , but the album reached only the Top 30 and 40 in the UK and US. Willis was replaced by Collen in Their next studio album, Pyromania, was released in January , with "Photograph" and "Rock of Ages" both topping the US Rock Tracks chart and reaching the top 20 of the Hot Reaching No. 2 on the US album chart, Pyromania was certified Diamond in the US. It reached the top 20 in the UK but did not sell much elsewhere. The band's fourth album, the more pop-oriented Hysteria (), topped the UK, US, Canadian and Australian charts, and remained on the charts for over two years, from to It has been certified 12× platinum for sales in the US, selling over 30 million copies worldwide to date, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time, and the highest selling glam rock album to date. It spawned six Top 20 US singles, including the US Billboard Hot No. 1 "Love Bites". Singles also included "Pour Some Sugar on Me

Def Leppard are an English rock band. They formed in Sheffield, England in Its founding members include: lead singer Joe Elliot, bassist Rick Savage, guitarist Pete Willis, and drummer Tony Kenning. When Kenning left the band in , Frank Noon played the drums. The same year, Def Leppard made their first extended play, named The Def Leppard E.P. Frank Noon was replaced by drummer Rick Allen, and guitarist Steve Clark joined the band shortly after. The band was a part of the new wave of British heavy metal in the s and s.

Their first album, On Through the Night (), was a hit. In April , Def Leppard signed with Leber-Krebs management. Later in , they went on their first U.S. tour with Ted Nugent, AC/DC, and Judas Priest. In they released their second album, High ‘n’ Dry. After the album came out, MTV broadcasted Def Leppard for the first time. MTV showed their hit song “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak.”

In , Pete Willis was replaced by Phil Collen. The band started recording their third album with producer Mutt Lange. In , their third album, Pyromania, was released. The single “Photograph” was also released, and the album sold , copies in a week. In , drummer Rick Allen lost an arm due to a car accident. He started to play with an electronic drum kit, and taught himself how to play the drums with one arm. In , Rick Allen played music with the band for the first time since his accident.

In , the band’s fourth album, Hysteria, was released. The album had 12 singles, and sold 16 million copies. In , guitarist Steve Clark died. He died because of a mixture of alcohol and painkillers. In , Vivian Campbell joined the band. Vivian Campbell was the guitarist for Dio and Whitesnake. That year, the band released Adrenalize. This album was number one on the Billboard music chart for five weeks, and sold six million copies.

In , the song “Two Steps Behind” was used for the end credits of the movie Last Action Hero. The same year, the compilati

In November, the first Def Leppard rehearsal takes place in a spoon factory near Bramall Lane, Sheffield (UK). Lead singer Joe Elliott, bass player Rick "Sav" Savage, guitarist Pete Willis, and drummer Tony Kenning just renamed the band from Deaf Leopard (a name first coined by Joe Elliott at school in ) to Def Leppard. At Christmas, the band perform their first gig for six friends. Six songs are played, including covers by David Bowie, Thin Lizzy and their own original "MISTY DREAMER".



In January, Steve Clark joins the band as the second guitarist. Between February and July, the band rehearse interminably until Steve Clark threatens to quit if they don&#;t get out and play. On July 18, Def Leppard play their first public gig at Westfield School in Sheffield. They are paid 5 Pounds -- out of a teacher&#;s pocket. In November, drummer Tony Kenning is fired from the band and replaced by Frank Noon for the band&#;s first recording, "THE DEF LEPPARD EP", which costs Pounds Sterling (approximately US Dollars) for recording, sleeves and pressing on their own Bludgeon Riffola label. On November 28, drummer Rick Allen joins the band full time.



The live reputation climbs, John Peel&#;s show on BBC Radio 1 gives the EP the first radio airplay and a recording deal is signed with Phonogram (UK) and Mercury (US). All band members give up their day jobs and Rick Allen drops out of school. In September, the band open for Sammy Hagar and play London&#;s rock mecca, The Hammersmith Odeon, for the first time. In October and November, Def Leppard supports AC/DC in the UK. During that time, the first single "WASTED", produced by Nick Tauber, is released. Rick Allen celebrates his 16th (!) birthday at the Hammersmith.



On March 14, the debut LP "ON THROUGH THE NIGHT", produced by Tom Allom, is released. Around the same time, the single "HELLO AMERICA" sees the light of day. On April 1, the band sign with