A High school kid named JoE Elliott was sitting in school in Sheffield, Ireland and drawing pictures of his imaginary band called "Deaf Leopard". He would draw album covers, record sleeves, logos and Posters of them. His dream was to be a singer for that imaginary band.
Atomic Mass is Formed by Rick Savage (BasS), Pete WilliS (GuitarS) and TonY KenninG (Drums). Later that year Sav asks Joe to join the band. JoE Elliott joins the band as a vocalist and Joe's Life Long Dream comes true.
They were now at the point where they wanted to make an EP, but they needed a drummer. Frank NooN ( from "The Next Band") was called up and asked to play the drums on this record. The name of this record was "THE DEF LEPPARD EP".
The EP is a surprising success and the record company Vertigo was interested in a record deal! After this release, RicK AlleN shows up to play the drums, while he's only 15 years old. They plug in and start playing together and its instant magic.
The First Public Gig took place at The Westfield School in Sheffield, England. After The $250 Def Leppard EP wqs made they released the first single off of it called "Wasted".
Def Leppard gets into the recording studio and records the first of many albums called "On Through The Night".
The critics in the UK think the band reflects too much on American influence called "U.S. Rock".
The band is considered to be part of "The New Wave Of Heavy Metal".
The Band starts to do some heavy touring with AC/DC, Ted Nugent and Judas Priest. A gig at the Reading Festival causes a massive flow of tamatoes and beer cans. After the tour The Lepp's are ready to go back into the studio and record their second album...
Leppard's 2nd album is released and the single that got a lot of air play on the radio was "Bringin' On The Heartbreak". MTV (Music Television) Started to play this video which really helped sales for "High n' Dry". they do not get much recognition in the UK but are gettin more and more popular in the states. Def Leppard begins playing gigs with Sammy Hagar and AC/DC. During the year 1982 Pete Willis is kicked out of the band because of alcoholism and later be replaced by Phil Collen from 'Girl'.
The Band puts out the third album called 'Pyromania' which is produced by Mutt Lange and changes the sound of Def Leppard forever.
The band Breaks through in the states, and the album is the # 2 best selling album of the year (Behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller').
The lepps popularity in the states is in jeopardy for a short time period of time because Joe made some words that insulted some mexicans, but Joe appologizes and makes a donation to some good cause and is forgiven.
The band puts this record (HysteriA) off for a very long time because Mutt Lange is not available, and Def Leppard would not record with anyone else. Jim Steinman is the next choice but does not work out well and the third choice is to produce it themselves. After a while Mutt Langwe is available and they start the album.
Then a major disaster happens Rick Allen loses his left arm in a car accident. Rick was driving in a american made black Stingray and was trying to over take this car because it would slow down but then would speed up again. Everytime Rick would try to overtake this guy he would speed up. So finally after 3 miles of this, Rick is fed up with this and tries to over take him, but doesn't see the left hand curve comming up and flies stright into a brick wall and skidded and flipped over. Rick - " All i remember is waking up in a field yelling, I lost arm and i am a drummer, I'm never gonna play drums again."
In Rick's surgery they attach his left arm back, but the arm doesnt stay on long because it gets infected and he can't use it. Mutt Lange has this incredible idea for Rick to say that he can still play drums by getting feeling back in his right arm and using a computerized drum set by playing the pads, sounding like the cymbals and drums. He now plays the drums with his feet that he would regularly play with his right arm. Rick is amazed and they begin work on the drum set.
Hysteria is finally released and The return of the "Thundergod" - Rick Allen. Hysteria is a huge success with 13 million copies sold worldwide. The singles are hits and now the Lepp's are big in the UK. A 227 date world tour is kicked off and 2 videos are released ... Historia - a compilation of every video Def Leppard has made and ... Live - In the Round In Your Face - a concert video of two nights of action packed songs and hits.
Durng the again, very long recording sessions, Steve Clark gets more and more addicted to alcohol and the band decides, for the good of Steve, that he should take a 6 month league of absence to rest and get better. Unfortunately, the 6 months never came for Steve, he was found dead in his house on January 8, 1991, due to a combination of alcohol and perscription drugs. Joe - "It kinda sounds like we let Steve go in a way, but we didnt. We wanted him to get better, but Steve kept on drinking and he lost his battle with the bottle." Another great musician is gone and missed by a lot of musicians worldwide. We Miss You Steve !!
The band works as a four piece for the next album 'Adrenalize' where Phil does all the guitar parts. Phil - " It was weird because i had to play like Steve, it was like a ghost sitting playing next to me." 'Adreanlize' is another big success in the States, the UK and Europe.
Def Leppard recruits former Whitesnake and Dio Guitarist Vivian Campbell to play with them. Joe - " He just fit in the band, we didnt want to replace Steve, but we needed another guitaist. He was from England just like us, he played soccer and he wanted to play music that we were."
Another video, Visualize is released which includes new videos from 'Adrenalize',live clips and interveiws.
The band releases a new album 'Retro - Active' which contains some new songs and old tracks done with Steve.
The song "Two Steps Behind" on Retro-Active is asked to be used on the movie "Last Action Hero" starring Arnold Swartzenegger. The song is included in the credits of the movie and the soundtrack.
Def Leppard releases the 'Vault - Greatest Hits 1980 - 1995' including one new song 'When Love and Hate Collide'. The Japanese version has 2 new songs.
The band breaks a record by playing 3 shows in 3 different continents in 24 hours (UK, Europe and North America) and is put into the Guiness Book of World Records.
Def Leppard releases a new album called 'Slang'. A new direction for Def Leppard and a new sounding Def Leppard. Def Leppard wanted to fill a huge void out in the music business. They try make this album have licks from african and other ancestories. Unfortunately, the album does not have much success and is the only De Leppard album not to reach PLatinum sales.
Def Leppard Makes their debut on American Television when asked to play on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. The Band Preforms the song "Work It Out". Mtv Features a 30 minute program about Def Leppard called "Rockumentey Remix". It Tells about their success as a band and their history.
The band releases a New album called "Euphoria" and has much success. It is the finishing touch to the Trilogy - Pyromania , Hysteria, Euphoria.
Vh1 makes a Program called "Behind the Music" which features Def Leppard about interviews, history, and videos.
Vh1 asks Def Leppard to do a "Storytellers" show. The band plays some hits and new songs from Euphoria and tells the story behind the songs.
DEF LEPPARD WILL WORK ON A NEW ALBUM BEGINNING THIS SPRING AND WILL HOPEFULLY BE OUT IN THE YEAR 2001 ... LOOK FOR IT IN STORES AND BUY THEIR OTHER ALBUMS...
The Albums
| Album | Debut Date | Peak Position | Sales |
|---|
| On Through The Night | 5/3/1980 | 51 | 1 million + |
| High 'N' Dry | 8/8/1981 | 38 | 2 million + |
| Pyromania | 2/5/1983 | 2 | 9 million + |
| Hysteria | 8/22/1987 | 1 | 12 million + |
| Adrenalize | 4/18/1992 | 1 | 5 million + |
| Retro-Active | 10/23/1993 | 9 | 1 million + |
| Vault | 11/18/1995 | 15 | 2 million + |
| Slang | 5/21/1996 | 14 | gold + |
| Euphoria | 6/8/1999 | ?? | 1 million + |
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