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Def Leppard are one of the UK's top selling exports across the US and world-wide. Their success in the early to mid 80's was unrivalled for this Sheffield based band, who literally began their musical careers as teenagers straight out of school. Their ballads, and laid back rock sound, took LA by the reigns, and their glam styling spawned many emulators in their time. Def Leppard have sold more than 60 million! albums world-wide, and are still headlining major festivals and venues today. They can be readily seen on MTV, and VH1, their hit single "Animal" is still a video favourite.

Biography

1977 - Def Leppard were formed in Sheffield, UK, by messrs Joe Elliot, Rick Savage and original drummer, Tony Kenning. The band was originally called Deaf Leopard, coined by singer Joe Elliot, but was later intentionally misspelled for promotional reasons. Def Leppard were born from the UK new metal, (Post-Punk), movement in the late 70's. Together with the likes of "Motorhead", "Judas Priest", "Girlschool", "Ian Gillan band", and "Tygers of Pang Tang".

1978 - Steve Clark joins the band on guitar, together with Pete Willis on Lead guitar, the band is now a five piece.

Although not exactly heavy metal, Def Leppard's music was more pop orientated. Aiming for commercial success and a place in the UK pop chart, "Getcha rocks off" was a top twenty hit. With appearances on BBC and "Top of the pops", (note: even "Deep Purple" appeared on this show). Despite the rather mellow tone, they certainly looked the part of a rock band, dressed in true glam metal style, something that would later take LA by storm.

Featuring heavily in UK music papers "Melody Maker", and "Sounds", this young band were still in their teens, yet managed to capture the imagination of a young audience who were tired of angry punk, and RnB artists.

1979 - Def Leppard release their first self titled EP containing three songs, "Ride into the Sun", "Getcha rocks off", and "The Overture". The single was released on independent label, "Bludgeon/Riffola". Drummer Tony Kenning quits the band and is replaced, temporarily, by Frank Noon.

November. Rick Allen is signed to the band as official drummer.

1980 - The band release their first album titled, "On through the night", on the Vertigo label, and produced by Tom Allom. With a promotional tour of the US, they supported the likes of "Ozzy Osbourne", "Sammy Hagar" and toured with other new wave metal acts like "Judas Priest". With extensive touring, the band's first album soon attained Platinum status and would set them on their path for success.

Def Leppard took full advantage of airplay on the young cable network show MTV. With continual play, the single "Bringin' on the heartbreak" helped introduce the band to a wide US audience.

1981 - Def Leppard release their second album, "High ‘N' Dry", on Vertigo. This time the producer is John "Mutt" Lange.

1982 - Pete Willis quits, (or is fired?), and is replaced on Lead guitar by Phil Collen.

1983 - Def Leppard release their third album titled, "Pyromania", on Vertigo, again with producer John Lange. This is the album that turned the tide for the band, with more MTV airplay of singles "Photograph", and "Rock of ages", Def Leppard were accumulating a wide following in the US. And just maybe even enough success to quit the UK shores all together? "Pyromania" goes multi-Platinum this same year, selling ten million copies world-wide.

1984 - Def Leppard return to the studio, this time with rock legend Jim Steinman, ("Meatloaf") as producer. However, this collaboration was short lived, and after recording most of the tracks for the new album, the project was put on hold until a new producer could be found.

Rick Allen looses his left arm in a car accident on new year's eve. Surgeons replaced his arm, but later had to remove it due to infection, a double blow for Allen. Rick switches to a specially designed electronic drum kit that allows him to control the snare with his left foot, and with bass drum on his right foot gives him the ability to perform live.

With producer "Mutt" Lange back behind the desk, the band re-recorded tracks for their new album. With Allen playing his electronic "Simmons" kit, the album would have a new, distinct sound.

1986 - August. Def Leppard perform at the UK "Monsters of Rock" festival in Reading. Playing new forthcoming songs, the band were hailed as hero's by the Reading audience.

1987 - Four long years since their last album, but the band finally release their fourth album, "Hysteria", this time on the Phonogram label. Produced again with Lange, this is an excellent album and well worth the wait, containing hit singles "Animal", and "Pour some sugar on me". The album also includes the title track, "Hysteria", "Love bites", Armageddon it", "Women", and "Love and affection".

1989 - Def Leppard appear on the MTV music awards.

1991 - January. Tragedy again strikes the band, as founder guitarist Steve Clark is found dead from drugs and alcohol.

1992 - Def Leppard release their fifth album, "Adrenalize", again with Phonogram and producer Mike Shipley. The album debuted at #1 in the US, and spawned hit singles, "Let's get rocked", and "Have you ever needed someone so bad". Yet the album did not receive the same success as "Hysteria". The album also included track, "Miss you in a heartbeat".

Vivian Campbell, ("Whitesnake"), joins on guitar to replace the late Steve Clark.

1993 - The band release album six, "Retro Active" on Phonogram and produced by Leppard themselves. This was a selection of the band's rare recordings, and featured a new single, "Miss you in a heartbeat", (first released on Adrenalize). Also "Fractured Love", "She's too tough", "Only after dark", "Ride into the Sun", and "I wanna be your hero".

1995 - "Vault - Greatest Hits 80-95" is released on Phonogram.

1996 - Def Leppard release "Slang" on Phonogram, produced with Pete Woodroffe. By now, the band's audience had changed direction, glam was out and grunge was in. Def Leppard were now struggling to find the previous success of their former albums. Tracks include; "Truth?", "Turn to dust", All I want is everything", "Breathe a sigh", "Blood runs cold", and "Where does Love go when it dies".

1999 - Def Leppard release album nine, "Euphoria" on Phonogram, with producer Pete Woodroffe again at the helm. This was an album with a very much similar sound and format of previous monster hit album, "Hysteria". Tracks include; "Demolition Man", "Promises", "Goodbye", "It's only Love", "To be alive", and "Guilty".

Def Leppard are presented with a ‘Diamond award' by the RIAA for more than 10 million album sales of "Hysteria".

2002 - The band release album ten, "X", again with producer Pete Woodroffe. Tracks include; "Now", "Unbelievable", "You're so beautiful", "Love don't die", "Gravity", and "Let me be the one".

2004 - "Best Of" is released on Riffola/Mercury/Phonogram. Released in both single CD and limited edition double CD, the tracks include a compilation from all previous albums to date, including a cut of the cover title, "Waterloo Sunset", ("the Kinks" - double CD only). This compilation was not released in US - see below.

2005 - Yet another compilation, "Rock of ages: Definitive collection" two CD set is released specially for US only. This is almost identical to double CD above, with minor difference to the tracks included.

2006 - May. Def Leppard release "Yeah!". This album is strange outing for the band, and is entirely a selection of cover songs ranging from the "Kinks", to "Blondie", "Marc Bolan", to "Thin Lizzy", and more. Tracks include; "20th Century boy", "Rock on", "Don't believe a word", "Street life", "Stay with me", "Waterloo Sunset", "Little bit of Love", and "Stay with me".

June. Def Leppard embark on an extensive US tour with reformed US rockers, "Journey".

November. Def Leppard complete their tour with "Journey" at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, in San Juan this November 19th.

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