Def Leppard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Def Leppard
Def Leppard band members in 2018: Phil Collen, Vivian Campbell, Joe Elliott, Rick Savage, Rick Allen
Background information
Also known as	Atomic Mass (1976–1977) Ded Flatbird (2013)
Origin	Sheffield, England
Genres	Hard rock glam metal arena rock power pop heavy metal (early)
Years active	1977–present
Labels	Jugoton Croatia Records Mercury Universal Phonogram Vertigo PolyGram Bludgeon-Riffola (their own label) Island Frontiers earMUSIC
Members	Rick Savage Joe Elliott Rick Allen Phil Collen Vivian Campbell
Past members	Steve Clark Pete Willis Tony Kenning

Def Leppard is a famous English rock band that started in Sheffield, England, in 1977. Since 1992, the band has had the same members: Rick Savage (bass guitar, backing vocals), Joe Elliott (lead vocals), Rick Allen (drums), Phil Collen (guitar, backing vocals), and Vivian Campbell (guitar, backing vocals).

They became well-known as part of the new wave of British heavy metal in the early 1980s. Their biggest success happened between the early 1980s and mid-1990s. Def Leppard has sold over 100 million records worldwide. They are one of only five rock bands to have two albums sell more than 10 million copies in the US. These albums are Pyromania and Hysteria. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.

Band History

Early Days: Atomic Mass and Formation (1976–1979)

Vocalist Joe Elliott (left) and bassist Rick Savage (right), pictured in 2014, are the only original members still in Def Leppard.

In 1976, Rick Savage, Tony Kenning, and Pete Doubleday formed a band called Atomic Mass in Sheffield. Pete Willis joined them in 1977. Joe Elliott tried out for the band in November 1977. He was originally going to be a guitarist, but the band decided he was better as the lead singer. Their first practice was at Portland Works, and their first show was at Westfield School.

Elliott suggested the name "Deaf Leopard," which he thought of while designing band posters. At Kenning's suggestion, they changed the spelling to "Def Leppard" to make it sound less like a punk band. In January 1978, Steve Clark joined as a guitarist.

In November 1978, Kenning left the band. He was replaced by Frank Noon for a short time. Soon after, Rick Allen, who was only 15, joined as the full-time drummer. Their first three-song release, The Def Leppard E.P., became very popular. The song "Getcha Rocks Off" was played a lot on BBC Radio 1.

By 1979, Def Leppard had many fans in Britain. They were seen as leaders of the new wave of British heavy metal movement. This led to a record deal with Phonogram/Vertigo (Mercury Records in the US).

First Albums: On Through the Night and High 'n' Dry (1980–1981)

Def Leppard's first album, On Through the Night, came out on March 14, 1980. It reached the Top 15 in the UK. Some early fans felt the band was trying too hard to appeal to American audiences.

The band then worked with producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange for their second album, High 'n' Dry, released on July 6, 1981. Lange helped them create their unique melodic hard rock sound. Even though the album didn't sell huge numbers at first, the music video for "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" was one of the first metal videos shown on MTV in 1982. This helped the band become more visible in the US.

New Member and Pyromania Success (1982–1983)

Guitarist Phil Collen (pictured in 2003) joined the band in 1982.

On July 11, 1982, Pete Willis left the band. He was replaced by Phil Collen the very next day. This change happened while they were recording their third album, Pyromania, which was released on January 20, 1983. Mutt Lange also produced this album.

The first song from the album, "Photograph", made Def Leppard a household name. It became the most requested video on MTV, even more than Michael Jackson's "Beat It". "Photograph" and "Rock of Ages" both reached number 1 on the US Rock Tracks chart.

Pyromania sold six million copies in 1983. It was only kept from the top of the US charts by Michael Jackson's Thriller. This album's huge success helped start the pop-metal music style of the 1980s. By 2004, Pyromania had sold over 10 million copies in the US, earning a Diamond award.

Rick Allen's Journey and Hysteria (1984–1989)

After losing his left arm in a car accident, drummer Rick Allen (pictured in 2018) used his feet to play a custom electronic drum kit.

On December 31, 1984, drummer Rick Allen was in a car accident. He lost his left arm. Despite this, Rick Allen was determined to keep playing drums. He realized he could use his legs for some of the drumming. He worked with Simmons to create a special electronic drum kit. The other band members supported him and never looked for a replacement. Rick Allen's return to the stage at the 1986 Monsters of Rock festival was met with a huge, emotional cheer from the crowd.

After more than three years of recording, Def Leppard's fourth album, Hysteria, was released on August 3, 1987. "Animal" became the band's first Top 10 hit in the UK. Hysteria topped the UK Album Charts in its first week. It stayed on the charts for 105 weeks.

The album's sales in the US were slow at first. But then, the song "Pour Some Sugar on Me" was released. It became a massive hit, reaching No. 2 on the Hot 100. Hysteria finally reached the top of the US Billboard 200 in July 1988. "Pour Some Sugar on Me" is now considered one of the band's most famous songs.

In October 1988, the song "Love Bites" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Hysteria is one of the few albums to have seven or more songs chart on the US Hot 100. It has sold over 25 million copies worldwide. The band's tour for Hysteria was also very successful. They performed on a stage in the middle of the audience, which fans loved.

At the 1989 American Music Awards, Def Leppard won Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Artist and Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Album for Hysteria.

Adrenalize, Retro Active, and Slang (1990–1996)

After Hysteria, the band started working on their fifth album. Sadly, Steve Clark died on January 8, 1991. The remaining band members decided to continue as a four-piece.

Def Leppard's fifth album, Adrenalize, was released on March 31, 1992. It immediately went to number one on the UK and US album charts. The first song, "Let's Get Rocked", was a huge hit. It became their highest-charting song in many countries, including the UK (No. 2). Other popular songs from Adrenalize included "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad".

Guitarist Vivian Campbell in 2003. He joined Def Leppard in 1992.

In 1992, Vivian Campbell joined the band as the new guitarist. He had previously played with other bands like Dio and Whitesnake. In April 1992, Def Leppard performed at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in London.

In October 1993, the band released Retro Active, a collection of B-sides and unreleased songs. It included the acoustic song "Two Steps Behind", which was a Top 5 hit in Canada and a Top 15 hit in the US. In 1995, Def Leppard released their first greatest hits album, Vault. It featured a new song, "When Love & Hate Collide", which became their biggest hit in the UK, reaching No. 2.

On October 23, 1995, the band made it into the Guinness Book of World Records. They performed three concerts on three different continents in one day!

Slang, released in May 1996, had a different sound for the band. It had darker lyrics and a more stripped-down, alternative rock feel. The album reached No. 5 in the UK.

Euphoria, X, and Yeah! (1997–2007)

VH1 helped bring the band back into the public eye in the US in 1998 with an episode of Behind the Music. To build on this, Def Leppard returned to their classic sound with the 1999 album Euphoria. The first song, "Promises", reached No. 1 on the US Mainstream Rock Track charts.

Def Leppard performing in Wolverhampton in February 2003.

On September 5, 2000, Def Leppard was honored at Hollywood's RockWalk. In 2001, VH1 made a movie about the band called Hysteria – The Def Leppard Story.

Def Leppard's eighth album, X, released in 2002, moved more towards pop music. It was not as successful as their previous albums.

In October 2004, a new "best of" collection called Best Of was released. Def Leppard also performed at the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia in 2005.

On May 23, 2006, Def Leppard released Yeah!, an album of cover songs. They paid tribute to classic rock songs from their childhood by bands like Blondie and The Kinks. This album debuted at No. 16 in the US.

Songs from the Sparkle Lounge (2008–2010)

Def Leppard performing in Sacramento in September 2009.

On April 25, 2008, Def Leppard released Songs from the Sparkle Lounge, their first album of new music in six years. It debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 in the US. The first song, "Nine Lives", featured country singer Tim McGraw.

The band went on a tour to support the album, playing in many cities in the US and Europe. In October 2008, Def Leppard performed with country star Taylor Swift in a special TV show called CMT Crossroads: Taylor Swift and Def Leppard. This show was later released on DVD and became a bestseller.

Touring and Viva! Hysteria (2011–2014)

After a break from touring in 2010, the band released their first live album, Mirror Ball – Live & More, in June 2011. It included three new studio songs.

Def Leppard performing an acoustic set in Rosemont, 2012

Def Leppard went on a two-month US tour in the summer of 2011 with Heart. They also played shows in Australia, Japan, and the UK. In 2012, they toured with Poison and Lita Ford on the "Rock Of Ages 2012 Tour".

In 2013, Def Leppard had a special 11-show residency in Las Vegas called Viva! Hysteria. For these shows, they played their best-selling album, Hysteria, from start to finish. They also opened for themselves under the name "Ded Flatbird," playing songs they rarely performed live. A live album from these shows, also called Viva! Hysteria, was released in October 2013.

In February 2014, the band released a remastered deluxe edition of their 1996 album Slang. From June to August 2014, Def Leppard toured with Kiss in 42 cities.

Recent Albums and Tours (2015–Present)

In 2015, the band announced a tour across Canada, the US, Japan, Australia, the UK, and Ireland.

Their eleventh studio album, simply titled Def Leppard, was released on October 30, 2015. It debuted at number 10 in the US and number 11 in the UK.

In January 2016, Joe Elliott became ill during a concert cruise. For the first time, the band performed without him for part of the show. Other band members and guest singers stepped in. By July 2016, the band was performing regularly again. In February 2017, they released And There Will be a Next Time... Live from Detroit, a live album and concert video. In August 2017, they celebrated the 30th anniversary of Hysteria with a special collector's edition.

Def Leppard performing at a charity concert for the Teenage Cancer Trust held at the Royal Albert Hall in 2018.

In January 2018, Def Leppard announced a big 58-date North American tour with Journey. This tour was very successful, with over a million fans attending. Also, the band's entire music collection became available for streaming and digital download.

On November 30, 2018, the band released a new "best of" collection called The Story So Far – The Best Of. It included a new cover of the Depeche Mode song "Personal Jesus" and a new Christmas song, "We All Need Christmas". The band ended 2018 with a sold-out tour in the UK and Ireland. They started a world tour in 2019.

In March 2019, Def Leppard announced another Las Vegas residency. In December 2019, the band announced they would tour with Mötley Crüe, Poison, and Joan Jett on The Stadium Tour. This tour was rescheduled to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and successfully took place.

On March 15, 2022, Def Leppard announced their twelfth studio album, Diamond Star Halos. It was released on May 27, 2022, and reached Number 10 on the US Billboard 200. This was the band's highest-charting album since 1992's Adrenalize.

In January 2023, Joe Elliott sang on a new version of Ghost's song "Spillways". On March 16, 2023, Def Leppard announced an album called Drastic Symphonies. Released on May 19, this album featured 16 of their older songs reworked with a new orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The album reached number 4 on the UK album chart.

On June 13, 2024, Def Leppard released their first new song in two years, "Just Like 73", which featured a guest guitar solo by Tom Morello. The band has mentioned that this song is the start of their next album, which might be released in 2025 or 2026.

Musical Style and Influences

Def Leppard's music is known for being "catchy" and "guitar-driven." Their style is described as hard rock, glam metal, pop metal, arena rock, and power pop. Their early music was also called heavy metal.

The band's sound mixes hard rock, AOR, pop, and heavy metal. They use many layers of harmonic vocals and melodic guitar riffs. While they were part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement, the band felt their music was different from bands like Iron Maiden.

In the mid-1980s, they were linked to the growing glam metal scene because of their success. However, Def Leppard didn't like the "glam metal" label. They felt it didn't describe their look or music accurately. By the time Hysteria was released, they had a unique sound. This sound included electronic drums and guitar effects, combined with many layers of strong, harmonized vocals.

Joe Elliott has said the band is influenced by "everything from pure pop to downright hardcore rock." He mentioned Ian Hunter and Mott The Hoople as early influences. Def Leppard themselves have influenced many artists, including Taylor Swift.

Legacy

Sheffield Legends plaque in their home city of Sheffield, England, installed in 2006.

With Pyromania and Hysteria both selling over 10 million copies in the US, Def Leppard is one of only five rock bands to achieve this. The others are the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Van Halen. Both Pyromania and Hysteria are on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Def Leppard was one of the most successful bands from the new wave of British heavy metal in the early 1980s. They combined the power of metal with pop melodies, catchy parts, and vocal harmonies. Their later albums, like Hysteria, were known for their perfect studio sound. This appealed to a wide range of music fans.

In 2006, the band received a Sheffield Legends plaque in their hometown of Sheffield.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction

On October 9, 2018, Def Leppard was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Fans could also vote for their favorite artists. On December 13, 2018, Def Leppard was announced as part of the Class of 2019. The band won the fan vote with the most votes.

The current members of the band, along with former members Pete Willis and Steve Clark, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 29, 2019. Queen guitarist Brian May inducted them. He called them "a magnificent rock group" and "a bunch of magnificent human beings."

Band Members

Current members

• Rick Savage – bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, occasional guitars (1977–present)
• Joe Elliott – lead vocals, occasional guitars, keyboards, piano (1977–present)
• Rick Allen – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1978–present)
• Phil Collen – guitar, backing vocals (1982–present)
• Vivian Campbell – guitar, backing vocals (1992–present)

Side Projects

Members of Def Leppard have also worked on other music projects.

• Phil Collen played guitar on Sam Kinison's "Wild Thing" in 1988. He also produced and played on an album by the Australian band BB Steal.
• Joe Elliott sang on two songs for Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood's 1992 solo album, Slide on This.
• Cybernauts was a project with Joe Elliott and Phil Collen, along with members of The Spiders From Mars (David Bowie's former band). They played Bowie's songs.
• Vivian Campbell has played with bands like Clock and the Riverdogs. He also released a solo album called Two Sides of If in 2005.
• Phil Collen sings and plays guitar in a band called Man Raze with Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook. They have released two albums.
• Joe Elliott started and sings in the band Down 'n' Outz. They play cover songs by Mott the Hoople and related artists.
• After Ronnie James Dio passed away, Vivian Campbell reunited with the original Dio band members to form Last in Line. They play songs from their time in Dio.
• Joe Elliott also joined a supergroup called Kings of Chaos. They play songs by bands like Deep Purple and Def Leppard.
• Phil Collen formed a blues project called Delta Deep with singer Debbi Blackwell Cook.
• In October 2020, Joe Elliott and Phil Collen played on the Struts song, "I Hate How Much I Want You".

Awards and Nominations

Def Leppard won two awards at the 1989 American Music Awards. They won for Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Artist and for their album Hysteria.

Discography

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)

Images for kids

• 

  Def Leppard band members in 2018

• 

  Joe Elliott in 2014

• 

  Rick Savage in 2014

• 

  Phil Collen in 2003

• 

  Rick Allen in 2018

• 

  Vivian Campbell in 2003

• 

  Def Leppard performing in Wolverhampton in February 2003

• 

  Def Leppard performing in Sacramento in September 2009

• 

  Def Leppard performing an acoustic set in Rosemont, 2012

• 

  Def Leppard performing at a charity concert in 2018

• 

  Joe Elliott is known for his distinctive raspy singing voice.

• 

  Sheffield Legends plaque in their home city of Sheffield, England, installed in 2006.

See also

In Spanish: Def Leppard para niños