Rick Savage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rick Savage
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Savage performing in 2018
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Richard Savage |
| Also known as | Sav |
| Born | 2 December 1960 Sheffield, Yorkshire, England |
| Genres |
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| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Bass guitar |
| Years active | 1976–present |
Richard Savage, born on December 2, 1960, is an English musician. He is best known as the bass guitarist and a founder member of the famous rock band Def Leppard. Rick Savage, often called "Sav," and lead singer Joe Elliott are the only two original members still in the band. Along with drummer Rick Allen, they are also the only members who have played on every single Def Leppard album.
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Early Life and Music
Rick Savage was born in Sheffield, England. He went to Tapton Secondary School in Sheffield. When he was young, he learned to play guitar with his older brother. They enjoyed playing songs by artists like Rod Stewart and Don McLean.
Savage also dreamed of becoming a professional football player. He played for Sheffield United, even though he supported a different team, Sheffield Wednesday. In his teenage years, he was also a keen runner.
However, he chose music instead. He formed a band with some school friends, including Tony Kenning and Pete Willis. This band was first called Atomic Mass. They mostly played cover songs by popular rock bands like Queen, Slade, Deep Purple, and Jimi Hendrix.
Joining Def Leppard
At one point, the band decided that Pete Willis was a better guitar player. So, Rick Savage switched to playing the bass guitar. They needed a singer and found Joe Elliott, an acquaintance of Willis'. Later, guitarist Steve Clark joined them. After these changes, they changed their name to Def Leppard.
Health Challenge
Around 1994, Savage got a condition called Bell's palsy. This condition makes the muscles in his face weak and partly paralyzed. He has recovered, but you can still see some effects of it, especially when he is tired.
Savage has spoken about how hard it was to deal with Bell's palsy. He said it was difficult to understand why it happened to him. He found it challenging not being able to eat properly or sleep without covering his eye because it wouldn't close. He mentioned that seeing what drummer Rick Allen went through helped him stay humble. He said he would rather not have gotten the disease, but he learned to make the best of it.
Life Outside the Band
Rick Savage is married to Paige Savage. They have three children together. The family moved to Enniskerry in 2013, a town in Ireland. However, they returned to Sheffield, England, in 2016.
His Bass Guitars
Rick Savage uses custom-made bass guitars from a company called Jackson. Before that, he used Washburn and Hamer bass guitars for many years. He is known for using a special Washburn bass with the Union Jack flag painted on it. He also has one with the Saint George's Cross flag. These designs have been copied onto his newer Jackson basses.
Savage always plays his bass with a plectrum, also known as a "pick." He has said that he is not good at playing with his fingers. He prefers using a pick because it helps him get a consistent sound from his instrument. This makes it easier for the sound engineers during concerts.
Albums with Def Leppard
- The Def Leppard E.P. (1979)
- On Through the Night (1980)
- High 'n' Dry (1981)
- Pyromania (1983)
- Hysteria (1987)
- Adrenalize (1992)
- Retro Active (1993)
- Slang (1996)
- Euphoria (1999)
- X (2002)
- Yeah! (2006)
- Songs from the Sparkle Lounge (2008)
- Mirror Ball – Live & More (2011)
- Viva! Hysteria (2013)
- Def Leppard (2015)
- Diamond Star Halos (2022)
- Drastic Symphonies (2023)
See also
In Spanish: Rick Savage para niños
