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Hard-Rock Pop-Metal band formed in Sheffield, ENGLAND in 1977 by lead
singer Joe Elliott, guitarist Pete Willis, bassist Rick Savage and drummer
Tony Kenning; the four guys soon started playing around local clubs, the
following year, Steve Clark joined the group as second guitarist and Kenning
was replaced by drummer Rick Allen.
The quintet recorded their first EP shortly afterwards, the record created
enough buzz around the band and landed them opening spots for Sammy
Hagar and AC/DC.
After signing with Phonogram in Europe and Mercury in the States, in the
spring of 1980 Def Leppard released their debut full-length album, "On
Through The Night", which was a hit in their homeland on the back
of the single track "Hello America"; they supported the album's
release with a promotional tour throughout the U.S. where the set debuted
at #51 on the Pop chart.
The second album, "High 'n' Dry", which was issued almost exactly
one year later, climbed into the top 40 of the U.S. Top 200 LPs &
Tapes list, it included two Mainstream Rock charting singles: "Let
It Go" and "Bringin' On The Heartbreak".
In the summer of 1982 Willis was fired from the band, Phil Collen replaced
him, shortly before they released "Pyromania", the group's third
effort shot to #2 in U.S. Pop Albums chart; following an American tour
supporting Billy Squier, two singles,
"Photograph" and "Rock Of Ages", entered the top 20
of the Pop Singles chart and also topped the Mainstream Rock chart; two
more Mainstream Rock top 10 hits, "Foolin'" and "Too Late
For Love" helped pump album's total sales to over 10 million copies.
The following year the quintet began working on the follow-up to "Pyromania"
but on New Year's Eve, just outside Sheffield, Rick Allen's car overturns
high speed and he is thrown clear, his left arm is severed, microsurgery
failed to reconnect the limb.
Adapting a Simmons electronic drum-kit, Allen learned to drum one-armed
and in early 1987 Def Leppard completed its fourth effort, "Hysteria";
the record went straight to #1 on The Billboard Top 200 Albums chart selling
12 million copies plus other 4 million outside the States; it generated
a string of hit singles: "Animal", "Women", "Armageddon
It", "Hysteria", "Love Bites" and "Rocket",
all of which rose to the top 10 of The Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, "Love
Bites" also topped The Billboard Hot 100 and "Pour Some Sugar
On Me" reached the #2 in the same chart.
Tragedy struck the band with the death of guitarist Steve Clark in January
of 1991, he died from an overdose of alcohol and drugs; Def Leppard finished
their fifth effort as a four-piece by fall 1992; "Adrenalize"
included two #1s Active Rock singles: "Let's Get Rocked" and
"Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion)" plus the top 3 hit, "Make
Love Like A Man" and the #7 "Have You Ever Needed Someone So
Bad", the latter also reached the #12 spot on The Billboard Hot 100;
the album spent 5 weeks at the top of The Billboard 200 Albums chart selling
6 million copies; the group's line-up was eventually reconfigured with
ex-Whitesnake guitarist Vivian Campbell.
The band released in October of 1993 "Retro Active", a collection
of early-material and B-sides which entered the top 10 of the U.S. Albums
chart and was certified double-platinum while the lead single "Two
Steps Behind", peaked at #12 and #5 respectively on The Billboard
Hot 100 and Mainstream Rock Tracks charts; followed the American top 40
hit "Miss You In A Heartbeat" and the Active Rock top 20 hit
"Desert Song".
Two years later Def Leppard issued another collection, "Vault";
the set contained their biggest hits and a new song, "When Love &
Hate Collide", despite the track missed the U.S. Rock charts the
compilation went on to sell nearly 4 million copies and became their best
chart-placing ever in U.K. where peaked at #2.
In May of 1996 the quintet released their sixth studio-album of new material,
"Slang", it reached the top 20 of The Billboard Top 200 chart
spawning "Work It Out" which peaked at #6 on Mainstream Rock
Tracks chart.
The group released in June of 1999 "Euphoria" and kicked off
a tour in support of the new album which hit #11 in U.S. Top 200 list,
the first single "Promises" peaked at #1 on Mainstream Rock
chart and "Paper Sun" reached the #11 spot in the same chart.
Another three years passed before Def Leppard returned with their tenth
album, "X", as in the Roman numeral for 10, the record replicated
its predecessor's chart performance and generated two Active Rock top
30 singles: "Now" and "Four Letter Word".
On May 17, "Rock Of Ages: The Definitive Collection", the band's
new compilation album, will be released on double CD in North America,
the set includes the new radio single track "No Matter What".
Def Leppard biography is an exclusive of 100xr.com
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