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About Def Leppard
In the early â80s, as the New Wave of British Heavy Metal was still ringing in headbangersâ ears, Sheffield, Englandâs Def Leppard bucked the trend by drizzling honey over hard rock. That audacious gambit sweetened a sound forged in the UKâs industrial heartlands and proved that power and pop were not mutually exclusive, paving the way for bands like Bon Jovi. Def Leppard formed in 1977 and soon settled on a core lineup of singer Joe Elliott, bassist Rick Savage, and drummer Rick Allenâjust 15 when he joined. Guitarist Phil Collen would replace founding member Pete Willis after two albums and Vivian Campbell would step in to round out the groupâs twin-axe attack after Steve Clarkâs untimely death in 1991.
Def Leppard made noise with its raucous 1980 debut, On Through the Night, but 1981âs High âNâ Dry proved that the band could write not just riffs but also hooks. The five members leaned into that strategy for 1983âs Pyromania, using producer Mutt Langeâs multi-track wizardryâgated drums, a hint of synth, and soaring vocal harmoniesâto temper the guitarsâ bite and Elliottâs shredded yell. It was 1987âs Lange-produced Hysteria, featuring sleekly melodic mega-hits âAnimalâ and âPour Some Sugar On Me,â that confirmed Def Leppardâs status as the kings of pop-metal. In the early â90s, as hard rock turned to grunge and grittier metal bands like Pantera, Def Leppard held onto their universal pop appeal, and it has served them well across decades of tours, studio albums, and live recordings. Itâs a surprisingly simple yet ingenious idea: A little bit of sugar helps the metal go down.
Def Leppard made noise with its raucous 1980 debut, On Through the Night, but 1981âs High âNâ Dry proved that the band could write not just riffs but also hooks. The five members leaned into that strategy for 1983âs Pyromania, using producer Mutt Langeâs multi-track wizardryâgated drums, a hint of synth, and soaring vocal harmoniesâto temper the guitarsâ bite and Elliottâs shredded yell. It was 1987âs Lange-produced Hysteria, featuring sleekly melodic mega-hits âAnimalâ and âPour Some Sugar On Me,â that confirmed Def Leppardâs status as the kings of pop-metal. In the early â90s, as hard rock turned to grunge and grittier metal bands like Pantera, Def Leppard held onto their universal pop appeal, and it has served them well across decades of tours, studio albums, and live recordings. Itâs a surprisingly simple yet ingenious idea: A little bit of sugar helps the metal go down.
Musical InfluencesDef Leppard's musical influences include Queen, AC/DC, The Rolling Stones and more.
Influenced by Def LeppardDef Leppard has influenced the music of Guns N' Roses, Jimmy Eat World, Hinder and more.
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