# List of Def Leppard band members

Def Leppard are an English rock band formed under the name Atomic Mass in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the new wave of British heavy metal. At the time of the band changing their name to Def Leppard, they consisted of bassist Rick Savage, lead singer Joe Elliott, guitarist Pete Willis and drummer Tony Kenning. The band currently consists of Savage and Elliott alongside drummer Rick Allen (since 1978) and guitarists Phil Collen (since 1982) and Vivian Campbell (since 1992).

## History

Def Leppard evolved from Atomic Mass after vocalist Joe Elliott joined Atomic Mass in November 1977. The lineup of Elliott, drummer Tony Kenning, bassist Rick Savage, and guitarist Pete Willis was completed by the addition of guitarist Steve Clark in January 1978. The band played their first show on 18 July of that year, before recording their first EP in the fall with session drummer Frank Noon after Kenning's departure.
With the drummer position open, Rick Allen joined the band. Def Leppard recorded On Through the Night and High 'n' Dry as the five-piece of Savage, Willis, Elliott, Clark, and Allen before Pete Willis was fired in July 1982. Phil Collen of Girl replaced Willis, and the band went on to the most commercially successful period of their career, the releases of Pyromania and Hysteria.
31 December 1984, Rick Allen was involved in a car crash which involved the loss of his arm. Despite his injury, he continued to drum with the band, playing his first post accident show in Cork on 5 August 1986 with Status Quo drummer Jeff Rich providing backup.
On 8 January 1991, during a leave of absence from the band, guitarist Steve Clark was found dead in his home. Savage, Elliott, Allen, and Collen recorded their next album Adrenalize as a four-piece before Vivian Campbell joined as a second guitarist. The lineup of Def Leppard has not changed since Campbell joined the band on 15 April 1992, and is thus the longest standing lineup of the band since it began. The current lineup has released four compilations, three live albums, and seven studio albums, most recently Diamond Star Halos on 27 May 2022.

## Members
### Current

| Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
| Rick Savage | 1977–present | bassoccasional guitarbacking vocalskeyboards | all Def Leppard releases |
| Joe Elliott | 1977–present | lead vocalsadditional guitarkeyboards | all Def Leppard releases |
| Rick Allen | 1978–present | drumspercussionbacking vocals | all Def Leppard releases from On Through the Night (1980) to present |
| Phil Collen | 1982–present | lead and rhythm guitarbacking vocals | all Def Leppard releases from Pyromania (1983) to present |
| Vivian Campbell | 1992–present | lead and rhythm guitarbacking vocals | all Def Leppard releases from Retro Active (1993) to present |

### Former

| Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
| Tony Kenning | 1977–1978 | drumspercussion | none |
| Pete Willis | 1977–1982 | lead and rhythm guitarbacking vocals | all Def Leppard releases from The Def Leppard E.P. (1979) to Pyromania (1983) |
| Steve Clark | 1978–1991 (his death) | lead and rhythm guitarbacking vocals | all Def Leppard releases from The Def Leppard E.P. (1979) to Hysteria (1987)posthumous contributions on Retro Active (1993) |

### Touring

| Name | Years active | Instruments | Notes |
| Jeff Rich | August 1986 | drumspercussion | Played alongside Rick Allen for the first live shows back since the 1984 accident that resulted in the loss of Allen's left arm. |
| Sinéad Madden | 2012 | fiddle | |
| Steve Brown | September 2014–November 2014June 2015May 2018 | lead and rhythm guitarbacking vocals | Trixter guitarist Steve Brown stepped in for Vivian Campbell in 2014 and 2015 while Campbell underwent treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma. Brown also filled in for Phil Collen in May 2018 due to the birth of Collen's child. |
| John Zocco | October 2024January 2025 | lead and rhythm guitarbacking vocals | Phil Collen's guitar tech Zocco filled in for Campbell when the guitarist underwent treatment for cancer. |

## Session

| Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
| Frank Noon | 31 October 1978 | drums | The Def Leppard E.P. (1979) |
| Chris Hughes | December 1979 | synthesizers | "Hello America" from On Through the Night (1980) |
| Robert John "Mutt" Lange | 1981–19871998–1999 | backing vocalsguitar | High 'n' Dry (1981)Pyromania (1983)Hysteria (1987)Adrenalize (1992)"Ring of Fire" from Retro Active (1993)"Promises" and "All Night" from Euphoria (1999) |
| John Kongos | 1982 | keyboards | Pyromania (1983) |
| Thomas Dolby, credited as Booker T. Boffin | 1982 | keyboards | Pyromania (1983) |
| Melvin Mortimer, credited as Stumps Maximus | 1987 | lead vocals | "Release Me" B-side from Hysteria singles (2009) |
| Pete Woodroffe | 1991–1996 | programmingpianokeyboard strings | Adrenalize (1992)Retro Active (1993)Slang (1996) |
| John Sykes | 1991 | backing vocals | Adrenalize (1992) |
| Phil "Crash" Nicholas | 1991 | keyboards | "Stand Up (Kick Love into Motion)" from Adrenalize (1992) |
| P.J. Smith | April 1992 | backing vocals | "Action" from Retro Active (1993) |
| Michael Kamen (died 2003) | April 1993 | string arrangement | "Two Steps Behind" from Retro Active (1993) |
| Ian Hunter | 1993 | keyboardsbacking vocals | Honky tonk messiah on "Ride Into the Sun" from Retro Active (1993)"The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll" from Yeah! (2006) |
| Fiachna Ó Braonáin | March 1992 | tin whistle | "From the Inside" from Retro Active (1993)"You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Little Wing" from Adrenalize B-sides (2009) |
| Liam Ó Maonlaí | March 1992 | grand piano | "From the Inside" from Retro Active (1993)"You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Little Wing" from Adrenalize B-sides (2009) |
| Peter O'Toole | March 1992 | mandolin | "From the Inside" from Retro Active (1993)"You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Little Wing" from Adrenalize B-sides (2009) |
| Stevie Vann | 19952003–2005 | vocalsbacking vocals | "When Love & Hate Collide" from Vault (1995)"20th Century Boy" from Yeah! (2006) |
| Craig Pruess | 1996 | string and percussion arrangement | "Turn to Dust" from Slang (1996) |
| Gavyn Wright | 1996 | string leader | "Turn to Dust" from Slang (1996) |
| Av Singh | 1996 | dohl | "Turn to Dust" from Slang (1996) |
| Ram Naravan | 1996 | Sarangi | intro for "Turn to Dust" from Slang (1996) |
| Shyam Vatish | 1996 | Sarangi | outro for "Turn to Dust" from Slang (1996) |
| Damon "Demon" Hill | 1998–1999 | guitar | end solo on "Demolition Man" from Euphoria (1999) |
| Stan Schiller | 2002 | guitar | shredding tele licks on "Gravity" from X (2002) |
| Eric Carter | 2002 | keyboardsdrum loops | ""Now"" (2002)"You're So Beautiful" and "Everyday" from X (2002) |
| John "Bro" Campbell | 2003–2005 | saxophone | "20th Century Boy" (2002)"Street Life", "Drive-In Saturday" and "The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll" from Yeah! (2006) |
| Justin Hawkins | 2003–2005 | backing vocals | "Hell Raiser" from Yeah! (2006) |
| Anita Thomas-Collen | 2003–2005 | backing vocals | "The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll" from Yeah! (2006) |
| Kristine Elliott | 2003–2005 | backing vocals | "The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll" from Yeah! (2006) |
| Ronan McHugh | 2003–2005 | mellotron | "Drive-In Saturday" and "Little Bit of Love" from Yeah! (2006) |
| Emm Gryner | 2003–2005 | pianobacking vocals | "The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll" from Yeah! (2006) |
| Marc Danzeisen | 2003–2005 | drumsbacking vocals | "American Girl" from Yeah! (2006) |
| Tim McGraw | 2008 | lead vocals | "Nine Lives" from Songs from the Sparkle Lounge (2008) |
| Dick Decent | 2011 | pianobacking vocals | "Kings of the World" from Mirror Ball – Live & More (2011) |
| Ronan McHugh | 2014–20152022 | keyboardsbouzoukiMellotrondrum programmingproduction | Def Leppard (2015)Diamond Star Halos (2022) |
| Debbi Blackwell-Cook | 2014–20152022 | backing vocals | "Sea of Love" from Def Leppard (2015)"Kick", "Fire It Up", "Gimme a Kiss" and Angels (Can't Help You Now)" from Diamond Star Halos (2022) |
| Dave Bassett | 2022 | backing vocals | "Kick" and "Fire It Up" Diamond Star Halos (2022) |
| Alison Krauss | 2022 | lead vocals | "This Guitar" and "Lifeless" from Diamond Star Halos (2022) |
| Mike Garson | 2022 | piano | Goodbye for Good This Time" and "Angels (Can't Help You Now)" from Diamond Star Halos (2022) |
| Eric Gorfain | 2022 | string arrangements | "This Guitar", "Goodbye for Good This Time" and "Angels (Can't Help You Now)" from Diamond Star Halos (2022) |

## Atomic Mass members (1977)

| Name | Years active | Instruments |
| Nicholas Mackley | July–October 1977 | vocals |
| Paul Hampshire | July–September 1977 | bass |
| Pete Doubleday | July–August 1977 | guitar |
| Andy Nicholas | September–October 1977 | bass |
| Paul Holland | October 1977 | vocals |

## Lineups

| Period | Members | Releases |
| July – Early August 1977 (Atomic Mass) | Nicholas Mackley – vocals Pete Doubleday – guitar Rick Savage – guitar, backing vocals Paul Hampshire – bass Tony Kenning – drums | none |
| Early – 10 August 1977 (Atomic Mass) | Nicholas Mackley – vocals Pete Doubleday – guitar Rick Savage – guitar, backing vocals Pete Willis – guitar, backing vocals Paul Hampshire – bass Tony Kenning – drums | none |
| 10 August – September 1977 (Atomic Mass) | Nicholas Mackley – vocals Pete Willis – guitar, backing vocals Rick Savage – guitar, backing vocals Paul Hampshire – bass Tony Kenning – drums | none |
| September – Early October 1977 (Atomic Mass) | Nicholas Mackley – vocals Pete Willis – guitar, backing vocals Rick Savage – guitar, backing vocals Andy Nicholas – bass Tony Kenning – drums | none |
| Early – 25 October 1977 (Atomic Mass) | Paul Holland – vocals Pete Willis – guitar, backing vocals Rick Savage – guitar, backing vocals Andy Nicholas – bass Tony Kenning – drums | none |
| 25 October 1977 – 29 January 1978 (Atomic Mass/Deaf Leopard/Def Leppard) | Joe Elliott – lead vocals, guitar Pete Willis – guitar, backing vocals Rick Savage – bass, backing vocals Tony Kenning – drums | none |
| 29 January – 31 October 1978 (Def Leppard) | Joe Elliott – lead vocals Pete Willis – guitar, backing vocals Steve Clark – guitar, backing vocals Rick Savage – bass, backing vocals Tony Kenning – drums | none |
| 31 October – 1 November 1978 (Def Leppard) | Joe Elliott – lead vocals Pete Willis – guitar, backing vocals Steve Clark – guitar, backing vocals Rick Savage – bass, backing vocals Frank Noon – drums (session) | The Def Leppard E.P. (1979) |
| 1 November 1978 – 11 July 1982 (Def Leppard) | Joe Elliott – lead vocals Pete Willis – guitar, backing vocals Steve Clark – guitar, backing vocals Rick Savage – bass, backing vocals Rick Allen – drums, backing vocals | On Through the Night (1980) High 'n' Dry (1981) |
| 11 July 1982 – 8 January 1991 (Def Leppard) | Joe Elliott – lead vocals, additional guitar, keyboards Phil Collen – guitar, backing vocals Steve Clark – guitar, backing vocals Rick Savage – bass, backing vocals, keyboards Rick Allen – drums, backing vocals | Pyromania (1983) Hysteria (1987) |
| 8 January 1991 – 15 April 1992 (Def Leppard) | Joe Elliott – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards Phil Collen – guitar, backing vocals Rick Savage – bass, backing vocals, keyboards Rick Allen – drums, backing vocals | Adrenalize (1992) |
| 15 April 1992 – Present (Def Leppard) | Joe Elliott – lead vocals, additional guitar, keyboards Phil Collen – guitar, backing vocals Vivian Campbell – guitar, backing vocals Rick Savage – bass, backing vocals, keyboards Rick Allen – drums, occasional backing vocals | Retro Active (1993) Vault (1995) Slang (1996) Euphoria (1999) X (2002) Yeah! (2006) Songs from the Sparkle Lounge (2008) Def Leppard (2015) Diamond Star Halos (2022) |