Def Leppard

**Def Leppard** are an English rock band. They formed in Sheffield, England in 1976. Its founding members include: lead singer Joe Elliot, bassist Rick Savage, guitarist Pete Willis, and drummer Tony Kenning. When Kenning left the band in 1978, Frank Noon played the drums. The same year, Def Leppard made their first extended play, named _The Def Leppard E.P_. The song _“Getcha Rocks Off”_ on it became a massive hit in the UK. Frank Noon was replaced by drummer Rick Allen, and guitarist Steve Clark joined the band shortly after. The band was a part of the new wave of British heavy metal in the 1970s and 1980s.

Their first album, _On Through the Night_ (1980), was a hit. In April 1980, Def Leppard signed with Leber-Krebs management. Later in 1980, they went on their first U.S. tour with Ted Nugent, AC/DC, and Judas Priest. In 1981 they released their second album, _High ‘n’ Dry_. After the album came out, MTV broadcasted Def Leppard for the first time. MTV showed their hit song “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak.”

In 1982, Pete Willis was replaced by Phil Collen. The band started recording their third album with producer Mutt Lange. In 1983, their third album, _Pyromania,_ was released. The single “Photograph” was also released, and the album sold 100,000 copies in a week. In 1984, drummer Rick Allen lost an arm due to a car accident. He started to play with an electronic drum kit, and taught himself how to play the drums with one arm. In 1986, Rick Allen played music with the band for the first time since his accident.

In 1987, the band’s fourth album, _Hysteria_, was released. The album had 12 singles, and sold 16 million copies. In 1991, guitarist Steve Clark died. He died because of a mixture of alcohol and painkillers. In 1992, Vivian Campbell joined the band. Vivian Campbell was the guitarist for Dio and Whitesnake. That year, the band released _Adrenalize_. This album was number one on the _Billboard_ 200 music chart for five weeks, and sold six million copies.

In 1993, the song “Two Steps Behind” was used for the end credits of the movie _Last Action Hero_. The same year, the compilation album _Retro Active_ was released. In 1995, _Vault_ was released. It is an album of all of Def Leppard’s best selling songs. _Vault_ went to number two on music charts in New Zealand. In 1996, the album _Slang_ was released.

VH1 made a “Behind the Music” episode on Def Leppard. Other TV exposure followed, such as “Storytellers”, and “Ultimate Albums.” In 1999, the album _Euphoria_ was released. In 2000, the band was put on the Hollywood RockWalk, a hall of fame for rock musicians in Los Angeles. In 2001, they released their first DVDs, “In the Round, In your Face” and “Historia”. The same year, VH1 broadcast the movie “Hysteria: The Def Leppard Story.”

In 2002, the album _X_ was released. In 2005, the album and DVD “Rock of Ages” is released. In 2006, Def Leppard released their covers album named _Yeah!_. In 2008, the band’s twelfth album, _Songs from the Sparkle Lounge,_ was released. The band was put into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.

## 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)

## Other websites

- Official Def Leppard website
- The Def Leppard World - Discography

## Infobox (musical artist)

- **name**: Def Leppard
- **background**: group_or_band
- **image**: Def_Leppard_2018.jpg
- **alt**: The band members seated in a tight circle
- **landscape**: yes
- **caption**: Def Leppard in 2018. From left to right: Phil Collen, Vivian Campbell, Joe Elliott, Rick Savage, and Rick Allen (drummer), Rick Allen.
- **origin**: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England
- **years active**: 1977–present
- **current members**: * Joe Elliott
* Rick Savage
* Rick Allen (drummer), Rick Allen
* Phil Collen
* Vivian Campbell
- **past members**: * Tony Kenning
* Pete Willis
* Steve Clark