Conversation so far:
What was happening in 1977?
Rick Savage, Tony Kenning, and Pete Willis, all students at Tapton School in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, formed a band called Atomic Mass in 1977.
Did this turn into Def Leppard?
The band adopted a name proposed by Elliott, "Deaf Leopard.
Why did they do this?
in at least partial reference to Led Zeppelin.
What year did the name change happen?
November 1977.
What did they do after the name change?
a three-song release known as The Def Leppard E.P..

Question: How was that received by the public?
Self-contained rewrite: How was changing the name of the band Atomic Mass to Def Leppard received by the public?