If there was a list of pop/rock bands that were most popular in the 80s, Def Leppard would be right on top of the list. With their catchy hooks and beats you can dance to and/or rock out to, Def Leppard was very popular in the 80s, while they somehow plummeted in the 90s...
Def Leppard were five teenagers from England, Joe Elliot (Vocals), Pete Willis (Guitar), Steve Clark (Guitar), Rick 'Sav' Savage (Bass), and Rick Allen (Drums). They released their debut On Through the Night in 1980. It did not do very well, even though some consider it to be a classic. In 1982, they released High 'N' Dry. At first, it was not getting very much recognition, so they decided to make three 'videos' for three songs. Suddenly, High 'N' Dry was starting to do well. But not where they expected it. Instead of in their homwtown, England, it was doing well in the United States, thanks to the new MTV channel playing the 'video' for Bringin' On the Heartbreak. But what people didn't know, was that they were in for something even bigger.
In 1983, they replaced Pete Wills with Phil Collen on guitars, got a new producer, 'Mutt' Lange (later on to be known as Mr. Shania Twain), and released their big album, Pyromania. Fueled by the hits Rock of Ages, 'Foolin', and 'Photograph', Pyromania went onto sell over 10 million copies. It was only second in sales that year to Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'. In 1984, they re-released High 'N' Dry with two new songs, well sorta. A new version of Bringin' On the Heartbreak (the only difference was the guitar solo, originally done by Pete Willis, was done by Phil Collen) and 'Me and My Wine' (a song originally left off the album) both with popular videos on MTV.
Yes, Def Leppard were at a height of their career. But what happened next looked as though Def Leppard was over. On New Years Eve, in 1984, Rick Allen got in a bad car accident and decapitated his left arm. That didn't seem good, seeing as he was the drummer. When they sowed it back on, it had an infection, and had to amputated. All seemed lost for Def Leppard, especially since they were about to record their next album. But Rick created a new drum set, allowing him to drum with only his right arm. They recorded their next album, Hysteria, and when released in 1987, went on to sell over 12 million copies. Having videos on MTV of songs that included the first half of the album (plus one other song), Def Leppard became one of the biggest acts in the world.
Def Leppard was at another height in their career, and just like last time, tragedy struck, only it didn't happen so quickly. In 1991, guitarist Steve Clark died of a drug and alcohol overdose. They replaced him with Vivian Campbell and released Adrenalize. Because at the moment, the grunge explosion was getting very popluar, it did not do as well as Pyromania and Hysteria.
They released a few more albums since then. Retro Active, 'Vault:Def Leppard's Greatest Hits', Slang, Euphoria, and in 2002, X. None of their albums in the 90s and on did as good as their 80s albums, but they are still remembered for them.
Discography
On Through the Night (1980)
1. Rock Brigade
2. Hello America
3. Sorrow is a Woman
4. It Could Be You
5. Satellite
6. When the Walls Came Tumbling Down
7. Wasted
8. Rocks Off
9. It Don't Matter
10. Answer to the Master
11. Overture
High 'N' Dry (1981)
1. Let It Go
2. Another Hit and Run
3. High 'N' Dry (Saturday Night)
4. Bringin' On the Heartbreak
5. Switch 625
6. You Got Me Runnin'
7. Lady Strange
8. On Through the Night
9. Mirror, Mirror (Look Into My Eyes)
10. No No No
11. Bringin' On the Heartbreak*
12. Me & My Wine*
*= only on rerelease
Pyromania (1983)
1. Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)
2. Photograph
3. Stagefright
4. Too Late For Love
5. Die Hard the Hunter
6. Foolin'
7. Rock Of Ages
8. Comin' Under Fire
9. Action! Not Words
10. Billy's Got A Gun
Hysteria (1987)
1. Women
2. Rocket
3. Animal
4. Love Bites
5. Pour Some Sugar On Me
6. Armageddon It
7. Gods Of War
8. Don't Shoot Shotgun
9. Run Riot
10. Hysteria
11. Excitable
12. Love and Affection
Adrenalize (1992)
1. Let's Get Rocked
2. Heaven Is
3. Make Love Like A Man
4. Tonight
5. White Lightning
6. Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion)
7. Personal Property
8. Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad
9. I Wanna Touch U
10. Tear It Down
Retro Active (1993)
1. Desert Song
2. Fractured Love
3. Action
4. Two Steps Behing (Acoustic)
5. She's Too Tough
6. Miss You In A Heartbeat
7. Only After Dark
8. Ride Into the Sun
9. From the Inside
10. Ring of Fire
11. I Wanna Be Your Hero
12. Miss You In A Heartbeat (Electric)
13. Two Steps Behind (Electric)
14. Miss You In A Heartbeat (Piano)
Slang (1996)
1. Truth?
2. Turn To Dust
3. Slang
4. All I Want is Everything
5. Work It Out
6. Breathe a Sigh
7. Deliver Me
8. Gift of Flesh
9. Blood Runs Cold
10. Where Does Love Go When It Dies
11. Pearl of Euphoria
Euphoria (1999)
1. Demolition Man
2. Promises
3. Back In Your Face
4. Goodbye
5. All Night
6. Paper Sun
7. It's Only Love
8. 21st Century Sha La La La Girl
9. To Be Alive
10. Disintergrate
11. Guilty
12. Day After Day
13. Kings of Oblivion
X (2002)
1. Now
2. Unbelievable
3. You're So Beautiful
4. Everyday
5. Long Long Way To Go
6. Four Letter Word
7. Torn To Shreds
8. Love Don't Lie
9. Gravity
10. Cry
11. Girl Like You
12. Let Me Be the One
13. Scar
