-
Def Leppard – Don Valley Stadium 1993 (Limited Edition Double Album on 180g Blue Vinyl)
Regular price £39.99 GBPRegular priceUnit price per -
Def Leppard – One Night Only: Live at The Leadmill, Sheffield, 2023 (2024 RSD Limited Edition Double Album on Silver Vinyl)
Regular price £34.99 GBPRegular priceUnit price per
DEF LEPPARD History
Def Leppard took shape in Sheffield, England, in 1977 with bassist Rick Savage, guitarist Pete Willis, singer Joe Elliott and drummer Tony Kenning. Guitarist Steve Clark and drummer Rick Allen joined in 1978. Emerging alongside the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), the band combined hard rock riffs with polished melodies and layered choruses.
The band’s debut album, On Through the Night, released in 1980, established Def Leppard as one of the brightest new names in British rock. They quickly followed with High ‘n’ Dry, produced by Robert John “Mutt” Lange, whose meticulous production style helped shape the band’s signature sound.
Hysteria, released in 1987, developed Def Leppard’s layered guitar and vocal production across songs including Pour Some Sugar on Me, Love Bites, Animal, Rocket, Armageddon It, Women and the title track. Its long recording process followed the success of Pyromania.
Phil Collen replaced Pete Willis during the recording of Pyromania in 1982. Released in 1983, the album brought the band major international success. Featuring classics such as Photograph, Rock of Ages and Foolin’, the album transformed Def Leppard into global rock stars and helped define the MTV era.
Rick Allen lost his left arm after a car accident on New Year’s Eve 1984. Working with a specially adapted drum kit, he developed a way of playing that allowed him to continue as Def Leppard’s drummer.
The band supported Allen during his recovery and he returned to recording and live performance with them. His adapted playing became part of the group’s next chapter on Hysteria.
Another tragic chapter in the band’s history came in 1991 when guitarist Steve Clark, one of Def Leppard’s principal songwriters, died at the age of 30 following a long struggle with alcohol and prescription drug addiction. Clark’s melodic guitar work had been central to the band’s success, and his loss deeply affected the group. Guitarist Vivian Campbell, formerly of Dio and Whitesnake, joined in 1992 and has remained with the band ever since.
Pour Some Sugar on Me combines a chant-like chorus with the layered production heard across Hysteria. Alongside Photograph and Rock of Ages from Pyromania, it gives a clear introduction to the band’s 1980s songwriting.
Later releases include Adrenalize, Slang, Euphoria, X, Songs from the Sparkle Lounge, Def Leppard, Diamond Star Halos and Drastic Symphonies. These records show the band revisiting and extending its melodic rock sound.
In 2019, Def Leppard were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, recognising their enormous contribution to rock music. Their influence can be heard in countless hard rock and melodic metal bands, while their catalogue continues to introduce new generations to classic British rock.
High ’n’ Dry, Pyromania and Hysteria trace the development from direct hard rock to increasingly layered production. Adrenalize continues that later sound, while Retro Active gathers material from outside the main studio-album sequence. For vinyl reissues, compare the track list and disc layout, particularly where an album has appeared in both single- and double-LP editions.
The band’s debut album, On Through the Night, released in 1980, established Def Leppard as one of the brightest new names in British rock. They quickly followed with High ‘n’ Dry, produced by Robert John “Mutt” Lange, whose meticulous production style helped shape the band’s signature sound.
Hysteria, released in 1987, developed Def Leppard’s layered guitar and vocal production across songs including Pour Some Sugar on Me, Love Bites, Animal, Rocket, Armageddon It, Women and the title track. Its long recording process followed the success of Pyromania.
Phil Collen replaced Pete Willis during the recording of Pyromania in 1982. Released in 1983, the album brought the band major international success. Featuring classics such as Photograph, Rock of Ages and Foolin’, the album transformed Def Leppard into global rock stars and helped define the MTV era.
Rick Allen lost his left arm after a car accident on New Year’s Eve 1984. Working with a specially adapted drum kit, he developed a way of playing that allowed him to continue as Def Leppard’s drummer.
The band supported Allen during his recovery and he returned to recording and live performance with them. His adapted playing became part of the group’s next chapter on Hysteria.
Another tragic chapter in the band’s history came in 1991 when guitarist Steve Clark, one of Def Leppard’s principal songwriters, died at the age of 30 following a long struggle with alcohol and prescription drug addiction. Clark’s melodic guitar work had been central to the band’s success, and his loss deeply affected the group. Guitarist Vivian Campbell, formerly of Dio and Whitesnake, joined in 1992 and has remained with the band ever since.
Pour Some Sugar on Me combines a chant-like chorus with the layered production heard across Hysteria. Alongside Photograph and Rock of Ages from Pyromania, it gives a clear introduction to the band’s 1980s songwriting.
Later releases include Adrenalize, Slang, Euphoria, X, Songs from the Sparkle Lounge, Def Leppard, Diamond Star Halos and Drastic Symphonies. These records show the band revisiting and extending its melodic rock sound.
In 2019, Def Leppard were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, recognising their enormous contribution to rock music. Their influence can be heard in countless hard rock and melodic metal bands, while their catalogue continues to introduce new generations to classic British rock.
High ’n’ Dry, Pyromania and Hysteria trace the development from direct hard rock to increasingly layered production. Adrenalize continues that later sound, while Retro Active gathers material from outside the main studio-album sequence. For vinyl reissues, compare the track list and disc layout, particularly where an album has appeared in both single- and double-LP editions.
