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Def Leppard
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Def Leppard, in many ways, was the definitive hard rock band of the '80s. There were many bands that rocked harder, and were more dangerous, than the Sheffield quintet, but few others captured the spirit of the times quite as well. Emerging in the late '70s as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, the group actually owed more to the glam rock and metal of the early '70s -- their sound was equal parts T. Rex, Mott the Hoople, Queen, and Led Zeppelin. By toning down their heavy riffs and emphasizing melody, Def Leppard was poised for crossover success by 1983's Pyromania, but skillfully used the fledgling MTV network to their advantage. The group was already blessed with photogenic good looks, but they ... crafted a series of innovative, exciting videos that made them into stars. They intended to follow Pyromania quickly but were derailed when their drummer lost an arm in a car accident, the first of many problems that plagued the group's career.
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Def Leppard has been playing for 30 years. Their first album came out in 1979. Since then, the band has sold out shows worldwide. The British rockers even received the honorary Diamond Award (sales over 10 million) for both Hysteria and Pyromania. Only four other rock bands in history have been able to achieve two Diamond Awards: Pink Floyd, The Eagles, Van Halen and Led Zeppelin. Hysteria proved to be Def Leppard’s most popular piece of work, selling over 18 million copies and ... became one of the best-selling albums of all time.
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Def Leppard led the wave of British heavy metal bands migrating to the U.S. in the 1980s. Founded by lead vocalist Joe Elliott and bassist Rick Savage in 1977 in Sheffield, U.K., the quintet began playing local gigs and quickly graduated to larger arenas as their indie-produced EP, 1978’s Getcha Rocks Off, earned increasing airplay on BBC Radio 1. Adding 16-year-old drummer Rick Allen, the band signed with Mercury Records and released their debut full-length album, On Through the Night, in 1980. Innovative videos and a shift from hard riffs to more melodic compositions launched the band into mainstream superstardom. Their follow-up, 1981’s High N’ Dry, went platinum in the U.S. on the strength of the hit single "Bringin’ on the Heartbreak." In 1983 Def Leppard released the multiplatinum Pyromania, which included the No. 1 hits "Photograph" and "Rock of Ages."
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Following the release of Getcha Rocks Off, Rick Allen was added as the band's permanent drummer, and Def Leppard quickly became the subject of the British music weeklies. Soon, they signed with AC/DC's manager, Petter Mensch, who helped them secure a contract with Mercury. On Through the Night, the band's full-length debut, was released in 1980 and instantly became a hit in the U.K.... earning significant airplay in the U.S., where it reached number 51 on the charts. Over the course of the year, Def Leppard relentlessly toured Britain and America, including opening slots for Ozzy Osbourne, Sammy Hagar, and Judas Priest. High 'n' Dry followed in 1981, and it became the group's first platinum album in the U.S., thanks to MTV's strong rotation of "Bringin' on the Heartbreak." MTV would be vital to the band's success in the '80s.
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The newest incarnation of Def Leppard is revealed to the world in April at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley stadium. Vivian Campbell, already well known and respected for his work with Dio and Whitesnake, joins the band and "ADRENALIZE" is released. The band embark on a rare set of European club dates to work on their live show. The album enters the US charts at number 1 and remains there for five weeks, selling six million copies. In Japan, Mexico and many other countries, it will become Def Leppard's biggest-selling album to date. In June, the SEVEN DAY WEEKEND-tour begins.
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Def Leppard was formed in Sheffield, England in 1977 by bassist Rick Savage and guitarist Pete Willis. Vocalist Joe Elliott joined a few months later. After going through a couple different drummers, they settled on 15 year old Rick Allen. Guitarist Steve Clark was added a few months after that. After an EP the group recorded their debut On Through The Night in 1980. They were part of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal.
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Def Leppard