Def Leppard formed in Sheffield, England in 1976 and defined arena rock of the '80s with the Mutt Lange-produced Pyromania (1983) and Hysteria (1987) — layered guitars, huge vocal harmonies, millions of copies sold. Start with either one; High 'n' Dry (1981) rewards the deeper dig. Shop Def Leppard vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Def Leppard formed in Sheffield, England in 1976. The lineup of Joe Elliott, Steve Clark, Pete Willis (guitar, replaced by Phil Collen in 1982), Rick Savage, and Rick Allen recorded the band's foundational catalog. Drummer Rick Allen lost his left arm in a December 1984 car accident and developed a custom electronic drum kit allowing him to continue with the band. Original guitarist Steve Clark died of alcohol-related causes in January 1991; Vivian Campbell joined as his replacement in 1992 (initially for Adrenalize touring, then permanently). The band's albums Pyromania (1983) and Hysteria (1987), both produced by Mutt Lange, sold tens of millions of copies and defined arena rock of the 1980s.
Def Leppard's sound combines hard rock, glam metal, arena rock, and pop metal with the Mutt Lange production aesthetic that defined their commercial peak - layered guitars, ornate vocal harmonies, polished radio-rock arrangements. They are widely cited as among the defining commercial hard rock acts of the 1980s.
Original Mercury pressings of Pyromania and Hysteria are widely collected. Multiple anniversary box sets and audiophile reissues of Pyromania and Hysteria have been issued, including 40th anniversary editions of Pyromania in 2023.
Listeners new to Def Leppard typically start with Hysteria (1987) or Pyromania (1983).
