Def Leppard: Difference between revisions

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[[File:def-leppard.jpg|frame]]
[[File:def-leppard.jpg|frame]]


{{quote| ''"[[As Long As It Sounds Foreign|Gunter gleben gloussen globen...]]"''}}
{{quote| ''"[[As Long as It Sounds Foreign|Gunter gleben gloussen globen...]]"''}}


Originally formed in 1977 in Sheffield, England by five teenagers who really liked glam rock, Def Leppard became grouped with the NWOBHM before turning early-MTV pop-rock sweethearts. After kicking out a founding guitarist for too much drunken tomfoolery (Pete Willis), they released a well-received rock album (''Pyromania''), lost another sixth of a member (Rick Allen's left arm), released a phenomenally successful pop-rock record (''Hysteria''), which was essentially aiming to be "the hard rock version of ''[[Michael Jackson (Music)|Thriller]]''", then the ''other'' original guitarist drank himself to death over the course of a few years (Steve Clark).
Originally formed in 1977 in Sheffield, England by five teenagers who really liked glam rock, Def Leppard became grouped with the NWOBHM before turning early-MTV pop-rock sweethearts. After kicking out a founding guitarist for too much drunken tomfoolery (Pete Willis), they released a well-received rock album (''Pyromania''), lost another sixth of a member (Rick Allen's left arm), released a phenomenally successful pop-rock record (''Hysteria''), which was essentially aiming to be "the hard rock version of ''[[Michael Jackson|Thriller]]''", then the ''other'' original guitarist drank himself to death over the course of a few years (Steve Clark).


Best known for predicating a thirty-year career on the [[Bawdy Song|bawdy]] [[Chorus-Only Song]], "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and the terribly unfunny joke, "What has nine arms and sucks?", they continue to release records (much more often than in their heyday) and do a world tour almost every year since 2003 despite becoming musical pariahs in the [[Post-Grunge]] era.
Best known for predicating a thirty-year career on the [[Bawdy Song|bawdy]] [[Chorus-Only Song]], "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and the terribly unfunny joke, "What has nine arms and sucks?", they continue to release records (much more often than in their heyday) and do a world tour almost every year since 2003 despite becoming musical pariahs in the [[Post-Grunge]] era.
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Recently the band have experienced something of a career resurgence with well received collaborations with [[Tim McGraw]] and [[Taylor Swift]] introducing them to a new audience.
Recently the band have experienced something of a career resurgence with well received collaborations with [[Tim McGraw]] and [[Taylor Swift]] introducing them to a new audience.


They are one of only five bands to have two original (non-greatest hits or live) albums sell more than ten million copies each; the others being [[Van Halen (Music)|Van Halen]], [[The Beatles (Music)|The Beatles]], [[Led Zeppelin (Music)|Led Zeppelin]], and [[Pink Floyd (Music)|Pink Floyd]]. Musically, they are known for melodic dual lead guitarists, four-part harmonies both on record and live, and massively over-produced, Queen-esque albums.
They are one of only five bands to have two original (non-greatest hits or live) albums sell more than ten million copies each; the others being [[Van Halen]], [[The Beatles (band)|The Beatles]], [[Led Zeppelin]], and [[Pink Floyd]]. Musically, they are known for melodic dual lead guitarists, four-part harmonies both on record and live, and massively over-produced, Queen-esque albums.


'''Members:'''
'''Members:'''


* Rick Allen plays drums on a custom kit built to [[Handicapped Badass|bypass his disability]].
* Rick Allen plays drums on a custom kit built to [[Handicapped Badass|bypass his disability]].
* Vivian Campbell wrote and played the guitar parts on [[Ronnie James Dio (Music)|Dio]]'s "Holy Diver" and moonlights as a member of [[Thin Lizzy (Music)|Thin Lizzy]].
* Vivian Campbell wrote and played the guitar parts on [[Ronnie James Dio|Dio]]'s "Holy Diver" and moonlights as a member of [[Thin Lizzy]].
* Phil Collen is in [[Hot Shoujo Dad|too good of shape]] for a man in his fifties.
* Phil Collen is in [[Hot Shoujo Dad|too good of shape]] for a man in his fifties.
* Joe Elliott never met a [[Incredibly Lame Pun|bad metaphor]] he didn't put in a song.
* Joe Elliott never met a [[Incredibly Lame Pun|bad metaphor]] he didn't put in a song.
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* [[Cover Album]]: ''Yeah!''
* [[Cover Album]]: ''Yeah!''
** Some of the members are also in a [[wikipedia:Cybernauts|David Bowie Cover BAND]]!
** Some of the members are also in a [[wikipedia:Cybernauts|David Bowie Cover BAND]]!
** Joe Elliott's main side project is the Down N' Outz, a [[Mott the Hoople (Music)|Mott the Hoople]] cover band.
** Joe Elliott's main side project is the Down N' Outz, a [[Mott the Hoople]] cover band.
* [[Cover Version]]: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKBSFKcav7w The Sweet's] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPOeAIUEVbs Action], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db-bIWaXEFE Mick Ronson's] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOO6wztjxV0 Only After Dark] on Retroactive
* [[Cover Version]]: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKBSFKcav7w The Sweet's] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPOeAIUEVbs Action], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db-bIWaXEFE Mick Ronson's] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOO6wztjxV0 Only After Dark] on Retroactive
* [[Crossover]]: With '''[[Taylor Swift (Music)|Taylor Swift]]''', of all people, via ''CMT Crossroads''.
* [[Crossover]]: With '''[[Taylor Swift]]''', of all people, via ''CMT Crossroads''.
* [[Determinator]] - Rick Allen after his accident learning to play one handed. To the point after one show on the comeback tour after the accident the backup drummer on standby in case Rick couldn't play the songs said to the rest of the band essentially "You guys don't need me here" and flew home.
* [[Determinator]] - Rick Allen after his accident learning to play one handed. To the point after one show on the comeback tour after the accident the backup drummer on standby in case Rick couldn't play the songs said to the rest of the band essentially "You guys don't need me here" and flew home.
* [[Dress Rehearsal Video]]: "Hello America".
* [[Dress Rehearsal Video]]: "Hello America".
* [[The Eighties]]
* [[The Eighties]]
* [[Gender Blender Name]]: Vivian Campbell.
* [[Gender Blender Name]]: Vivian Campbell.
* [[A Good Name for A Rock Band]]: They were originally called Atomic Mass, which was changed to Deaf Leapord. They became Def Leppard on Joe Elliott's suggestion after he joined the group as a tribute to [[Led Zeppelin (Music)|Led Zeppelin]] (who deliberately misspelled the first word in their name) and to differentiate themselves from punk bands who named themselves after animals.
* [[A Good Name for a Rock Band]]: They were originally called Atomic Mass, which was changed to Deaf Leapord. They became Def Leppard on Joe Elliott's suggestion after he joined the group as a tribute to [[Led Zeppelin]] (who deliberately misspelled the first word in their name) and to differentiate themselves from punk bands who named themselves after animals.
* [[Gosh Darn It to Heck]]: "Let's Get Rocked".
* [[Gosh Darn It to Heck]]: "Let's Get Rocked".
* [[Hair Metal]]: The band themselves deny that they were part of the genre and Joe Elliott has been somewhat dismissive of other hair bands when asked about Leppard's association with the style. They count the British glam bands from the 1970s, such as T. Rex and Sweet, as key influences.
* [[Hair Metal]]: The band themselves deny that they were part of the genre and Joe Elliott has been somewhat dismissive of other hair bands when asked about Leppard's association with the style. They count the British glam bands from the 1970s, such as T. Rex and Sweet, as key influences.
* [[Handicapped Badass]]: Rick Allen lost his left arm in a car accident. His response? Get a specialized drum kit and keep playing.
* [[Handicapped Badass]]: Rick Allen lost his left arm in a car accident. His response? Get a specialized drum kit and keep playing.
* [[Heavy Meta]]: "Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)", "Let's Get Rocked", "Rock of Ages", "Rock Brigade", "Rocket".
* [[Heavy Meta]]: "Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)", "Let's Get Rocked", "Rock of Ages", "Rock Brigade", "Rocket".
** They also did [[Cover Version|Cover Versions]] of David Essex's "Rock On" and [[Mott the Hoople (Music)|Mott the Hoople]]'s "The Golden Age of Rock 'N' Roll".
** They also did [[Cover Version|Cover Versions]] of David Essex's "Rock On" and [[Mott the Hoople]]'s "The Golden Age of Rock 'N' Roll".
* [[Heavy Mithril]]: "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl_aOcBdf1w Overture]", "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgbF35oN7Rc When the Walls Came Tumbling Down]"
* [[Heavy Mithril]]: "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl_aOcBdf1w Overture]", "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgbF35oN7Rc When the Walls Came Tumbling Down]"
* [[Intercourse With You]]: If you shake one of their records, several of these songs will fall out.
* [[Intercourse with You]]: If you shake one of their records, several of these songs will fall out.
* [[Lighter and Softer]]: Their first two albums were definitely [[Heavy Metal (Music)|Heavy Metal]], but starting with their third album ''Pyromania'' they adopted a more radio-friendly hard rock sound. Their fourth album, ''Hysteria'', moved even further in this direction due to nearly half the songs being [[Power Ballad|ballads]].
* [[Lighter and Softer]]: Their first two albums were definitely [[Heavy Metal]], but starting with their third album ''Pyromania'' they adopted a more radio-friendly hard rock sound. Their fourth album, ''Hysteria'', moved even further in this direction due to nearly half the songs being [[Power Ballad|ballads]].
* [[Limited Special Collectors Ultimate Edition]]: ''Pyromania'', ''Hysteria'', and ''Adrenalize''.
* [[Limited Special Collectors Ultimate Edition]]: ''Pyromania'', ''Hysteria'', and ''Adrenalize''.
* [[List Song]]: "Rocket", which lists the bands that Def Leppard count as influences or the [[Song of Song Titles|titles of their songs]], including [[David Bowie (Music)|David Bowie]], [[Elton John (Music)|Elton John]], [[Mott the Hoople (Music)|Mott the Hoople]], [[Queen (Music)|Queen]], [[Thin Lizzy (Music)|Thin Lizzy]] and many, many more.
* [[List Song]]: "Rocket", which lists the bands that Def Leppard count as influences or the [[Song of Song Titles|titles of their songs]], including [[David Bowie]], [[Elton John]], [[Mott the Hoople]], [[Queen]], [[Thin Lizzy]] and many, many more.
* [[Lyrics Video Mismatch]]: "Bringin on the Heartbreak".
* [[Lyrics Video Mismatch]]: "Bringin on the Heartbreak".
* [[Mohs Scale of Rock and Metal Hardness]]: In their beginnings and on ''Pyromania'', they were a solid 5, sometimes even a 6. By the time Hysteria rolled around, they had softened to a 4. High & Dry seems to be a 7. Perhaps a weak one, but most of the time it's clearly metal. Phil Collen has remarked on the trend ("We were always halfway between heavy metal and [[Duran Duran (Music)|Duran Duran]]").
* [[Mohs Scale of Rock and Metal Hardness]]: In their beginnings and on ''Pyromania'', they were a solid 5, sometimes even a 6. By the time Hysteria rolled around, they had softened to a 4. High & Dry seems to be a 7. Perhaps a weak one, but most of the time it's clearly metal. Phil Collen has remarked on the trend ("We were always halfway between heavy metal and [[Duran Duran]]").
* [[Morality Ballad]]: "From The Inside".
* [[Morality Ballad]]: "From The Inside".
* [[Myspeld Rokband]]
* [[Myspeld Rokband]]
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* [[Rated "M" for Manly]]
* [[Rated "M" for Manly]]
* [[Record Producer]]: Mutt Lange.
* [[Record Producer]]: Mutt Lange.
* [[Sex, Drugs and Rock And Roll]]: They just hid it real well until one of them died.
* [[Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll]]: They just hid it real well until one of them died.
* [[Shout-Out]]: "Rocket", a shout out to the groups that the band likes.
* [[Shout-Out]]: "Rocket", a shout out to the groups that the band likes.
* [[Song of Song Titles]]: "Rocket".
* [[Song of Song Titles]]: "Rocket".
* [[Stalker With a Crush]]: "Two Steps Behind".
* [[Stalker with a Crush]]: "Two Steps Behind".
** Also applicable to "Photograph" when, after a few listens, one realizes {{spoiler|the singer doesn't actually have a relationship with the woman in question, and is merely obsessing over her photograph}} (although Joe Elliott insists that it's a tribute to Marilyn Monroe).
** Also applicable to "Photograph" when, after a few listens, one realizes {{spoiler|the singer doesn't actually have a relationship with the woman in question, and is merely obsessing over her photograph}} (although Joe Elliott insists that it's a tribute to Marilyn Monroe).
* [[Step Up to The Microphone]]: They have four pretty good singers (Rick Allen only tends to do backing vocals during live shows), so it's no surprise that somebody other than Joe took the opportunity to sing lead for a couple of songs on ''Yeah!'' Sav does the lead vocals on their cover of "[[Queen (Music)|Dear Friends]]", while Phil sings and plays all the instruments on "[[Faces (Music)|Stay With Me]]".
* [[Step Up to the Microphone]]: They have four pretty good singers (Rick Allen only tends to do backing vocals during live shows), so it's no surprise that somebody other than Joe took the opportunity to sing lead for a couple of songs on ''Yeah!'' Sav does the lead vocals on their cover of "[[Queen|Dear Friends]]", while Phil sings and plays all the instruments on "[[Faces|Stay With Me]]".
* [[Stop and Go]]: "Animal".
* [[Stop and Go]]: "Animal".
* [[Technician Versus Performer]]: Steve Clark was the performer while Phil Collen is a technician. While Phil remains one of the group's most prolific songwriters, Steve very rarely composed songs, instead contributing partial ideas and riffs to other compositions. After he died, Phil was almost driven to leave the band himself out of frustration over his struggles to emulate Steve's playing style.
* [[Technician Versus Performer]]: Steve Clark was the performer while Phil Collen is a technician. While Phil remains one of the group's most prolific songwriters, Steve very rarely composed songs, instead contributing partial ideas and riffs to other compositions. After he died, Phil was almost driven to leave the band himself out of frustration over his struggles to emulate Steve's playing style.
** Ironically enough, Steve was initially hired because ''he'' was a better player than original guitarist Pete Willis.
** Ironically enough, Steve was initially hired because ''he'' was a better player than original guitarist Pete Willis.
* [[Wearing a Flag On Your Head]]: sleeveless Union Jack shirts and short-shorts.
* [[Wearing a Flag on Your Head]]: sleeveless Union Jack shirts and short-shorts.
* [[Word Salad Lyrics]]: "Pour Some Sugar on Me".
* [[Word Salad Lyrics]]: "Pour Some Sugar on Me".
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