Biography
Def Leppard, led by vocalist Joe Elliot, stood out as perhaps the leading hard rock act during the 1980s while also enduring more than their share of misfortunes. Elliot entered the world in Sheffield, England, on August 1, 1959, and during his teenage years found himself captivated by artists including David Bowie, T. Rex, Queen, and Thin Lizzy. To distance himself from the harsh industrial environment of Sheffield’s steel-town streets, he frequently imagined himself fronting a nonexistent group, even designing promotional billboards for the fictional Deaf Leopard. In the late 1970s he joined forces with Atomic Mass, whose lineup already included guitarist Pete Willis and bassist Rick Savage along with several transient members; the ensemble adopted Elliot’s imaginary band name but altered the spelling to echo another favorite act, Led Zeppelin. Drummer Rick Allen and second guitarist Steve Clark joined soon afterward, and the group rapidly attracted fans with its blend of heavy yet melodic rock, placing itself within the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene alongside Iron Maiden, Saxon, Motörhead, and Judas Priest.
Mercury-Polygram offered a contract in 1979 after the self-released EP Getcha Rocks Off gained notice. The label debut On Through the Night appeared the following year, and 1981 brought the second album, High N' Dry, the first produced by Mutt Lange. Phil Collen replaced Willis for the third release, Pyromania, on which the band further polished its sound and underwent a full visual transformation, most noticeably Elliot, who appeared almost unrecognizable in the video for the opening single “Photograph” with his newly frosted hair and typical 1980s accessories such as leg warmers and a union jack t-shirt. The record surged up the charts to become the top rock album of 1983, elevating Def Leppard to worldwide arena-headliner status. A four-year hiatus ensued, during which drummer Rick Allen lost an arm in a car accident, before the long-delayed fourth album Hysteria finally emerged. The wait proved justified, as the set outsold its already multi-platinum predecessor and generated seven hit singles and videos in total. Following those two consecutive classic-rock landmarks, the band paused, only for further tragedy to strike in early 1991 when Steve Clark succumbed after an extended struggle with alcoholism. The remaining members recruited ex-Dio/Whitesnake guitarist Vivian Campbell and continued through the decade with albums such as 1992’s Adrenalize, 1996’s Slang, and 1999’s Euphoria, plus the compilations Retro Active and Vault: Def Leppard’s Greatest Hits.
Elliot has contributed to other artists’ recordings, among them Mick Ronson’s (his idol) 1994 release Heaven and Hull and Ron Wood’s Slide on This, and he performed “All the Young Dudes” with another idol, Ian Hunter, at the 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium. He also wrote a pair of songs for the 1996 British film When Saturday Comes—the title track and an instrumental ballad titled “Jimmy’s Theme”—and supplied vocals for a cover of “Under My Wheels” on the Alice Cooper tribute album Humanary Stew. Beyond music, Elliot and Savage opened an American-style restaurant and bar in Sheffield called the Players Café in 1998.
Mercury-Polygram offered a contract in 1979 after the self-released EP Getcha Rocks Off gained notice. The label debut On Through the Night appeared the following year, and 1981 brought the second album, High N' Dry, the first produced by Mutt Lange. Phil Collen replaced Willis for the third release, Pyromania, on which the band further polished its sound and underwent a full visual transformation, most noticeably Elliot, who appeared almost unrecognizable in the video for the opening single “Photograph” with his newly frosted hair and typical 1980s accessories such as leg warmers and a union jack t-shirt. The record surged up the charts to become the top rock album of 1983, elevating Def Leppard to worldwide arena-headliner status. A four-year hiatus ensued, during which drummer Rick Allen lost an arm in a car accident, before the long-delayed fourth album Hysteria finally emerged. The wait proved justified, as the set outsold its already multi-platinum predecessor and generated seven hit singles and videos in total. Following those two consecutive classic-rock landmarks, the band paused, only for further tragedy to strike in early 1991 when Steve Clark succumbed after an extended struggle with alcoholism. The remaining members recruited ex-Dio/Whitesnake guitarist Vivian Campbell and continued through the decade with albums such as 1992’s Adrenalize, 1996’s Slang, and 1999’s Euphoria, plus the compilations Retro Active and Vault: Def Leppard’s Greatest Hits.
Elliot has contributed to other artists’ recordings, among them Mick Ronson’s (his idol) 1994 release Heaven and Hull and Ron Wood’s Slide on This, and he performed “All the Young Dudes” with another idol, Ian Hunter, at the 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium. He also wrote a pair of songs for the 1996 British film When Saturday Comes—the title track and an instrumental ballad titled “Jimmy’s Theme”—and supplied vocals for a cover of “Under My Wheels” on the Alice Cooper tribute album Humanary Stew. Beyond music, Elliot and Savage opened an American-style restaurant and bar in Sheffield called the Players Café in 1998.
Albums
