In the beginning, there was Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple; the progenitors of early 1970s British heavy metal. Inspired by the DIY ethic of punk, the late 1970s brought the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and five young men from Sheffield — some of them still in school — took that new sound and infused it with large doses of the glam they’d grown up on with T. Rex, Queen and Davie Bowie — and blazed a trail into the Eighties, leading this updated genre into the new era of MTV.
Taking the name Def Leppard, they brought unprecedented energy and innovation to every song, to every show and then partnered with legendary producer Mutt Lange to become heavy metal’s apostles to top 40 radio — delivering an astonishing string of hit singles and multi-platinum albums while setting new standards for arena rock. They’re still rocking the world today, touring the world and never resting on their laurels. Heavy metal, the NWOBHM and hair metal have all come and gone, but Def Leppard remain.
This book discusses all of their recorded work in detail, from the legendary rawness of The Budgeon Riffola EP to the polished hard rock of Pyromania and Hysteria and beyond.
Scott Robinson is a writer, musician, technologist, and lifelong fan of classic rock. He was a music critic for the Louisville Courier-Journal for 20 years and has been published in Rolling Stone and the Wall Street Journal. His previous books include The Beatles Guide to Love & Sex, All We Are Saying: The Political Beatles, and the Rock Candy series. He lives in Indiana, USA
