No Life Til Metal - CD Gallery

Rick Savage (bass), Pete Willis (guitars) and Tony Kenning (drums) formed the band "Atomic Mass" in 1977 as students at Tapton School in Sheffield. Joe Elliott auditioned for a spot as their guitarist following a chance meeting with Willis. However, during Elliott's audition it was decided that he was better suited for the role of lead singer. Soon afterwards they adopted the name Deaf Leopard, which Elliott had thought of in his school days. At the suggestion of Tony Kenning, the name was modified to Def Leppard. The band added guitarist Steve Clark in January 1978. The band was born during the beginnings of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) movement. Def Leppard released their first self financed EP in 1978 when the band members were yet teenagers. With the release of their first full length release "On Through the Night" the band began to rocket out of obscurity. The album had an accessible, undeniably British sound, yet was still very much heavy metal. Tracks such as "Rock Brigade" and "Rocks Off" received a decent amount of radio play on rock radio, as well as the metal specialty shows at the time. By the time of their next album, "High And Dry", they had shifted producers and started developing a more commercialized, pop-metal sound that would become even more glossy and commercial on the follow-up "Pyromania". "Pyromania" and "Hysteria" proved massively successful helping Def Leppard to become one of the the top selling rock bands of the 1980’s, having sold 70 million albums worldwide. At the same time the band drew ire from longtime metal fans who found their new recordings far too commercial, polished and poppy. When describing their 1987 release, "Hysteria", Martin Poppoff in his book "The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal" described Def Leppard as "one of the most pathetic sell-outs in the history of the world Part 1..." Despite their massive commercial success, the band has suffered many loses as well. On December 31, 1984, while driving under the influence of alcohol, drummer Rick Allen endured an off-road accident in his Corvette near Sheffield, UK. He was thrown from the car and his left arm was severed due to his seatbelt not being completely engaged. Despite attempts by doctors to reattach it, infection set in, and the arm had to be reamputated. However, the band continues to record and tour with Rick behind the kit. On January 8, 1991 founding member Steve Clark died of respiratory failure due to a mixture of anti-depressants, painkillers and alcohol with no evidence of suicidal intent. Tesla wrote a song that same year dedicated to Steve Clark called "Song and Emotion". Despite the tragedies, Def Leppard continued to tour and record through the 1990's in the new millenium.

The Def Leppard EP
1. "Ride Into the Sun" (2:50)
2. "Getcha Rocks Off" (3:34)
3. "Overture" (7:37)
First Strike
4. "Heat Street" (2:50)
5. "Answer to the Master" (3:21)
6. "See The Lights" (3:35)
7. "When The Wall Came Tumbling Down" (3:47)
8. "Wasted" (3:27)
9. "Sorrow Is A Woman" (3:49)
10. "Glad I'm Alive" (4:07)

Once upon a time, Def Leppard weren't a glossy pop band, they were a real New Wave of British Heavy Metal band. The Def Leppard EP is raw, raunchy heavy metal from a band that was young and hungry. Good stuff. It's a shame they didn't pursue this style rather than going down Mutt Lang's road to pop. Of course, many of these songs were re-recorded for "On Through the Night" but these versions are vastly different. Nothing they did after these songs would have that same intensity. In anycase, didn't even know this disc existed until recently. (thanks Randy)

One of the biggest hopefuls of the NWOBHM bands, and certainly one of the best debut albums to come from that movement. Def Leppard's debut matched the greatness of bands like Maiden and Saxon. (WOW! Did I just commit blasphemy or what?) I actually bought this album around the time "High & Dry" came out and was impressed at the time. Unfortunately Def Leppard became one of the biggest sellouts to come out of the NWOBHM movement. Def Leppard come from Sheffield and their sound derived from a mixture of 70's British heavy metal (UFO, Lizzy, Priest) and glam of bands like T.Rex, Sweet, and Mott the Hoople. Their debut was well recorded and featured some killer heavy metal anthems. Thankfully it did not yet include the terrible radio-pop elements, or syrupy ballads that would soon destroy this band. Despite this they still had lots of radio hits: "Rock Brigade", "Rocks Off", "Hello America", and "Wasted". Picked up this CD in the used bins for $5.99.

After the huge success of 'Pyromania' Mercury Records re-released the band's second NWOBHM classic 'High 'n' Dry" with two bonus tracks; a remixed versions of "Bringin' on the Heartbreak" and a heavy cut called "Me & My Wine." As far as I can tell, this is the only place that this song was ever released, unless it was released on some obscure single as a B-side, so I don't know why the track is listed as a remix. In any case, Def Leppard's second platter is still classy heavy metal, although this time around much more slickly produced thanks to producer Mutt Lange who also produced slick commercial successes for AC/DC and more recently his gorgeous wife Shania Twain. As with many of his other projects, this Def Leppard album took off with hits like "Let It Go" and especially, "Bringin' on the Heartbreak." The music was still heavy and retained the British metal sound, yet the production and solid catchy songwriting also got them some heavy MTV play. Unfortunately this success went to their head and thus began the rapid downward spiral into pop. Also this was the last release with Pete Willis on guitar, whose killer playing seemed to be one of the key ingredients that made Def Leppard rock so hard in the early days!

Should also mention that, for some odd reason, Mercury felt it necessary to take this version of the disc out of print, so consequent pressings only have the original ten songs. Apparently this has made this version of the disc a hot seller of eBay.

While I'm ranting I also must add that few bands have pissed me off more than this one. I remember reading an interview with Joe Elliot about Def Leppard long after their climb to success started to spiral downward, sometime around 1995-96. At that time they were hyping their new album "Slang" which was one of the biggest pieces of crap they ever released. In any case, what angered me was reading Elliot claiming they were "never really a heavy metal band." How ridiculous. Their first two albums and to a lesser extent "Pyromania," were huge heavy metal platters. They, along with Saxon, Iron Maiden, Tygers of Pan Tang, etc. WERE the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. They rode the Heavy Metal train while it was popular, but once in the mid-90's it became 'uncool' to play metal, all of the sudden Mr. Elliot says, they never were?!?! If it was not bad enough that they had become the biggest radio whores of the 80's, now they were actually denying their past. How can they deny what they were? How pathetic! I wrote a song inspired by this called "Never" which was recorded on Ultimatum's "Puppet of Destruction".

Ahhh, and the degradation that began on 'High 'n' Dry' goes even further on this disc. The former Thin Lizzy cover band hit it big time with this album. The waaaayyyy over polished production on this disc totally ruined what could have been some pretty heavy tracks. Fake as can be, overproduced layered vocals, electronic sounding drums, and way to much attention paid to detail that stripped the rock 'n' roll right out of the NWOBHM band, compliments of Mutt Lange. (later married to and producing for Shania Twain) Of course, some ten million people disagree with me. By 1988 this album had already gone platinum seven times over. However, as we all know, the amount of album sales must equal the quality of the music, right? Yeah, right! Well, despite my disdain for how this band went progressively downhill after their first ground breaking record, this really isn't the total waste of plastic and metal that I make it out to be. There are plenty smokin' numbers on here, although there are just as many MTV super hits as well. What this album is to me, is the odious decline to the putrid Muzak that is 'Hysteria'. Of course I should mention that my wife, who listens almost exclusively to country likes this album. At least they have that going for them.

Def Leppard – Adrenalize (Mercury) 1992

1.      Let's Get Rocked (4:56)
2.      Heaven Is (3:37)
3.      Make Love Like a Man (4:13)
4.      Tonight (4:03)
5.      White Lightning (7:37)
6.      Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion) (4:31)
7.      Personal Property (4:20)
8.      Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad (5:25)
9.      I Wanna Touch U (3:16)
10.    Tear It Down (3:38)

Def Leppard’s leap into the 1990’s was without several things. Firstly, Mutt Lang is not longer producing. Also, guitarist Steve Clark is now gone and with him, Def Leppard have buried their rock and roll roots completely. "Adrenalize" is a melodic, slickly-produced, radio-ready, pop album. I’d be hard pressed to even call it hard rock, as there are no real guitar riffs to speak of and no traces of those early more metallic releases. The closest thing to hard rock on this album is the seven minute long "White Lightning" and the closing track "Tear You Down". Rather, Def Leppard have more in common with Bryan Adams on this album. Songs like the sticky sweet "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad?" are eerily similar to Bryan Adams. For the most part, this album is just catered for radio play complete with dumb song titles like "Let's Get Rocked" and" Make Love Like A Man", the first two singles from the album. Even if I liked this sort of pop stuff, I don’t think "Adrenalize" has nearly the hooks that "Hysteria" or "Pyromania" had. Frankly, I just find this album to be vanilla and bland.

Take my opinion on this album with a grain of salt. I know I have an attitude about this band. I was a fan early on and just have never been able to appreciate the direction they took. The band rightly calls themselves a pop band and completely denies that they were ever a heavy metal band. It’s a shame they have completely denied and forsaken all those hard rock and heavy metal fans that supported them on great releases like "On Through the Night" and "High n Dry".

1. "Desert Song" (5:19)
2. "Fractured Love" (5:08)
3. "Action! Not Words" (3:41)
4. "Two Steps Behind" [Acoustic Version] (4:16)
5. "She's Too Tough" (3:41)
6. "Miss You in a Heartbeat" (4:04)
7. "Only After Dark" (3:52)
8. "Ride into the Sun" (3:12)
9. "From the Inside" (4:13)
10. "Ring of Fire" (4:42)
11. "I Wanna Be Your Hero" (4:29)
12. "Miss You in a Heartbeat" (4:58)
13. "Two Steps Behind" [Electric Version] (4:29)

The Def Leppard odds 'n sods collection. I was mostly interested in this CD for their cover of Sweet's "Action" and Mick Ronson's "Only After Dark". I was also curious to hear the newly recorded version "Ride into the Sun", a song from their early NWOBHM days. I was pleasantly surprised by "Desert Song" and "Fractured Love", both heavy power chord tracks that recall the band's glory days before their big MTV days. Don't get the idea that this album is a solid release though as much of the material is leftover tracks from the 'Hysteria' sessions. This album was released following the death of of guitarist and founder Steve Clarke, marking the end of an era for Def Leppard.

1. "Two Steps Behind" (4:22)
2. "Tonight" [acoustic version] (4:19)
3. "S.M.C." [instrumental] (1:13)

When my CD copy of 'High n Dry' arrived I was on a bit of a Def Leppard kick. Those first two albums are just so good, I had forgotten about how bad their material became after those albums. Their contribution to the 'Last Action Hero' soundtrack wasn't bad, but nothing to get excited over either. This single is based on that song. Track one is the so-called 'unproduced' song from the soundtrack, track two is a "warts and all acoustic version of 'Tonight' that differs from the version 'Adrenalize' and previous b-sides" and track three is a short unreleased acoustic guitar solo, that is actually quite good. Overall, this 3 song, single isn't bad, but as I said, nothing great either. Three rather mellow acoustic songs by a once great band.

Def Leppard – Euphoria (Mercury) 1999

1.      Demolition Man (3:25)
2.      Promises (3:59)
3.      Back In Your Face (3:21)
4.      Goodbye (3:36)
5.      All Night (3:37)
6.      Paper Sun (5:28)
7.      It's Only Love (4:06)
8.      21st Century Sha La La La Girl   (4:07)
9.      To Be Alive (3:53)
10.      Disintegrate [instrumental]  (2:51)
11.      Guilty (3:47)
12.      Day After Day (4:37)
13.      Kings Of Oblivion (4:18)

I remember when this CD was released. Def Leppard fanatics worldwide were excited by the hype that the band was returning to their classic sound after releasing the atrocious alternative/grunge/rock album “Slang”. Once the album hit, cries of “a return to form” resounded. My thought was, “a return to what form?” Def Leppard haven’t released a really great album since “High n Dry”, or arguably “Pyromania”. Euphoria is an attempt to return to the slick, radio-pop formula of 'Adrenalize', and a weak attempt at that. Weak ballads, weaker rockers and even dance beats (see “All Night”). I find it hard to believe that a great guitarist like Vivian Campbell could find any satisfaction playing this stuff. Perhaps I am just too jaded when it comes to this band. I do like some pop rock bands, but for some reason Def Leppard’s music has left me cold since abandoning the hard rock and heavy metal of their early years. This album is just pure pop rubbish!

1. "Now" (3:58)
2. "Unbelievable" (3:58)
3. "You're So Beautiful" (3:31)
4. "Everyday" (3:08)
5. "Long Long Way to Go" (4:38)
6. "Four Letter Word" (3:07)
7. "Torn to Shreds" (2:56)
8. "Love Don't Lie" (4:46)
9. "Gravity" (2:33)
10. "Cry" (3:17)
11. "Girl Like You" (2:49)
12. "Let Me Be the One" (3:29)
13. "Scar" (4:59)

This is the first Def Leppard disc past "Hysteria" that I have even given a chance of getting into my CD player. Surprisingly, 'X' is not nearly as bad as I thought it might be. As a matter of fact, I quite enjoyed it on the very first listen. Instead of trying to act like they are still 20-somethings and releasing some trendy alterna-rap-Creed-wanna-be crap, 'X' is actually a good disc full of melodic rock (AOR) songs. 'X' is chock full of those big Def Leppard harmonies and sing along choruses. Still, this disc is far from those early hard rockin' days, but I guess I'd rather hear this than "Slang" any day. Def Leppard seems like they have come to the understanding that they just need to be who they are and not try to be whatever the radio and MTV says is cool. I still have a hard time believing that Vivian Campbell is the band's guitarist though. I mean, the man is a guitar shredder and he is virtually unheard on this disc. Oh well, I guess I need to stop analyzing the band. If I can just separate the Def Leppard of my youth from the Def Leppard of 2002, I can sit back and enjoy a good melodic rock disc, instead of being frustrated with what I thought the band should be.

1. 20th Century Boy" (3:41)
2. Rock On" (2:53)
3. Hanging On The Telephone" (2:22)
4. Waterloo Sunset" (3:38)
5. Hell Raiser" (3:19)
6. 10538 Overture" (4:30)
7. Street Life" (3:26)
8. Drive-In Saturday" (4:07)
9. Little Bit Of Love" (2:33)
10. The Golden Age Of Rock 'n' Roll" (3:28)
11. No Matter What" (2:51)
12. He's Gonna Step On You Again" (4:04)
13. Don't Believe A Word" (2:19)
14. Stay With Me" (4:39)
BONUS TRACKS
15. "No Matter What" [live] (2:58)
16. "Winter Song" (4:35)

I picked up the DL "Yeah!" mostly because I am a sucker for covers albums, even though I am not the biggest fan of recent Def Leppard offerings. Apparently Def Leppard grew up listening to a lot of the same Bristish rock n roll and glam rock bands that I did. The Sweet, Thin Lizzy, Mott the Hoople, David Bowie, Free, T. Rex, Badfinger, Faces...all great stuff. I was especially anxious to hear their version of Sweet's "Hellraiser" and Thin Lizzy's "Don't Believe a Word." Both are great songs in their own right. I thought that perhaps the Leppard boyz might take the intensity level of "Hellraiser" up a notch from the original but was a bit surprised to hear that that was not the case. "Hellraiser" is such an intense heavy metal song from the 70's, but this new version polishes it up a bit too much. They still pull off an admirable cover, complete with Justin Hawkins (The Darkness) on guest vocals. (For a heavier version, check out Raven's cover.) Their version of "Don't Believe A Word" is a bit heavier, although no more than the original. Actually, this is probably my favorite cover on the whole CD complete with a sweet guitar solo from Vivian Campbell that sticks pretty close to Brian Robertson's original solo. Another standout cut is Mott the Hoople's "Golden Age of Rock n Roll", complete with that dirty guitar sound and one of Elliot's best vocal performanes on the CD. Actually, this might have been a more appropriate title for this CD, rather than "Yeah!". According to the liner notes, the band almost went with that title. Too bad they didn't. Other standout cuts are the T.Rex cover "2oth Century Boy" and David Essex's "Rock On". Overall, the band sticks pretty close to the original arrangements of the songs, and even the original feel of the songs. One big difference is that Def Leppard's production is glossier, losing that edge that a lot of the aforementioned bands had due to the rough 1970's recordings. Joe Elliot's vocal performance is probably his most honest since "On Through the Night". For the most part there are no multiple layers of vocals, but rather it sounds as though he actually just sang the tracks and had fun with it. "Yeah" is probably going to disappoint fans who are hoping for the slicker sound of "Hysteria" and "Pyromania" but for those who appreciate the 70's rockers, this should be a pretty enjoyable disc.

I have to mention also, that the photos in the booklet, emmulating some classic album covers are fantastic. As a matter of fact, the photos on the inside are better than the lame album cover itself that looks like something you'd see on some pop boy-band cover.

Another point worth mentioning is that several different versions of the CD were released in the U.S. At Best Buy stores, the CD includes two bonus tracks including "Winter Song" and a live version of "No Matter What". Target has ""Yeah! with 2 bonus tracks; "Action" (live ) and "When I'm Dead And Gone". I assume that "Action' is the Sweet song. Since I don't have that version, I don't know for sure. Walmart stores have a regular version of the CD without bonus tracks but offer a bonus EP with 5 non-album tracks and some uselss backstage interviews for $5.99.

1. "American Girl" (3:33)
2. backstage interview #1 (3:11)
3. "Seach & Destroy" (3:26)
4. backstage interview #2 (2:00)
5. "Space Oddity" (5:27)
6. "backstage interview #3 (2:43)
7. "Dear Friends" (1:27)
8. "Heartbeat" (2:45)

This EP was apparently only released through Wal-Mart store in the US. The EP is a good listen, but you'll need to have the skip button handy to pass over the interview clips stuck between the songs. I wish they would have stuck all the interview footage at the end of the CD as this is something most fans will listen to once than never again. Anyhow, the songs are Tom Petty's "American Girl", probably my least favorite track as it sounds almost identical to the original, Iggy Pop's "Search and Destroy", David Bowie's "Space Oddity", a killer song in it's own right, Queen's "Dear Friends" and one of the few songs I was unfamiliar with, "Heartbeat" by a band called Jobriath.