Def Leppard

Formed in Sheffield, England, in the late 1970s, Def Leppard initially aligned with the heavy metal current of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal before shifting toward melodic hard rock with catchy choruses. Centered around singer Joe Elliott and bassist Rick Savage, the band quickly honed its identity, with a succession of guitarists marked by the arrival of Phil Collen in the early 1980s and then Vivian Campbell in the early 1990s, while drummer Rick Allen remained a central figure despite a serious accident in 1984. The early albums On Through the Night (1980) and High ’n’ Dry (1981) established Def Leppard on the international rock scene, and Pyromania (1983) and Hysteria (1987) cemented a highly crafted approach to songwriting characterized by layered guitars, massive backing vocals, and a meticulously polished studio sound. Over subsequent releases—from Adrenalize (1992) and Slang (1996) to Def Leppard (2015) and Diamond Star Halos (2022)—the band alternated between returns to more straight-ahead rock and forays into more contemporary textures, while remaining committed to an aesthetic blending hard rock, glam, and pop rock. A constant touring presence, often alongside other Anglo-American rock bands, Def Leppard has secured enduring status on major international stages and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019, extending a trajectory that asserts stylistic continuity despite changes in lineup and era.