Hysteria - Def Leppard > Reviews > Lets Get Rocked

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	rock heaven
Disadvantages:	????????????

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

It’s been 15 years since I first had the pleasure to listen an album produced by Def Leppard, so it is with a lot of fond memories that I write this opinion as a fitting tribute to a band I have followed and loved for such a long time. And one of the best English rock bands of all time in my view. I have placed this review under the “Hysteria” category as it was this album that got me hooked, but this is more of a general tribute to the band themselves.

~~ A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY~~

Def Leppard hail from the steel producing town of Sheffield, England. Back in the late 70’s, when unemployment was rife throughout the UK, two guys, Pete Willis and Joe Elliot, got together with the hope of creating a band to beat the boredom and hopefully keep at bay the fate of having to work in the local steel works. After meeting up with two would be guitarists, Steve Clark and Rick Savage, and teenage drummer Rick Allen, Def Leppard were born (known at the time as Deof Leopard). Over 20 years later that dream is still going strong.

~~ THE BAND, THE MUSIC ~~

After initial falterings, the band were taken under the wing of Robert John “Mutt” Lange, rock producer. Lange is well known for being a rock producing genius. His credits include revamping Bryan Adams career, and bringing a little known country singer – Shania Twain – into fame and fortune (and eventually marrying her). Through Lange’s supervision Def Leppard have become giants in the rock world, more so in the finicky USA market than on their home grown soil. The current band line up is

Joe Elliot – vocals
Rick Savage – bass
Rick Allen – drums
Phil Collen – lead guitar
Vivian Campbell – rhythm/lead guitar

The bands music is something to be appreciated. It’s not pop music and it will never be heavy metal. Hard rock riffs and licks, coupled with crooning ballads and smooth rhythmic timing. This, coupled with several notable incidents during the course of their career has put them in the limelight on many an occasion. They are the only band to have a one-armed drummer after Rick Allen tragically lost his arm whilst playing a game of chicken in his Corvette Stingray. Their lead guitarist Steve Clarke was found dead from a drugs n’ booze overdose several years ago (that’s rock n’ roll so they say), later to be replaced by ex-Whitesnake guitarist Vivian Campbell. Sound like a typical rock band? Not this one.

The sheer pulling power of their music if amazing. The guitar riffs are gritty and clear. The drumming is anthemic (think Queen “We Will Rock You” and you’ll get my drift). The vocals are coarse but in the same vein melodical. Lead singer Joe Elliot will never win any awards for his gravel voiced warbling, but all the same he is powerful and more than effective. The ballards stick in your mind (anyone remember “Love Bites” or “When Love and Hate Collide”?). The rock anthems, such as " Pour Some Sugar On Me”, “Armageddon It” and “Let’s Get Rocked” make you want to sing along at the top of your voice from the rafters (well they do for me anyway!). Many have knocked the band, claiming that they are playing along to pre-recorded tapes when doing live gigs. This is nonsense. Having been to see them on 2 occasions at Birmingham NEC and Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield, I know this to be wrong. Their concerts are to be seen to be believed. When a band takes up to 4 years between albums to record their next one then of course they’ll sound good live – they’ve had 4 years to practice in between! They are also the first band to implement an “in the round” stage set. This is where the stage is in the middle of the arena creating 4 front rows, one on each side like a square. The light show and pyrotechnics that go with the shows are truly out of this world. Unlike so many commercialised bands these days they are people’s band, created by normal everyday folk like you and I. They have had their music used in many films, notably Arnold Scwarzennegers “The Last Action Hero” with the track “Two Steps Behind” and recently the film “Coyote Ugly” , which used the track “Pour Some Sugar On Me”. They have sold quite literally millions of albums worldwide, and have the accolade of being the only band to give Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album a run for its money on release, being beaten by on a handful of sales (Def Leppard released the album “Hysteria” at the same time Jacko did “Thriller”). Lots of you will have heard their music, but never really known who they are. But that’s typical of the British rock industry, which is why they are more widely recognised in the USA than the UK.

So I stand up and salute you. For all the lyrics, all the good times and the bad. My hair may be short now, and the body may be older, but you still remain in my heart. So turn up the stereo, open a bottle of Jack Daniels and let the good times roll!!!

Rock On.

Def Leppard can be viewed at their website @ www.defleppard.com.

~~DISCOGRAPHY~~

On Through The Night
High N’ Dry
Pyromania
Hysteria (inc. Pour Some Sugar On Me, Armageddon It, Love Bites, Hysteria)*
Adrenalize (inc. Lets Get Rocked, Heaven Is, Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad)*
Retroactive
Vault – Greatest Hits
Slang
Euphoria

Also available on video

Historia
In The Round In Your Face
Visualize
Vault – The Videos

* Highly recommended listening