9 Def Leppard Facts featuring Joe Elliot, Phil Collen, Vivian Campbell, Rick Allen, Rick Savage and Steve Clark

1. Def Leppard members currently consist of lead singer Joe Elliot, lead guitarist Phil Collen, guitarist Vivian Campbell, drummer Rick Allen and bassist Rick Savage. When the band was founded in Sheffield in 1977, Joe Elliott, Rick Allen and Rick Savage were among the founders.

2. Def Leppard came to Turkey in 2008. They performed on the same night with Whitesnake. Actually, Whitesnake performed before them. In a weird sense, Whitesnake was their opening “act”. This wasn’t the only festival they were a part of in the same year. In 2006, in Sölversborg, Sweeden, both English Bands were featured. That time they were the main act on different nights. Def Leppard performed right after the American band WASP. Whitesnake played the night before, taking the scene after Alice Cooper. At that time, I lived in Norway so I didn’t mind the “drive” to the concert. Sadly I couldn’t afford the tickets for two nights so I chose to see Def Leppard.

3. Def Leppard’s 1977 line-up included guitarist Pete Willis. However he was abusing the booze and he got in “creative” rows with the band so he was kicked out.

4. Band’s guitarist Steve Clark died of alcoholism in 1991. Vivian Campbell later joined to replace him.

5. In 1984, drummer Rick Allen had a serious car accident which caused him to lose one arm. He went on touring with the band. Neither the rest of the band nor Rick thought Rick might leave the band.

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6. In 1994, bass player Rick Savaged suffered from a condition called Bell’s Palsy, causing him to suffer from facial paralysis. Rick eventually recovered. However during the disease, one reporter actually asked about how he felt about the disease, being a former sex symbol and all.

7. Def Leppard’s 1993 album Retro Active’s cover presents two different images. You can either see a woman, sitting down and looking in the mirror- the curtains closed and candles burning. Or you can see a huge skull instead of that mirror.Retro Active also happens to be the first album on which Vivian Campbell worked with the band.

8. Def Leppard albums cover many genres. Their first albums are more hard rock. The album Adrenalize is more glam rock. Retro-active was more modern whereas Slang! was the closest the band got to alternative rock. Their album X is their slowest one.

9. The Yeah! album consists of the covers of the songs the band members like the most.