Def Leppard

Blending glam metal gloss with hard rock heft and pop hooks, Sheffield titans Def Leppard have spent over five decades defining – and defying – the sound of stadium-sized rock, selling over 100 million records in the process.

Tapping into the rising force of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, debut full-length On Through The Night (1980) hinted at the band’s grand ambition, but it was 1981’s High ’n’ Dry - their first collaboration with legendary producer Robert ‘Mutt’ Lange – that sharpened their Queen-influenced sound, which helped carve a new lane for heavy metal in the UK, one that was wholly unashamed to lean into softness and showcase its bombastic pop influences.

Balancing hook-laden hard rock with emotional depth, Def Leppard’s global explosion came with 1983’s Pyromania. Stacked with shimmering synths, searing solos, and layered harmonies, it introduced the world to the slick stylings and tight musicianship that have come to define the pop-metal pioneers. From the powerful punch of ‘Photograph’ to the swaggering stomp of ‘Rock Of Ages’, the Yorkshire metal kings found their unique voice, colliding polished production and rollicking riffs with huge choruses that would come to redefine the genre.

Their third album selling over ten million copies, triumph was followed by tragedy in 1984 when drummer Rick Allen lost his left arm in an accident. Determined to continue, the band were forced to innovate. Customising a kit that allowed Allen to play with electronic pedals to trigger certain sounds, the drummer made a triumphant return during the 1986 Monsters Of Rock Festival.

The product of a three-year recording process, 1987’s Hysteria marked a career-defining statement of perseverance. A masterclass in pop-metal craftsmanship, the band’s goal was to ensure every track had the potential to become a hit single, and they undoubtedly delivered. Kickstarting a huge run of chart-topping tracks with swaggering single ‘Animal’, the sultry, innuendo-laced ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’, and tender power ballad ‘Love Bites’ cemented their place in the rock pantheon, landing Hysteria as one of the best-selling rock albums of all-time.

Following the death of guitarist Steve Clark in 1991, the band regrouped as a four-piece on Adrenalize (1992), a riff-heavy, relentlessly catchy record boasting rebellious cut ‘Let’s Get Rocked’ and a heartfelt tribute to Clark on seven-minute hard rock rager ‘White Lightning’. Their first release without Lange on production duties – self-produced by the band alongside longtime engineer Mike Shipley – it continued their winning streak, debuting in the top spot on the UK Albums Chart.

With former Dio and Whitesnake guitarist Vivian Campbell joining their ranks in 1992, Def Leppard have continued to evolve with every venture. Making an appearance at the iconic Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium before performing the first ever rock show at Sheffield’s 50,000 capacity Don Valley Stadium, their boundary-pushing ambition has led them to some of the highest heights achievable in rock stardom.

Five decades into their career, Def Leppard may have risen to globe-conquering icons of rock, but they have never lost sight of the spark that started it all. Driven by a pure love of music and a refusal to fit the mold, every chapter of their story has been guided by creative evolution. In 2008, they unleashed tenth album Songs From The Sparkle Lounge, featuring a country-tinged collaboration with Tim McGraw on ‘Nine Lives’, whilst 2022’s Diamond Star Halos dialled up the rock ‘n’ roll theatrics in an almighty nod to their glam influences.

Even when stood upon the world’s biggest stages, the spirit of teenage dreamers has soared through everything Def Leppard does. Known for their explosive live shows, their legacy has been built on sky-high choruses, twin-guitar heroics, and the kind of mass singalongs only a truly great rock band can inspire. As they return to the UK for another unmissable run, this is your chance to witness one of British rock’s most enduring and influential forces doing what they do best.