Metal Mania: Steel City NWOBHM

These boys from Sheffield were instrumental in shaping the sound of 1980s metal by fusing their melodic, twin guitar attack with stadium rock choruses.

The band formed in 1977 and consisted of Joe Elliott, Steve Clark, Phil Collen, Rick Savage and Rick Allen. A statement of intent was made on there 1980 debut album which featured a track ' Hello America' the fantasy was to conquer America with there music.

When 1983 album 'Pyromania' was released in America it earned them a career defining multi million selling album, the fantasy was only beginning.

Def Leppard were prime movers in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) and there global ambition was fulfilled when they recruited producer and co-writer Mutt Lange for 1981s High 'n' Dry. There style was a very pop friendly with a tinge of hard rock to keep everyone happy.

The first single from Pyromania was 'Photograph' became an MTV essential viewing and as a result a huge US hit. The defs appearance in America coincided with the infancy stages of MTV and this help catapult them across America. However, all was not rosy. They had a falling out with Mutt Lange and his replacement producer the legendary Jim Steinman also suffered the same fate. If this was not enough then a major tragedy occurred when drummer Rick Allen lost an arm in a car accident. The fantasy was now becoming a nightmare.

Following these issues, the band rallied and Mutt Lange returned to bring order and Rick Allen re learnt how to play his electronic drum kit using his feet. Work was the order and a new follow up album to Pyromania began and 18 months of work was binned as all concerned felt it was not good enough. The band persevered and in 1987 Hysteria was released and topped both sides of the pond and going to eclipse the sales figure of Pyromania and Hysteria had yielded 7 hit singles. The 1980s started well, dipped in the middle but by the end of the 1980s they had painstakingly produced one of the most composed piece of Pop Metal.

During the 1980s the boys released four studio albums debuting with 'on through the night' which reached number 15, the follow up 'high 'n' dry' fared less at 26. Pyromania released in 1983 peaked at number 18 although it hit number 2 in America. The next album hit number one both sides as 'Hysteria' took the charts by storm.

They released 20 singles during the 1980s They didn't get there first top 10 in the UK until 1987 with 'animal'  which hit number 6. In America they had enjoyed 4 top 10 hits with 2 number ones in 1983 with 'photograph' and 'rock of ages'. The UK seemed more elusive in terms of top tens and a release in 1988 with 'love bites' was the next best peaking at number 11.
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