Episode 144: Steve Singiser / Def Leppard

Introducing the Band:
Your hosts Scot Bertram (@ScotBertram) and Jeff Blehar (@EsotericCD) are joined by guest Steve Singiser. Steve is formerly a contributing editor at Daily Kos Elections and now is a contributor at The Downballot.

Steve’s Music Pick: Def Leppard

Do you wanna get rocked?

If the answer is yes and the decade was the 1980s, it’s likely Def Leppard was at least partially responsible for the rocking. With two massive albums released four years apart, the band’s songs provided the soundtrack for a generation.

Pyromania lit the fuse, so to speak, with “Photograph” bursting through televisions on MTV and with “Foolin’” and “Rock of Ages” cracking the Billboard Top 40 chart. The production skills and songwriting savvy of “Mutt” Lange was key. A de-facto sixth band member, his contributions transformed the group from a solid British hard rock/heavy metal band to one that took over the world with massive pop/rock crossover success. Infinite hooks, layered vocals, processed everything, pre-choruses everywhere -- those are Lange trademarks that helped lure in listeners.

Hysteria followed after a number of setbacks and delays. Drummer Rick Allen lost an arm and Lange initially pulled out of the project due to exhaustion. But once things came together, the album took off like a rocket. “Pour Some Sugar on Me” was the jet fuel to power Hysteria after initial just okay sales numbers. Eventually seven singles were released, including #1 hit “Love Bites,” fulfilling the ambitions of creating a hard rock Thriller.

Unfortunately, guitarist Steve Clark lost his battle with alcoholism shortly afterward. His songwriting contributions and playing style are missed from future releases, though Vivian Campbell has proven to be a solid replacement. There’s plenty to love from the first two albums, prior to the band’s breakthrough, and Adrenalize and Euphoria still contain highlights (we urge you to check out “Paper Sun” from the latter album).

This is also a story about loyalty. Def Leppard’s line-up has been remarkably consistent through the years. When Rick Allen lost his arm, band members gave him the time to recover and learn to play in a different way. When “Mutt” Lange couldn’t produce Hysteria, the band realized the project couldn’t move forward without him. When Steve Clark needed help, the band gave him time off and got him into rehab as many times as possible.

The band still is a huge draw on tour because songs as good as these don’t die. Listen in, enjoy the tunes and feel free to rock, rock ‘til you drop.