World news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Def Leppard Experienced Constant Misfortune While Making This Album, but It Still Became Their Most Popular Record
Def Leppard's fourth studio album, Hysteria, was made amid a string of setbacks that could have derailed the record entirely, yet it went on to become the band's most successful release. The album's troubled creation is notable because it involved drummer Rick Allen losing an arm in a car accident and having to relearn his instrument, illustrating the perseverance behind one of rock's most enduring 1980s albums.
Beyond Allen's accident, producer Robert "Mutt" Lange was injured in a separate car crash, singer Joe Elliott contracted mumps affecting his voice, and the band had already lost time after Lange initially stepped away and a replacement producer failed to work out. Despite these delays, Hysteria was released in August 1987, topping both the Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart and reaching the Top 10 worldwide, with hit singles including "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and "Women" cementing its lasting popularity.
In short
- Def Leppard's Hysteria faced accidents, illness and delays during production
- Drummer Rick Allen relearned drumming after losing an arm in a crash
- Album still topped charts globally on release in August 1987
Explained simply
Def Leppard are a British rock band whose albums helped define the big, polished sound of 1980s hard rock. Hysteria was their fourth studio album, made with producer Robert “Mutt” Lange, and it became the record most closely associated with the band.
Work on the album was disrupted by several setbacks. Drummer Rick Allen lost an arm in a car crash and learned to play again with a specially adapted drum kit; Lange was also injured in a crash, and singer Joe Elliott fell ill with mumps.
The album’s success matters because it reached audiences well beyond the band’s existing following, with songs such as “Pour Some Sugar on Me” becoming widely known. Its long and difficult making is also part of the story of how the band continued after a major change to its line-up.
Americas Entertainment Music World