In the 1980s, best-selling classic rock albums and became a premier touring act. However, for as synonymous as they were in the '80s, their career has extended far beyond.
From the 1990s into the 2000s, they released eight albums, which not only allowed them to maintain their well-known status, but also to experiment. Some of their defining songs even feature memorable collaborations, including one with a country music superstar. Since the 2010s, their recording pace has slowed, but they can still create hits at a high level. They prove that when a band possesses elite talent, they can continue tapping into it for as long as they choose.
10 Hello America
Album: On Through The Night (1980)
With all the success that Def Leppard has achieved, it's hard to picture the band as an up-and-coming act with a dream. However, that's exactly what they were when their debut studio album, On Through the Night, was released in 1980. As an English rock band, the start of their journey represented a chance for them to make a name internationally. Like many other bands, a significant place they had their sights set on was the United States.
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The song "Hello America" embodies the band's dream of coming to the country to tour. Specifically, they sing about California, as Hollywood was a premier destination for bands, especially during that time. The tune would ultimately chart in the UK and earn them the early recognition they were seeking. Although they no longer have to dream about touring the world, this is a fun track to listen to, reminding fans of their early days before fame.
9 Bringin’ On The Heartbreak
Album: High ‘N’ Dry (1981)
For Def Leppard, the song "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" has been the gift that keeps on giving. It comes from their sophomore album and helped them achieve early success. Although it didn't rank as high as some of their future songs would, its 61st position ranking on the Billboard Hot 100 was a major accomplishment. The song helped drive appreciation for the album, which ended up at the 38th position on the Billboard 200.
The song helped drive appreciation for the album, which ended up at the 38th position on the Billboard 200.
Over the years, the legend of the song has grown as the band released two music videos for it. One features the band playing the song live, while the other is story-driven. Additionally, the song was covered by pop star Mariah Carey in 2002. Of course, the band approved of the cover, and it ultimately helped with its popularity, as Carey is a huge star in her own right. Today, the song remains one of the band's most performed.
8 Photograph
Album: Pyromania (1983)
By their third album, Def Leppard had established themselves alongside the great rock bands. Pyromania became one of the biggest records the band ever produced, finishing number two on the Billboard 200. It has even gone on to become Diamond-certified, but it didn't get there by accident. This album featured major hits from the band, including "Photograph." The song achieved a 12th place ranking on the Billboard Hot 100 and a first-place finish on their Mainstream Rock chart.
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This signature tune, which became a defining song of the '80s, has followed them throughout their career, including a major resurgence in the 2000s. The band performed the hit with Taylor Swift on an episode of CMT Crossroads. In fact, the performance was so good that it was even nominated for a CMT Music Award. It was also covered by Chris Daughtry and Santana around the same time. To top it off, it was featured in multiple video games, such as Rock Band and Grand Theft Auto.
7 Pour Some Sugar On Me
Album: Hysteria (1987)
Arguably, the signature song of Def Leppard is "Pour Some Sugar on Me." The tune incorporates many different genres, but perhaps its best description is arena rock, as it can fill the largest venues in the world. During its initial release, it reached as high as number two on the Billboard Hot 100, even finishing the year in the Top 20 on the chart. Contributing to its popularity was its airplay on MTV, as it became a staple of the channel.
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This was yet another song for which the band produced multiple music videos. One featured the band playing the tune inside a house, while the other showed them performing live on stage. Helping to solidify the song's legacy is the Gold certification it has received, along with being voted many times as one of the most influential hits of the '80s. Additionally, it is a concert staple for the band, on its way to becoming the third song to be performed over 2,000 times (setlist.fm).
6 Hysteria
Album: Hysteria (1987)
In the career of Def Leppard, the album Hysteria represents much more than just a collection of songs; it symbolizes their resilience and, most importantly, their brotherhood. The album took years to create after drummer Rick Allen survived a horrific car accident in which he lost his left arm. Instead of replacing him, the band waited for Allen as he began a new journey in his career. Knowing they had high expectations to meet after the success of their previous album, the band took their time crafting perfection.
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A key contributor to the record's success was the title track. It didn't quite reach the heights of "Pour Some Sugar on Me," but it did achieve a Top 10 finish on the Billboard Hot 100. The song has become beloved for its unique recording styles and its strong lyrics. Over the years, it has been covered many times, helping to spread its reach. Even if some of the band's other songs have stronger accolades, this one will always hold one of the deepest meanings.
5 Let’s Get Rocked
Album: Adrenalize (1992)
After a career-defining decade in the '80s, Def Leppard entered the '90s aiming to continue making the same impact. Unfortunately, just a year in, the band faced another tragedy when guitarist Steve Clark died in 1991. While this could have stopped the band, they chose to carry on as they had done before. In 1992, they released their fifth studio album, Adrenalize, which came just under five years after Hysteria.
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One song that stood out was "Let's Get Rocked." It ended up on multiple charts, including a 15th-place finish on the Billboard Hot 100 and as the number one song on their Mainstream Rock chart. Utilizing what had been working for them, the band produced yet another popular music video. It became a hit on MTV, as it not only showed the band performing the tune, but it also incorporated animation, which helped advance the innovation of what these videos could be.
4 Promises
Album: Euphoria (1999)
In 1999, Def Leppard more than lived up to their dreams of being an international touring band. 20 years into their recording career, they closed out the '90s with their seventh studio album. It was another strong release for them, as it placed on the Billboard 200 in the 11th spot. A highlight of the album was the song "Promises," which had its own chart success, finishing as the number one song on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
The band appreciated the song so much, it became a tune they added to their setlists for live shows. It is now one of their 25 most played songs, with nearly 600 performances (setlist.fm). Truly, it is the perfect song for a concert, as it is catchy and features excellent vocal harmonies, capturing the band's signature sound. Like their other popular live tracks, this is an easy one to sing along to, and the emotional depth of the lyrics makes it relatable.
3 Nine Lives Feat. Tim McGraw
Album: Songs From The Sparkle Lounge (2008)
After all they had done in their careers, Def Leppard started taking opportunities to experiment with their music. One of the more interesting things they did was perform with a few country artists. Appearing on CMT was a cool opportunity for them, but they decided to cement this period by featuring a country superstar on a song with them. The tune "Nine Lives" featured Tim McGraw, who, by 2008, was one of the biggest names in the genre.
The song is upbeat, but it certainly has meaning for a band that has endured so much turmoil. No matter what came their way, they continued to persevere, always having each other and performing for their fans. McGraw, known for his physical fitness and his own energetic performances, matched well with the band. He added his country sound while seamlessly blending in with them.
2 Let’s Go
Album: Def Leppard (2015)
Over 30 years into their career, Def Leppard set out to prove in 2015 that they could still rock at a high level. Their self-titled album quickly dominated, reaching number one on multiple Billboard charts and in the Top 10 on their coveted 200. Additionally, it ranked on Billboard's yearly charts for 2015 and 2016. All of its successes led to it being award-winning, capturing a Classic Rock and Roll Honours Award.
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The album was so revered because of songs like "Let's Go." This tune sounded like prime Def Leppard with its commanding instrumentation. The band called this album their closest work to Hysteria, and it's easy to see why after hearing this track. It was very appropriate that this was a self-titled record, since it represents everything the band is and marked a major milestone as their eleventh studio album.
1 Lifeless Feat. Alison Krause
Album: Diamond Star Halos (2022)
For their 2022 record, Diamond Star Halos, the band focused on their glam rock roots. Certainly you can hear the influence of bubblegum pop mixed with old-time rock and roll. This is the genre that became popular during Def Leppard's earliest days as a band, making it a true callback. One thing that stood out on the record was the two songs that the band did with bluegrass country singer Alison Krauss.
"Lifeless" stands as another classic love song from Def Leppard.
While the pairing may have seemed eye-opening on the surface, Krauss is known for mixing it up with rock stars, as she famously recorded a lot with Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin. "Lifeless" stands as another classic love song from Def Leppard. The instrumental may be softer than what some fans have become accustomed to, but the lyrics are strong. Additionally, the tempo truly allows lead singer Joe Elliott's voice to shine through.
