DEF LEPPARD'S ROCK OF AGES REIGNS SUPREME WITH THE FIRST OF FOUR PLANNED CAREER-SPANNING BOX SETS


26th March 2018



def leppard

Def Leppard's projected four-volume career-spanning box set series, kicks off with the appropriately dubbed 'Volume One' in multidisc LP and CD collections. The collection arrives in time for this summer's highly anticipated Def Leppard co-headline North American tour with Journey and December UK tour, full details of which are below.

This first volume of the band's complete recorded output comes in both limited-edition 180-gram heavyweight vinyl and CD box sets, each featuring Def Leppard's first four studio albums along with some choice bonus live and studio material, all spread across 8LPs and 7CDs, respectively. 'Volume One' is available to order from Amazon right here.

The Volume One collection includes bonus material including 'Live At The LA Forum 1983', originally released as a bonus disc in the deluxe CD version of 'Pyromania', making this the first-ever vinyl offering of the complete show. This 2LP version comes with a new sleeve and inner bags.

'Rarities Volume 1' has been specially compiled by Joe Elliott, containing rare B-sides and recordings from Leppard's early years, all in a newly commissioned sleeve. Finally, rounding out this collection is the 7-inch vinyl single and 3-inch CD of Leppard's original, self-titled EP.

def leppard

The fiery Volume One collection contains all of the iconic 1980s recordings with reproductions of the original packaging in both formats, plus the added bonus of a replica 7-inch single and 3-inch CD of the band's original independent EP, the self-titled 'The Def Leppard EP'.

Each album in the box set was mastered by longtime band producer/soundmaster Ronan McHugh and cut by Greg Moore, is housed in rigid boxes, and contains a hardback book with rare photos by longstanding band confidant Ross Halfin. Def Leppard's Joe Elliott, bassist Rick Savage, drummer Rick Allen, and guitarist Phil Collen have all also contributed their personal introductions to the collection.

'Volume One' kicks off with Leppard's 1980 debut album 'On Through The Night', which immediately put the rock world on notice that the band were destined for big things. Produced by Tom Allom (Judas Priest, Black Sabbath), 'On Through The Night' features many of the band's live favourites, including 'Rock Brigade' and 'Hello America', along with updated versions of early singles. 'Volume One' is available to order from Amazon right here.

Released in 1981, 'High 'N' Dry' was Def Leppard's second platinum album and the first to be produced by Robert 'Mutt' Lange (AC/DC, Foreigner). It reached number 26 in the UK and number 38 in the US, having garnered much impactful FM airplay with the propulsive 'Let It Go' and one of the band's most popular signature tunes to this day, 'Bringin' On The Heartbreak'.

'Pyromania', released in 1983, saw the band become indisputable rock legends. It was the first record to feature guitars by Phil Collen, who had replaced Pete Willis. The album contains massive MTV hits 'Photograph' and 'Rock Of Ages', as well as fist-pumper 'Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)'. 'Pyromania' reached number 2 in the US and went Diamond, with over 10 million album sales.

def leppard

Def Leppard released 'Hysteria' in 1987, the band's best-selling record to date having sold over 25 million copies worldwide. It went to number 1 in the UK, US and Australia, and is also the band's second album to achieve Diamond status in the US. Notes Phil Collen:

"Not many people even get Platinum albums anymore! Going Diamond is going 10 times Platinum in America, which is a huge deal — and we've got two of those. We're really pleased that we got them. It's pretty cool that we’ve achieved that."

Produced by Mutt Lange, 'Hysteria' took over three years to make, ultimately featuring seven charting singles including number 1 smash 'Love Bites' and 'Pour Some Sugar On Me'. Clocking in at just over 62 minutes, 'Hysteria' was then one of the longest albums ever issued on a single vinyl record — but for this special box set release, it has been made into a double LP for maximum sound-quality purposes.

Def Leppard's collective vocal prowess is but one of the many things that helped cement their unparalleled standing in rock history, as Joe Elliott explains:

"The way we did our harmonies was based on the multitracking abilities of a band like Queen, but we took what they did to the next level. Queen maybe tripled or quadrupled their backing vocals — but we did it like 20 times! We wanted it to sound like the quality of Queen but have the size of Slade.

"The way we did it gave us a unique sound. And that's the whole point of an album, really — capturing a band's unique dynamics."

Adds Phil Collen:

"The American bands had beautiful vocals, with all those wonderful harmonies. But we added a bit of a punk ethos in there with ours, where it became a bit more charming and anthemic with screaming and shouting. And that was a very British thing, I think, that made us different from a lot of the American bands."

def leppard

In what is turning out to be an extraordinary 2018 so far for Def Leppard, an extra date has been added to their 2018 UK and Ireland tour, due to phenomenal demand.

Leppard will tour the UK and Ireland in December and will perform the 'Hysteria' album in full, along with other Def Leppard hits across eleven arena dates.

Bassist Rick Savage says:

"After many requests from fans in the UK, I'm delighted that we can bring the whole 'Hysteria' album to arenas across Britain and Ireland later this year. From 'Women' to 'Love And Affection' plus many other faves thrown in for good measure. Oh, and our old pals Cheap Trick will be there also to help with the celebrations!! We can't wait."

def leppard

These will be the first Def Leppard UK and Eire tour dates since the sold-out Arena run in late 2015. The band will return to Sheffield Arena for what is sure to be a monumental homecoming show, in addition to their first ever show at The O2, London. 2018 also marks the 35th anniversary of 'Hysteria''s predecessor, 'Pyromania'.

The seminal 1987 'Hysteria' album is rightly seen as a landmark recording in the history of rock music. It was the album that saw Def Leppard conquer the world with global hits such as 'Animal', 'Pour Some Sugar On Me', 'Hysteria', 'Armageddon It', 'Love Bites', 'Woman' and 'Rocket'. The tour dates are as follows.

Saturday 1st December: Dublin, 3 Arena
Sunday 2nd December: Belfast, The SSE Arena
Tuesday 4th December: Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena
Thursday 6th December: London, The O2
Saturday 8th December: Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena
Sunday 9th December: Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena
Tuesday 11th December: Glasgow, The SSE Hydro Arena
Wednesday 12th December: Manchester, Manchester Arena
Friday 14th December: Sheffield, FlyDSA Arena
Saturday 15th December: Liverpool, Echo Arena
Monday 17th December: Birmingham, Arena Birmingham
Tuesday 18th December: London, The SSE Arena Wembley

Supported by Cheap Trick across all dates. Tickets are on general sale right now via this link. Click it now and don't miss out on what will be one of the events of 2018.

The UK and Ireland tour will follow a massive USA co-headlining tour with Journey. Comprised of stadiums and arena venues around the US, the run is set to kick off in Hartford, CT on May 21st and will wrap in Los Angeles, CA on October 6th. Full dates right here.

Def Leppard's full recording catalogue debuted digitally in January worldwide. Leppard are one of the last multi-platinum selling acts to be made available on streaming and download platforms.

Said Joe Elliott:

"It is with a mixture of relief and euphoria that we now see our entire catalogue finally getting a digital release.

"Having embraced every other format with open arms, especially and more recently the re-emergence of vinyl, we're now going to be available to everyone everywhere and honestly, it's as exciting as the original releases were."

Phil Collen adds:

"We felt we'd been left out of the digital party, but it's a thrill for us to finally accept the invitation and to be able to say 'yeah, you can stream us, download us and hear us on all digital outlets'."

DEF LEPPARD TITLES NOW AVAILABLE ACROSS ALL STREAMING AND DOWNLOAD PLATFORMS INCLUDE:
The Def Leppard EP (1979)
On Through The Night (1980)
High 'N' Dry (1981)
Pyromania (1983)
Hysteria (1987)
Adrenalize (1992)
Retro Active (1993)
Vault (1995)
Slang (1996)
Euphoria (1999)
X (2002)
Yeah! (2006)
Songs From The Sparkle Lounge (2008)
Mirror Ball - Live & More (2011)
Def Leppard (2015)