UK heavy metal legend Def Leppard's origin dates back to Atmoic Mass, formed in 1977 by Rick Savage (bassist) and Pete Wills (guitarist). The band was renamed Def Leppard when Joe Elliot (vocalist) joined them. It was not until 1979 the band finally fixed the members when Steve Clark (guitarist) and Rick Allen (drums) were added. The first success wasn't long in coming. Their three-track debut single, released via independent label that year, became a word-of-mouth success, earning the group the honor for best new rock act in a UK music magazine.

Under the contract with Phonogram (UK), they issued their debut album On Through The Night in 1980, which set the band on the subsequent successful UK tour. In 1981, produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange (Foreigner, Cars), their second album High And Dry became their first US top 40 hit and spawned a hit single 'Bringin' On The Heartbreak.' They took full advantage of newly-launched MTV, which played their videos heavily and helped the band rise to stardom. After opening for Ozzy Osbourne in US tour, Pete Willis was fired from the band for alcoholism and replaced by Phil Collen (ex-Girl).

Having spent 10 months on recording, their third and breakthrough album Pyromania was released in 1983. The set was so huge a success to hit No.2 on US album chart and became the best-selling heavy metal album at the time, selling 700 million units in US alone and yielding heavy metal classics 'Photograph,' 'Rock Of Ages' and 'Foolin'. Def Leppard established themselves as world's top rock band.

A catastrophe hit the band in the end of 1983. On New Year's Eve of 1984 during the recording of the fourth album, drummer Rick Allen was seriously injured in a car crash which resulted in a fatal wound to the drummer - loss of his left arm. Yet Allen went through the rehabilitation with an unimaginable effort. In addition, thanks to the specially designed drum kit for him, he was able to return to the studio and the band finished the recording just a few month after the deadly accident.

Four years since Pyromania, their fourth set Hysteria, released in 1987, saw the band's great leap forward from the preceding album both musically and commercially. Having reached the top on US album chart and sold more than 10 million copies in the US alone, the album remains a milestone in rock music history. Hit singles 'Pour Some Sugar On Me', 'Animal', 'Rocket' and 'Love Bites' (their first US No.1 single), included on the set, still remain favorites at the band's concerts.

The news came as a shock - the next tragedy struck the band suddenly in January of 1990. Lead Guitarist Steve Clark died from overdose of drugs and alcohol while recording the band's fifth set. Despite the great loss, the surviving four men finished recording the album and released Adrenalize in 1992, which debuted at top of US chart and remains the band's biggest selling album to date. Shortly after the release, Clark's position was filled by Vivian Campbell (Dio, Whitesnake and Shadow King.) Still they needed a break to look back on their eventful career before relaunching a new career with Campbell. In 1993 Retroactive, the collection of previously unreleased tracks and B-sides was released. The set includes their favorite encore tune Action, a cover of 70's gram rock band Sweet and an acoustic ballad Two Steps Behind, theme song for Arnold Schwarzenegger's film Last Action Hero. 1995 saw the release of Vault: Greatest Hits 1980-1995.

After the 1996 controversial Slang, which finds departure from the band's signature sounds, Def Leppard returned to their basic in their seventh studio album Euphoria in 1999, which showed their trademark catchy tunes and sophisticated pop-metal sound. At last in 2002 Def Leppard is back again with X (which is said to stand for their 10th album overall while Phil Collen allegedly regards it as an alphabetic.) Although they are now among veteran rockers, the album proves they are as powerful and active as ever.

The legend lives on …