EXPLAINED: 2 | Vintage Vibes

“We had a request from the studio guys: ‘Is it okay if this local church choir comes in to record for a day?’ And thank God we let them in!”: How Def Leppard created a rock anthem - with a little bit of divine intervention

"It was a complete fluke," singer Joe Elliott said

MusicRadar · Mar 29, 2025

“Meeting your heroes can be disappointing, but not with Bon. It was our first real tour, and he was great to us”: Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott pays tribute to the late, great AC/DC singer Bon Scott

Leppard opened for AC/DC on the Highway To Hell tour

MusicRadar · Feb 19, 2025

“In six months, we got through 300 bottles of vodka, 400 bottles of whiskey and cases of beer. It was insane”: The unbelievable story of Def Leppard’s 80s hard rock masterpiece Hysteria

Four years, one near-fatal car crash and an ocean of booze in the making, Def Leppard’s Hysteria is the 80s hard rock album against which all others should be measured

Metal Hammer · Feb 8, 2025

“He didn't want his credibility blown by being named on a Def Leppard album!”: The rockers’ secret weapon was a synth pop boffin

“He added a new dimension to our songs,” Leppard’s singer says

MusicRadar · Nov 20, 2024

“Well-structured harmonies were important and we liked to be quite artsy… but there was pressure to become more and more commercial”: The tale of prog-tinged City Boy, who landed a hit pop-rock single and never recovered

Starting as an art-rock project in the vein of 10cc or Queen, work with producer Mutt Lange and the 1978 single 5.7.0.5. let to dispute, distraction and eventual destruction after several promising proggy albums

Louder · Oct 10, 2024

“We weren’t trying to better Iron Maiden. We were trying to better Michael Jackson!”: The metal fan’s guide to Def Leppard

From the NWOBHM to the world – how Def Leppard became one of the biggest British rock bands of all time

Metal Hammer · Oct 5, 2024

"Vivian is still battling cancer, we've still got a one-armed drummer. But these are obstacles that we just mock": Joe Elliott on why Def Leppard won't be retiring any time soon

Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott on the US tour, not selling out, guest appearances, retirement and the next album

Louder · Sep 18, 2024

"We're taking a step back from the soap opera": The ongoing saga with The Quireboys ends as the Black Eyed Sons emerge from the wreckage

Members of The Quireboys and Down n' Outz combine for an all-star album featuring Joe Elliott, Ryan Roxie, Charlie Starr and more

Louder · Sep 5, 2024

"There's a reason why it's sold more than all the other AC/DC albums combined": Why I love Back In Black, by Def Leppard's Joe Elliott

Def Leppard man Joe Elliott on Mutt Lange, Hells Bells and replacing Bon Scott

Metal Hammer · Sep 4, 2024

"We were out on our asses": How Aerosmith took flight with Get Your Wings - only in the new issue of Classic Rock

Also in this issue: John Mayall, Pink Floyd, Joe Elliott, Creed, Phil Mogg, The Cadillac Three, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Joanne Shaw Taylor, LA Edwards and more

Louder · Aug 16, 2024