So, ya wanna learn more about Def Leppard but you don't know where to look? How 'bout a book on your favorite band? Ok, I admit if you look in the music section of your local book store you're more likely to find tell alls on Hanson and the Spice Girls than you are to find anything devoted to the Leps. But, you should be aware of what's out there. And with a little searching, you just might be able to find one of these books. In a couple of years I managed to gather up five of them. Although Animal Instinct is STILL eluding me, my lucky friend Mark did manage to snag a copy so he proves that it IS possible to locate(warning, it took him about 8 years to find- so don't get your hopes up!).
I've put together little summaries of each book that I'm aware of along with pictures of their covers so you'll be able to recognize them on sight if you ever do come across them. If I am leaving any out, please notify me and I'll add them to the list.
Note: Summaries have been taken from either the inside cover or the back of each book. So if you've got 'em- nothin' new. If you don't got 'em- get 'em! :)
Def Leppard
by Jason Rich
Published: 1994
This was the first Lep book that I purchased and boy was I excited to find it. Of all of the books on this page, this one will probably be the easiest to get your hands on. I've seen it at Best Buy and included with a Def Leppard interview CD. The pictures are awesome! I highly recommed that you pick this one up if you can!
Summary
The high-rollers of the New Wave of Heavy Metal, Def Leppard are
one of the biggest-selling bands in the world. Theirs is a heart-warming story of a group of young wannabes who stepped out of the shadow of their idols Led Zeppelin to become rock legends in their own right. Success was achieved through a series of ground-breaking albums and grueling world tours-and against a backdrop of personal tragedy. Packed with incident, anecdote and great images, this book looks at every aspect of Def Leppard's remarkable contribution to the history of rock.
Def Leppard: Two Steps Ahead
by Dave Bowler and Bryan Dray
Published: 1996
I ordered this one through Borders Books, so if anyone is interested ask around and see if you can get it. It's got some cool recent pics of the guys, going up to the making of Slang.
Summary
"We rewrote the book on how to make rock music" Joe Elliot, 1992
At the Reading Festival in 1980, Def Leppard left the stage
to a hailstorm of bottles. Today, their albums are eagerly awaited by a legion of fans across the globe and their record sales have outstripped those of U2, Guns N' Roses, REM, Genesis and Queen.
Larger than life entertainers in the classic rock tradition,
Def Leppard have not merely changed musical attitudes but have fought their way to superstardom with a steely determination and camaraderie that has helped them get over potentially devastating illness and injury.
Forty million records sold is just part of their story. Their
achievements offer an inspirational example of the way strength of character can triumph over adversity. Def Leppard: Two Steps Ahead reveals the full story of the band that has remained ahead of the game and has changed the face of hard rock forever.
Biographize:The Def Leppard Story
by Dave Dickson
Published: 1995
Summary
If Biographize were a film script it would be considered highly
improbable: five kids from Sheffield rise to international superstar status as Def Leppard and become one of the biggest selling rock bands in thw world. And yet, along the way they are assaulted by alcoholism, accident and, finally, death. But this is no film script; Biographize tells the remarkable Def Leppard story, all the triumphs and all the tragedies.
Def Leppard have sold in excess of forty million albums worldwide
following their breakthrough in 1983. Since then they have grown from strength to strength with each album topping even the outrageous successes of its predecessor. Biographize tracks Def Leppard from their earliest school days to their position of all-conquering champions of stadia rock.
Def Leppard's rise to international prominence is told in the pages of Biographize. It's a story of fabulous success and harrowing anguish. And it's a story that may never be repeated.
Def Leppard
by Willy McGilly
Published: 1984
I was at a Record Convention when I spotted this one. I could barely contain my excitement-finding anything Lep related, as you can imagine, is always a thrill. I managed to curb my enthusiasm enough to bargain with the dealer who luckily didn't raise the price on me because of my eagerness. I think I ended up paying $5 for the book- not bad huh? It's only 32 pages, but it's got a lot of pics of the Leps from Pyromania days. I prefer the Hysteria look myself, but the book is worth having since it IS about my favorite group!
Summary
Def Leppard's rise to platinum status rock super-stars may have appeared to be the classic over-night rags-to-riches fairy tale but in fact is the result of six years solid graft and rugged determination.
In this book author Willy McGilly traces the band's emergence from their home town of Sheffield, deep in the heart of industrial England, on the crest of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal to their jet-set lifestyle of today; from their earliest recording of the now legendary 'Getcha Rocks Off' EP to the multi-million smash-hit album, 'Pyromania.'
Def Leppard's story is one of strength and conviction through adversity after Britain had turned its back on the band and forced them into exile. But now Def Leppard have returned triumphant to take their place amongst the great names in the field of Heavy Rock...and this is only the beginning.
No Safety Net
by Chris Collingwood
Published: 1994
Summary
Def Leppard first emerged at the back end of 1978 from the heart of England's industrial north, Sheffield to be precise. After releasing their first single on their own independent label Bludgeon Riffola, the band soon signed on the dotted line with Polygram Records(although to this day they retain their own label identity). With the release of their first album 'On Through The Night,' the combination of their high energy rock and youthful good looks soon catapulted them into the hearts of American audiences.
Their second album 'High'N'Dry,' consolidated the band's early American success, but it was with their third album 'Pyromania' that Def Leppard brok as a major rock act on a worldwide level. Spawning the awesome hit 'Photograph,' this album firmly established the band at the highest level.
'Hysteria' followed, and astoundingly outsold its predecessor, re-defining heavy rock as we know it. The upward spiral of success was in overdrive. Constant touring propelled the band to the realms of superstardom. This was capped by the release in 1993 of 'RetroActive,' the band's fifth album.
But it has not always been good times-there have been tragedies along the way, tragedies that would have destroyed lesser bands. But as singer Joe Elliot has said, "Def Leppard is more than a band-it's a family."
Animal Instinct
by David Fricke
Published:
I do not have this book. I repeat I DO NOT have this book. Thanks to Mark for scanning the cover for me and providing me
with the summary info. Again, if anyone owns a copy and is willing to part with it, PLEASE EMAIL ME. Sorry, I just had to emphasize how happy I would be to make this book part of my collection. :)
Summary
Def Leppard are the classic story of rock & roll schoolboys grown
into rock superstars. Since their formation in 1977 they had the
talent, determination and stamina to climb the heights of international stardom, capped by their mega-million sales album Pyromania...
...But nothing could have prepared them for the personal tragedies and professional disasters that inflicted their lives and plunged them back to relative obscurity in the mid 1980s.
More than anything though, Def Leppard had good instincts. And in rock & roll instinct spells survival. Animal Instinct is the story of that survival, from the early days in Sheffield, England to their triumphant return to the international
rock arenas and Hysteria in the charts.
Comic Books
No, I'm not gonna give you summaries of comic books, but I wanted you to know that they exist. I have managed to pick up a couple at Record Conventions so keep your eyes open for them if you are interested. The artwork on them is awesome as you can see...
And the back...
And another...
