Mike;
I too like Def Leppard!
They hit big here in 1983, when (I think) the "Pyromania" album was launched for U.S. sales.
Seems to me that they became popular here with the 2nd album released in U.S., in the 1983-84 time period, however they were kind of "Underground" with the
"Noble Few", when their first album debut in 1981-82 era.
This was - of course, "Pre-Accident" era (before the crash and corresponding loss of limb).
Any of this sound correct?
I was in High School (11th Grade to be exact) when I first heard of Def Leppard. That was 1981.
What really was interresting was how old they were at the time!
For those unaware of this, put it this way:
Most of the Band's Members could not legally go into Bars, or drink Alcoholic Beverages at the time!
Now that's interresting!
The people I hung around with were - fortunately - into newer hard rock styles and underground stuff.
In the early '80's, there was too much Disco influenced Pop spanning the Frequency Modulated Broadcasts via Commercial VHF Radio - along with influencing the typical Clubs and Music Merchants.
We were into Hard Rock styles.
Mid '80's brought the "Glam" era - which gave us something to complain about endlessly! When Ozzy jumped on the "Glam-Wagon", that was too much!
This was also the era when Iron Madien became popular - and was termed "Heavy Metal"!
(no way they even came close to Metal - but then again, there was Quiet Riot being classified "Heavy Metal", so I guess between the two Bands, Maiden would fit the category of Metal the best...JMHO).
In the mid '80's (1984-1986) I was introduced to various hard edged styles of music - and one Band comes to mind which really stuck out in this time period:
Metallica!
The Metal/Punk style was our obsession!
Albums like "Ride The Lightning" and "Kill 'Em All" were played over and over and over!
Stylii replacements were very common on Phonos, and redundant copies of Cassette Tapes were made, so the worn out one could be tossed out after 1,000 plays!
Slight adjustments to the Azimuth of the Play-back head were needed periodically
"Master Of Puppets" came out around 1987; a good album but too commercial. Same became of their next two albums, then they broke up.
I really miss the "Good 'Ol Days" of Music + Jammin' at a moment's notice!
("Jammin'" is to get a bunch of Musicians together, and play anything - just for fun, not for practice).
By the time I graduated High School in 1983, it looked like our favorite Music Styles would forever be underground - and thought of as "Crazy Music", or the sillyness that someone might dabble into the black arts from mind alterations embedded in the lyrics, would continue!
We just liked hard edged - aggressive and progressive styles - lyrics were not anything more than words!
(but we did make plenty of jokes about the stereotypes we were viewed as!).
Ahhh, love to reminisce! Could never forsee what's happening today, back in the '80's!
Here I am - 39 Years old, looking back at the stuff;
remembering how everything was a "Fun - Struugle",
studying Theories of Electricity and Music,
doing crazy things with crazy people,
and never-ever thinking that it would result in something valuable.
Where did the time go?!
So glad to be part of the past; and the present too!
Scott35
p.s. what else do you like? any of the stuff I listed?