List of Def Leppard band members

Def Leppard
Def Leppard playing an acoustic set at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois on 19 July 2012
Left to right: Phil Collen, Vivian Campbell, Rick Savage, Rick Allen, Joe Elliott.
Background information
Origin Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom
Years active 1977–present
Labels Mercury, Universal, Phonogram, Vertigo, PolyGram, Bludgeon-Riffola, Island (US), Frontiers (EU)
Website www.defleppard.com
Members
Past members

Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement. The following is a complete list of all official members, session musicians, featured artists, touring musicians, and live guests of Def Leppard's career

Def Leppard evolved from Atomic Mass after vocalist Joe Elliott joined Atomic Mass in November 1977. The lineup of Elliott, drummer Tony Kenning, bassist Rick Savage, and guitarist Pete Willis was completed by the addition of guitarist Steve Clark in January 1978. The band would play their first show on 18 July of the same year before recording their first EP in the fall after the departure of Kenning.

The departure of Kenning having left the drummer position open, Rick Allen joined the band in November 1978 and has been the full-time drummer ever since, despite the loss of his left arm in a car accident on 31 December 1984. Def Leppard recorded On Through the Night and High 'n' Dry as the five piece of Savage, Willis, Elliott, Clark, and Allen before Pete Willis was fired in July 1982. Willis was replaced by Phil Collen of Girl, and the band went on to the most commercially successful period of their career, the releases of Pyromania and Hysteria.

On 8 January 1991, during a leave of absence from the band, guitarist Steve Clark was found dead in his home. Savage, Elliott, Allen, and Collen recorded their next album Adrenalize as a four-piece before Vivian Campbell joined as a second guitarist. The lineup of Def Leppard has not changed since the addition of Campbell in April 1992, and is thus the longest standing lineup of the band since its incarnation. The current lineup has released four compilations, two live albums, and six studio albums in the time since, most recently the self-titled, Def Leppard, on 30 October 2015.

Current members

Joe Elliott
Active: November 1977 – present
Primary instruments: lead vocals
Secondary instruments: backing vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards, piano, percussion
Release contributions: all Def Leppard releases
Soon after joining Atomic Mass as lead singer and guitarist, Joe Elliott proposed that the band changed their name to Def Leppard. He soon became just the lead vocalist when Steve Clark joined the band as full time guitarist a few months later.
Rick Savage
Active: November 1977 – present
Primary instruments: bass guitar, backing vocals
Secondary instruments: guitar, acoustic guitar, acoustic bass, double bass, keyboards, lead vocals
Release contributions: all Def Leppard releases
Rick Savage, commonly referred to as "Sav", was a founding member and the guitarist of the pre-Def Leppard band, Atomic Mass. He later became the bassist for Atomic Mass and retained that position when Atomic Mass became Def Leppard in 1977.
Rick Allen
Active: 27 November 1978 – present
Primary instruments: drums, percussion
Secondary instruments: electronic drums, accordion, backing vocals, lead vocals
Release contributions: all Def Leppard releases except The Def Leppard E.P.
Rick Allen joined Def Leppard in November 1978, shortly after the band had recorded their first recording, The Def Leppard E.P. with session drummer Frank Noon following the departure of drummer Tony Kenning. Although credited for contributing backing vocals on early Def Leppard albums, Allen has limited his vocal duties in recent years.
Phil Collen
Active: 12 July 1982 – present
Primary instruments: guitar, backing vocals
Secondary instruments: acoustic guitar, lead vocals
Release contributions: all Def Leppard releases except The Def Leppard E.P., On Through the Night, and High 'n' Dry
Phil Collen joined Def Leppard following the firing of Pete Willis in 1982. Def Leppard was touring in support of High 'n' Dry and in the middle of recording Pyromania when Willis was fired, and therefore needed a replacement quickly. Collen left the band Girl to join Def Leppard as a guitarist.
Vivian Campbell
Active: April 1992 – present
Primary instruments: guitar, backing vocals
Secondary instruments: acoustic guitar, lead vocals
Release contributions: all Def Leppard releases including and following Retro Active
Vivian Campbell, often referred to as "Viv", joined the band after the release of Adrenalize. After the untimely death of Steve Clark in 1991, Def Leppard recorded and released Adrenalize as a quartet with Collen doubling up on guitar duties, but brought Vivian on before the start of the Seven Day Weekend Tour in support of the new album.

Former members

Tony Kenning
Active: November 1977 – 18 November 1978
Instruments: drums, percussion
Release contributions: none
Tony Kenning was a founding member of Atomic Mass. He is also responsible for the name change from "Deaf Leopard" to "Def Leppard". Kenning left the band in the fall of 1978 just as the band were about to go into the studio to record The Def Leppard E.P.
Pete Willis
Active: November 1977 – 11 July 1982
Instruments: guitar, backing vocals
Release contributions: The Def Leppard E.P., On Through the Night, High 'n' Dry, songwriting and rhythm guitar on Pyromania
Pete Willis was a member of Atomic Mass when the band became Def Leppard in 1977. He was fired on 11 July 1982 and replaced by Phil Collen.
Steve Clark
Active: 29 January 1978 – 8 January 1991
Instruments: guitar, backing vocals
Secondary instruments: acoustic guitar
Release contributions: The Def Leppard E.P., On Through the Night, High 'n' Dry, Pyromania, Hysteria, songwriting and demos for Adrenalize, Retro Active.
Steve Clark joined Def Leppard on 29 January 1978 after playing Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird" in its entirety. He remained in the band until his untimely death on 8 January 1991.

Timeline

Lineups

Personnel Studio releases
November 1977 – 29 January 1978
  • Joe Elliott – lead vocals, guitar
  • Tony Kenning – drums
  • Rick Savage – bass, backing vocals
  • Pete Willis – guitar, backing vocals
 —
29 January 1978 – 18 November 1978
  • Joe Elliott – lead vocals
  • Tony Kenning – drums
  • Rick Savage – bass, backing vocals
  • Pete Willis – guitar, backing vocals
  • Steve Clark – guitar, backing vocals
 —
18 – 26 November 1978
  • Joe Elliott – lead vocals
  • Rick Savage – bass, backing vocals
  • Pete Willis – guitar, backing vocals
  • Steve Clark – guitar, backing vocals

Session:

  • Frank Noon – drums
27 November 1978 – 11 July 1982
  • Joe Elliott – lead vocals
  • Rick Savage – bass, backing vocals
  • Pete Willis – guitar, backing vocals
  • Steve Clark – guitar, backing vocals
  • Rick Allen – drums, backing vocals
12 July 1982 – 8 January 1991
  • Joe Elliott – lead vocals, additional guitar, keyboards
  • Rick Savage – bass, backing vocals, additional guitar, keyboards
  • Steve Clark – guitar, backing vocals
  • Rick Allen – drums, backing vocals
  • Phil Collen – guitar, backing vocals
8 January 1991 – April 1992
  • Joe Elliott – lead vocals, guitar
  • Rick Savage – bass, backing vocals, additional guitar
  • Rick Allen – drums, backing vocals
  • Phil Collen – guitar, backing vocals
April 1992 – present
  • Joe Elliott – lead vocals, additional guitar, keyboards
  • Rick Savage – bass, backing vocals, additional guitar, keyboards
  • Rick Allen – drums
  • Phil Collen – guitar, backing vocals
  • Vivian Campbell – guitar, backing vocals

Session musicians

Frank Noon
Active: 25–26 November 1978
Instruments: drums
Release contributions: The Def Leppard E.P.
Chris Hughes
Active: December 1979
Instruments: synthesizers
Release contributions: "Hello America" from On Through the Night[1]
Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Active: 1981 – 1987, 1998–1999
Instruments: backing vocals, guitar
Release contributions: High 'n' Dry, Pyromania, Hysteria, Adrenalize,[2] "Ring of Fire" from Retro Active,[3] "Promises" and "All Night" from Euphoria[4]
John Kongos
Active: 1982
Instruments: keyboards
Release contributions:Pyromania[5]
Thomas Dolby, credited as Booker T. Boffin
Active: 1982
Instruments: keyboards
Release contributions: Pyromania[5]
Melvin Mortimer, credited as Stumps Maximus
Active: 1987
Instruments: lead vocals
Release contributions: "Release Me" B-side from Hysteria singles
Pete Woodroffe
Active: 1991–1996
Instruments: programming, piano, keyboard strings
Release contributions: Adrenalize,[2] Retro Active,[3] Slang[6]
John Sykes
Active: 1991
Instruments: backing vocals
Release contributions: Adrenalize[2]
Phil "Crash" Nicholas
Active: 1991
Instruments: keyboards
Release contributions: "Stand Up (Kick Love into Motion)" from Adrenalize[2]
P.J. Smith
Active: April 1992
Instruments: backing vocals
Release contributions: "Action" from Retro Active[3]
Michael Kamen
Active: April 1993
Instruments: strings
Release contributions: "Two Steps Behind" from Retro Active[3]
Ian Hunter
Active: 1993
Instruments: keyboards, backing vocals
Release contributions: Honky tonk messiah on "Ride Into the Sun" from Retro Active,[3] "The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll" from Yeah![7]
Fiachna Ó Braonáin
Active: March 1992
Instruments: tin whistle
Release contributions: "From the Inside" from Retro Active,[3] "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Little Wing" from Adrenalize B-sides[8]
Liam Ó Maonlaí
Active: March 1992
Instruments: grand piano
Release contributions: "From the Inside" from Retro Active,[3] "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Little Wing" from Adrenalize B-sides[8]
Peter O'Toole
Active: March 1992
Instruments: mandolin
Release contributions: "From the Inside" from Retro Active,[3] "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Little Wing" from Adrenalize B-sides[8]
Stevie Vann
Active: 1995, 2003 – 2005
Instruments: vocals, backing vocals
Release contributions: "When Love & Hate Collide" from Vault, "20th Century Boy" from Yeah![7]
Craig Pruess
Active: 1996
Instruments: string and percussion arrangement
Release contributions: "Turn to Dust" from Slang[6]
Gavyn Wright
Active: 1996
Instruments: string leader
Release contributions: "Turn to Dust" from Slang[6]
Ram Naravan
Active: 1996
Instruments: Sarangi
Release contributions: intro for "Turn to Dust" from Slang[6]
Shyam Vatish
Active: 1996
Instruments: Sarangi
Release contributions: outro for "Turn to Dust" from Slang[6]
Av Singh
Active: 1996
Instruments: dohl
Release contributions: "Turn to Dust" from Slang[6]
Damon "Demon" Hill
Active: 1998–1999
Instruments: guitar
Release contributions: end solo on "Demolition Man" from Euphoria[4]
Stan Schiller
Active: 2002
Instruments: guitar
Release contributions: shredding tele licks on "Gravity" from X[9]
Eric Carter
Active: 2002
Instruments: keyboards, drum loops
Release contributions: "Now", "You're So Beautiful" and "Everyday" from X[9]
John "Bro" Campbell
Active: 2003 – 2005
Instruments: saxophone
Release contributions: "20th Century Boy", "Street Life", "Drive-In Saturday", "The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll" from Yeah![7]
Justin Hawkins
Active: 2003 – 2005
Instruments: backing vocals
Release contributions: "Hell Raiser" from Yeah![7]
Ronan McHugh
Active: 2003 – 2005
Instruments: mellotron
Release contributions: "Drive-In Saturday", "Little Bit of Love" from Yeah![7]
Emm Gryner
Active: 2003 – 2005
Instruments: piano, backing vocals
Release contributions: "The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll" from Yeah![7]
Anita Thomas-Collen
Active: 2003 – 2005
Instruments: backing vocals
Release contributions: "The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll" from Yeah![7]
Kristine Elliott
Active: 2003 – 2005
Instruments: backing vocals
Release contributions: "The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll" from Yeah![7]
Marc Danzeisen
Active: 2003 – 2005
Instruments: drums, backing vocals
Release contributions: "American Girl" from Yeah![7]
Dick Decent
Active: 2011
Instruments: piano, backing vocals
Release contributions: "Kings of the World" from Mirror Ball – Live & More [10]
Tim McGraw
Active: 2008
Instruments: lead vocals
Release contributions: "Nine Lives" from Songs from the Sparkle Lounge

Touring musicians

Jeff Rich
Active: August 1986
Instruments: drums, percussion
Played alongside Rick Allen for the first live shows back since the 1984 accident that resulted in the loss of Allen's left arm.
Sinéad Madden
Active: 2012
Instruments: fiddle[11]
Steve Brown
Active: September 2014 – November 2014, June 2015, May 2018
Instruments: guitar, backing vocals[12]
Trixter guitarist Steve Brown stepped in for Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campell in 2014 and 2015 while Campbell underwent treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Live guests

Brian May
Active: 11 September 1983, 9 September 1986,[13] 20 April 1992, 31 October 2003,[14] 25 May 2006
Instruments: guitar, vocals
Release contributions: Pyromania Deluxe Edition, Adrenalize Deluxe Edition [8]
Performed: Travelin' Band", "Now I'm Here", "Tie Your Mother Down", "20th Century Boy"
Brian May has joined Def Leppard on multiple occasions, most notably The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992 in honor of his former bandmate, Freddie Mercury. In May 2006, Brian May performed "20th Century Boy" with the band on VH1 Rock Honors.
Brian Robertson
Active: 9 February 1983[15]
Instruments: guitar, vocals
Performed: "Travelin' Band"
Jon Butcher
Active: 29 May 1983[16]
Instruments: guitar, vocals
Performed: "Travelin' Band"
Gary Moore
Active: 1983[17]
Instruments: guitar, vocals
Performed: "Travelin' Band"
Jon Bon Jovi
Active: 23 June 1988,[18] 27 October 1992[19]
Instruments: vocals
Performed: "Travelin' Band", "Can't Get Enough of Your Love"
Steve Harris
Active: 26 October 1988[20]
Instruments: bass
Performed: "Travelin' Band"
Richie Sambora
Active: 27 October 1992[19]
Instruments: guitar
Performed: "Can't Get Enough of Your Love"
Lou Gramm
Active: 1992[21]
Instruments: vocals
Performed: "Can't Get Enough of Your Love"
Robert Plant
Active: 6 May 1993[22]
Instruments: vocals
Performed: Led Zeppelin medley
Bryan Adams
Active: 14 May 1993[23]
Instruments: vocals
Performed: "Can't Get Enough of Your Love"
Stevie Vann
Active: 23 October 1995[24]
Instruments: vocals
Performed: "When Love & Hate Collide"
Ian Hunter
Active: 19 July 1996,[25] 24 July 2000[26]
Instruments: vocals
Performed: "All the Young Dudes"
Gloria Flores
Active: 27 August 1996[27]
Instruments: vocals
Performed: "Slang"
Frank Hannon
Active: 31 August 1999[28]
Instruments: guitar
Performed: "Let It Go"
Ricky Warwick
Active: 19 April 2003[29]
Instruments: acoustic guitar, vocals
Performed: "Two Steps Behind"
Dick Decent
Active: 17, 18 June 2006,[30][31] 12, 14 June 2009[32][33]
Instruments: keyboards, vocals
Performed: "When Love & Hate Collide"
Tim McGraw
Active: 13 October 2006[34]
Instruments: lead vocals
Performed: "Pour Some Sugar on Me"
Taylor Swift
Active: 7 November 2008, 16 June 2009
Instruments: vocals, acoustic guitar
Release contributions: Taylor Swift and Def Leppard
Swift first performed with Def Leppard in 2008 as a part of the CMT Crossroads performance which was filmed and released in 2009. Swift later performed "Pour Some Sugar on Me" with Def Leppard on 16 June 2009 on the televised CMT Music Awards where both artists were nominated for awards.[35]
Keith Weir
Active: 7, 8, 10 June 2011
Instruments: keyboards
Performed: "When Love & Hate Collide" in Belfast, Dublin, Donnington[36]

Atomic Mass members

This is a list of members of Atomic Mass, which became Def Leppard shortly after Joe Elliott joined the band in 1977. Only Savage, Kenning, Willis, Elliott were members of Def Leppard.

See also

References

  1. ↑ On Through the Night (booklet). Def Leppard. Polygram / Mercury. 1980.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Adrenalize (booklet). Def Leppard. Polygram / Mercury. 1992.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Retro Active (booklet). Def Leppard. Polygram / Mercury. 1993.
  4. 1 2 Euphoria (booklet). Def Leppard. Polygram / Mercury. 1999.
  5. 1 2 Pyromania (booklet). Def Leppard. Polygram / Mercury. 1983.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Slang". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Yeah! (booklet). Def Leppard. Island. 2006.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Adrenalize Deluxe Edition (booklet). Def Leppard. Polygram / Mercury. 2010.
  9. 1 2 X (booklet). Def Leppard. Island / Mercury. 2002.
  10. ↑ Mirror Ball (booklet). Def Leppard. Bludgeon Riffola. 2011.
  11. ↑ "wild heart management – Sinead Madden". Maggiereilly.de. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  12. ↑ "Trixter's Steve Brown Filling in for Def Leppard's Vivian Campbell". Loudwire. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  13. ↑ "Def Leppard London, England 1987 Setlist (3)". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  14. ↑ "Def Leppard London, England 2003 Setlist (2)". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  15. ↑ "Def Leppard London, England 1983 Setlist". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  16. ↑ "Def Leppard Louisville, KY, USA 1983 Setlist". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  17. ↑ "Def Leppard Songs Played Live 1983/1984". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  18. ↑ "Def Leppard Vancouver, BC, Canada 1988 Setlist". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  19. 1 2 "Def Leppard East Rutherford, NJ, USA 1992 Setlist". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  20. ↑ "Def Leppard Portland, OR, USA 1988 Setlist (2)". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  21. ↑ "Def Leppard Songs Played Live 1992/1993". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  22. ↑ "Def Leppard Copenhagen, Denmark 1993 Setlist". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  23. ↑ "Def Leppard Paris, France 1993 Setlist". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  24. ↑ "Def Leppard London, England 1995 Setlist". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  25. ↑ "Def Leppard Middletown, NY, USA 1996 Setlist". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  26. ↑ "Def Leppard Wantagh, NY, USA 2000 Setlist". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  27. ↑ "Def Leppard San Diego, CA, USA 1996 Setlist". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  28. ↑ "Def Leppard Allentown, PA, USA 1999 Setlist". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  29. ↑ "Def Leppard Charlotte, NC, USA 2003 Setlist". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  30. ↑ "Def Leppard Sheffield, England 2006 Setlist". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  31. ↑ "Def Leppard London, England 2006 Setlist". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  32. ↑ "Def Leppard Dublin, Ireland 2009 Setlist". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  33. ↑ "Def Leppard Donington, England/Download Festival 2009 Setlist". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  34. ↑ "Def Leppard Los Angeles, CA, USA 2006 Setlist". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  35. ↑ Harris, Chris (19 June 2009). "Def Leppard's Joe Elliott Defends Taylor Swift's CMTs Performance". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  36. ↑ "Def Leppard Songs Played Live 2011". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
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