Def Leppard performing at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, 2012

Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the new wave of British heavy metal. This 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 played their first show on 18 July of that year, before recording their first EP in the fall after Kenning's departure.

With 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. Phil Collen of Girl replaced Willis, 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 Campbell joined the band on 15 April 1992, and is thus the longest standing lineup of the band since it began. The current lineup has released four compilations, three live albums, and seven studio albums, most recently Diamond Star Halos on 27 May 2022.

Def Leppard members

Current

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Rick Savage of Def Leppard in 2018.jpg
Rick Savage 1977–present
  • bass guitar
  • occasional rhythm guitar
  • backing vocals
  • keyboards
all Def Leppard releases
JoeElliott.JPG
Joe Elliott
  • lead vocals
  • occasional rhythm guitar
  • keyboards
RickAllen.JPG
Rick Allen 1978–present
  • drums
  • percussion
  • backing vocals
all Def Leppard releases from On Through the Night (1980) to present
Manraze02.jpg
Phil Collen 1982–present
  • lead and rhythm guitar
  • backing vocals
all Def Leppard releases from Pyromania (1983) to present
DefLepRAH250318-64 (-1945916867) (Cropped).jpg
Vivian Campbell 1992–present all Def Leppard releases from Retro Active (1993) to present

Former

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Tony Kenning 1977–1978
  • drums
  • percussion
none
Pete Willis 1977–1982
  • lead and rhythm guitar
  • backing vocals
all Def Leppard releases from The Def Leppard E.P. (1979) to Pyromania (1983)
Steve Clark.jpeg
Steve Clark 1978–1991 (his death)
  • all Def Leppard releases from The Def Leppard E.P. (1979) to Hysteria (1987)
  • posthumous contributions on Retro Active (1993)

Session

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Frank Noon 31 October 1978 drums The Def Leppard E.P. (1979)
Chris Hughes December 1979 synthesizers "Hello America" from On Through the Night[1] (1980)
Robert John "Mutt" Lange
  • 1981–1987
  • 1998–1999
  • backing vocals
  • guitar
  • High 'n' Dry (1981)
  • Pyromania (1983)
  • Hysteria (1987)
  • Adrenalize[2] (1992)
  • "Ring of Fire" from Retro Active[3] (1993)
  • "Promises" and "All Night" from Euphoria[4] (1999)
John Kongos 1982 keyboards Pyromania[5] (1983)
Thomas Dolby 2016.jpg
Thomas Dolby, credited as Booker T. Boffin
Melvin Mortimer, credited as Stumps Maximus 1987 lead vocals "Release Me" B-side from Hysteria singles (2009)
Pete Woodroffe 1991–1996
  • programming
  • piano
  • keyboard strings
John Sykes Vauhtiajot 2008.jpg
John Sykes 1991 backing vocals Adrenalize[2] (1992)
Phil "Crash" Nicholas keyboards "Stand Up (Kick Love into Motion)" from Adrenalize[2] (1992)
P.J. Smith April 1992 backing vocals "Action" from Retro Active[3] (1993)
Michael Kamen April 1993 strings "Two Steps Behind" from Retro Active[3] (1993)
Ian Hunter Mott Reunion 2009 2.jpg
Ian Hunter 1993
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
Hothouse_Flowers,_Guilfest_2005_(11861114543).jpg
Fiachna Ó Braonáin March 1992 tin whistle
Hothouse Flowers.jpg
Liam Ó Maonlaí grand piano
Peter O'Toole mandolin
Stevie Vann
  • 1995
  • 2003–2005
  • vocals
  • backing vocals
Craig Pruess 1996 string and percussion arrangement "Turn to Dust" from Slang[6] (1996)
Gavyn Wright string leader
Av Singh dohl
Ram Naravan Sarangi intro for "Turn to Dust" from Slang[6] (1996)
Shyam Vatish outro for "Turn to Dust" from Slang[6] (1996)
Damon Hill May 2012 Cropped.jpg
Damon "Demon" Hill 1998–1999 guitar end solo on "Demolition Man" from Euphoria[4] (1999)
Stan Schiller 2002 shredding tele licks on "Gravity" from X[9] (2002)
Eric Carter
  • keyboards
  • drum loops
  • ""Now"" (2002)
  • "You're So Beautiful" and "Everyday" from X[9] (2002)
John "Bro" Campbell 2003–2005 saxophone
Justin Hawkins of The Darkness 01.jpg
Justin Hawkins backing vocals "Hell Raiser" from Yeah![7] (2006)
Anita Thomas-Collen "The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll" from Yeah![7] (2006)
Kristine Elliott
Ronan McHugh mellotron "Drive-In Saturday" and "Little Bit of Love" from Yeah![7] (2006)
Emm Gryner at Aeolian Hall, 2019-11-23.jpg
Emm Gryner
  • piano
  • backing vocals
"The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll" from Yeah![7] (2006)
Marc_Danzeisen_with_guitar.jpg
Marc Danzeisen
  • drums
  • backing vocals
"American Girl" from Yeah![7] (2006)
Tim_McGraw_October_24_2015.jpg
Tim McGraw 2008 lead vocals "Nine Lives" from Songs from the Sparkle Lounge (2008)
Dick Decent 2011
  • piano
  • backing vocals
"Kings of the World" from Mirror Ball – Live & More [10] (2011)
Ronan McHugh
  • 2014–2015
  • 2022
  • keyboards
  • bouzouki
  • Mellotron
  • drum programming
  • production
Debbi Blackwell-Cook backing vocals
  • "Sea of Love" from Def Leppard (2015)[11]
  • "Kick", "Fire It Up", "Gimme a Kiss" and Angels (Can't Help You Now)" from Diamond Star Halos (2022)[12]
Bassett Grammys 2016 (cropped).jpg
Dave Bassett 2022 "Kick" and "Fire It Up" Diamond Star Halos (2022)[12]
Alison_Krauss_MerleFest_2007_01.jpg
Alison Krauss lead vocals "This Guitar" and "Lifeless" from Diamond Star Halos (2022)[12]
Mikeparis.jpg
Mike Garson piano Goodbye for Good This Time" and "Angels (Can't Help You Now)" from Diamond Star Halos (2022)[12]
Eric Gorfain string arrangements "This Guitar", "Goodbye for Good This Time" and "Angels (Can't Help You Now)" from Diamond Star Halos (2022)[12]

Touring

Image Name Years active Instruments Notes
Jeff Rich August 1986
  • 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 2012 fiddle[13]
Steve Brown
  • September 2014–November 2014
  • June 2015
  • May 2018
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
[14]
Trixter guitarist Steve Brown stepped in for Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campell in 2014 and 2015 while Campbell underwent treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma. Brown also filled in for guitarist Phil Collen in May 2018 due to the birth of Collen's child.

Timeline

Lineups

Period Members Releases
July – Early August 1977
(Atomic Mass)
  • Nicholas Mackley – vocals
  • Pete Doubleday – guitar
  • Rick Savage – guitar, backing vocals
  • Paul Hampshire – bass
  • Tony Kenning – drums
none
Early – 10 August 1977
(Atomic Mass)
  • Nicholas Mackley – vocals
  • Pete Doubleday – guitar
  • Rick Savage – guitar, backing vocals
  • Pete Willis – guitar, backing vocals
  • Paul Hampshire – bass
  • Tony Kenning – drums
10 August – September 1977
(Atomic Mass)
  • Nicholas Mackley – vocals
  • Pete Willis – guitar, backing vocals
  • Rick Savage – guitar, backing vocals
  • Paul Hampshire – bass
  • Tony Kenning – drums
September – Early October 1977
(Atomic Mass)
  • Nicholas Mackley – vocals
  • Pete Willis – guitar, backing vocals
  • Rick Savage – guitar, backing vocals
  • Andy Nicholas – bass
  • Tony Kenning – drums
Early – 25 October 1977
(Atomic Mass)
  • Paul Holland – vocals
  • Pete Willis – guitar, backing vocals
  • Rick Savage – guitar, backing vocals
  • Andy Nicholas – bass
  • Tony Kenning – drums
25 October 1977 – 29 January 1978
(Atomic Mass/Deaf Leopard/Def Leppard)
  • Joe Elliott – lead vocals, guitar
  • Pete Willis – guitar, backing vocals
  • Rick Savage – bass, backing vocals
  • Tony Kenning – drums
29 January – 31 October 1978
(Def Leppard)
  • Joe Elliott – lead vocals
  • Pete Willis – guitar, backing vocals
  • Steve Clark – guitar, backing vocals
  • Rick Savage – bass, backing vocals
  • Tony Kenning – drums
31 October – 1 November 1978
(Def Leppard)
  • Joe Elliott – lead vocals
  • Pete Willis – guitar, backing vocals
  • Steve Clark – guitar, backing vocals
  • Rick Savage – bass, backing vocals
  • Frank Noon – drums (session)
1 November 1978 – 11 July 1982
(Def Leppard)
  • Joe Elliott – lead vocals
  • Pete Willis – guitar, backing vocals
  • Steve Clark – guitar, backing vocals
  • Rick Savage – bass, backing vocals
  • Rick Allen – drums, backing vocals
11 July 1982 – 8 January 1991
(Def Leppard)
  • Joe Elliott – lead vocals, additional guitar, keyboards
  • Phil Collen – guitar, backing vocals
  • Steve Clark – guitar, backing vocals
  • Rick Savage – bass, backing vocals, keyboards
  • Rick Allen – drums, backing vocals
8 January 1991 – 15 April 1992
(Def Leppard)
  • Joe Elliott – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Phil Collen – guitar, backing vocals
  • Rick Savage – bass, backing vocals, keyboards
  • Rick Allen – drums, backing vocals
15 April 1992 – Present
(Def Leppard)
  • Joe Elliott – lead vocals, additional guitar, keyboards
  • Phil Collen – guitar, backing vocals
  • Vivian Campbell – guitar, backing vocals
  • Rick Savage – bass, backing vocals, keyboards
  • Rick Allen – drums, occasional backing vocals

Atomic Mass members (1977)

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

Image Name Time active Instruments
Rick Savage.jpg
Rick Savage July–November 1977
  • guitar (July–October 1977)
  • bass (October–November 1977)
  • backing vocals
Tony Kenning drums
Nicholas Mackley July–October 1977 vocals
Paul Hampshire July–September 1977 bass
Pete Doubleday July–August 1977 guitar
Pete Willis August–November 1977
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
Andy Nicholas September–October 1977 bass
Paul Holland October 1977 vocals
JoeElliott.JPG
Joe Elliott October–November 1977
  • vocals
  • guitar

Timeline

See also

References

  1. On Through the Night (booklet). Def Leppard. Polygram / Mercury. 1980.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. 1 2 3 4 Adrenalize (booklet). Def Leppard. Polygram / Mercury. 1992.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Retro Active (booklet). Def Leppard. Polygram / Mercury. 1993.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. 1 2 Euphoria (booklet). Def Leppard. Polygram / Mercury. 1999.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. Pyromania (booklet). Def Leppard. Polygram / Mercury. 1983.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Slang". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Yeah! (booklet). Def Leppard. Island. 2006.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. Adrenalize Deluxe Edition (booklet). Def Leppard. Polygram / Mercury. 2010.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. 1 2 X (booklet). Def Leppard. Island / Mercury. 2002.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. Mirror Ball (booklet). Def Leppard. Bludgeon Riffola. 2011.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. 1 2 Def Leppard (liner notes). Def Leppard. Mailboat Records. 2015. MBD 9540.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Diamond Star Halos (liner notes). Def Leppard. UMC. 2022. 006024450548.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. "wild heart management – Sinead Madden". Maggiereilly.de. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  14. "Trixter's Steve Brown Filling in for Def Leppard's Vivian Campbell". Loudwire. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
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