Commodores

The group left Motown in 1986 for Polydor, and released several additional albums, primarily compilations. The band has stated that they are very satisfied with this album, and that in many ways they wish it had been the follow-up to Hysteria. They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003. X, Def Leppard's tenth album, was released in 2002. It has also gradually abandoned funky roots to move into the more commercial disco arena. Next came the album Euphoria in 1999. When Lionel Richie left the band in 1982, it has never recovered its early shine. He collaborated in the songwriting for Slang, which was released in 1996.

The band jumpstarted careers of Lionel Richie and Walter Orange. Vivian Campbell had previously been in Sweet Savage, Dio, Whitesnake, Trinity, Riverdogs, and Shadow King. Nicholas assumed his place in the group. In 1992, guitarist Vivian Campbell joined Def Leppard. After Lionel Richie left the band, former Heatwave singer J.D. Retroactive was followed by the release of Vault 1995, Def Leppard's Greatest Hits, which sold 3.5 million copies. Band members typically traded lead vocal duties. Some of this album's songs were written as B-sides for Hysteria singles.

The Commodores' original lineup was: Lionel Richie (sax), Thomas McClary (guitar), Milan Williams (keyboards), William King (trumpet), Ronald LaPread (bass) and Walter Orange (drums). Retroactive was released in 1993 and is a collection of songs which, although not new, were either rare or never previously released. "Machine Gun", the instrumental title track from their debut album, has become a staple at American sporting events, and has been featured in many films, including Boogie Nights. It was also nominated for Best Video of the Year at the 1992 9th MTV Video Music Awards. However, it did not have the longevity of their previous albums, and in retrospect many fans consider it one of their weakest albums. More usually, they recorded funky, driven dance floor hits including "Brick House", "Fancy Dancer", and "Slippery when wet", amongst others. It remained there for five weeks, selling six million copies, and the first single, "Let's Get Rocked," was on MTV's video countdown for a long time. Now they are perhaps best known for the ballad "Easy", which was not really representative of their output. The album entered the US charts at number 1.

They met as freshmen at Tuskegee Institute, and signed to Motown having first caught the public eye supporting The Jackson Five on tour. Adrenalize was finally released in 1992, the only album recorded by Leppard as a four-piece (Elliott, Collen, Savage, and Allen). The Commodores was a highly successful soul/funk band in the 1970s. After Hysteria 's release, internal problems (including the death of guitarist Steve Clark from a drug and alcohol overdose on January 8, 1991) resulted in a long delay before the follow-up. Download sample "Brick House" from The Commodores. Much of Leppard's success in the 1980s is credited to their producer, Robert John 'Mutt' Lange, who was considered by the band to be its sixth member. (1985) Nightshift. The seventh and last single to be released from this album was Rocket in early 1989 (see 1989 in music).

(1983) Commodores 13. The album included a total of six Top 20 singles. (1981) In The Pocket. Album sales were slow until the fourth single, "Pour Some Sugar On Me", became a hit. (1980) Heroes. The first released single, Women, was not very successful. (1979) Midnight Magic. Leppard's next album, Hysteria, (yet again produced by Lange), was released in 1987 (see 1987 in music).

(1978) Natural High. He then worked with Simmons to design a custom electronic drum kit. (1977) Zoom. He practiced drumming with pillows, and realized that he could use his legs to do some of the percussive work previously done with his arms. (1976) Hot On The Tracks. While recovering in the hospital from his accident, Rick was committed to continuing his role as Def Leppard's drummer. (1975) Movin' On. The period after the album's success, however, was difficult: on December 31, 1984, Rick Allen lost his left arm in a car crash in which his Corvette veered off the road into a concrete wall.

(1975) Caught In The Act. Aided by the singles "Photograph", "Rock of Ages", and "Foolin'", Pyromania sold six million copies in 1983 & 84. (1974) Machine Gun. Lange was again the producer. This personnel change took place during the recording of their next release, Pyromania (January 20, 1983). Pete Willis later recorded with the bands Gogmagog and Roadhouse.

Phil Collen, former guitarist from the band Girl, replaced Pete Willis who was fired on July 11, 1982 due to alcoholism. From it, "Bringin' on the Heartbreak"'s video was one of the first "metal" videos played on MTV video. High 'N' Dry (1981 in music) was their first album to be produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. Their major label debut was On through the Night (1980 in music).

They signed to Mercury Records. Rick Allen was added as the permanent drummer, to replace Kenning. They began playing locally and soon added Steve Clark before recording the underground hit "Getcha Rocks Off" for Bludgeon Riffola, their own label. Elliott had thought of the name Deaf Leopard in school and the band changed the name to Def Leppard based on the way Led Zeppelin spelled their name.

Rick Savage (bass), Pete Willis (guitars) and Tony Kenning (drums) formed the band in 1977 in Sheffield (see 1977 in music). Joe Elliott joined as the vocalist, and brought the name of the band with him, originally they were called Atomic Mass. Def Leppard are a band from Sheffield, England, that emerged in the late 1970s as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. 2003 "Long Long Way to Go" #40 UK. 2002 "Now" #23 UK.

1999 "Promises" #38 US. 1996 "All I Want Is Everything" #38 UK. 1996 "Work It Out" #22 UK. 1996 "Slang" #17 UK.

1995 "When Love and Hate Collide" #2 UK. 1994 "Action" #14 UK. 1993 "Miss You in a Heartbeat" #39 US. 1993 "Two Steps Behind" #32 UK, #12 US.

1993 "Tonight" #34 UK. 1993 "Heaven Is" #13 UK. 1992 "Stand Up (Kick Love into Motion)" #34 US. 1992 "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad" #16 UK, #12 US.

1992 "Make Love Like a Man" #12 UK, #36 US. 1992 "Let's Get Rocked" #2 UK, #15 US. 1989 "Rocket" #15 UK, #12 US. 1988 "Love Bites" #11 UK, #1 US.

1988 "Armageddon It" #20 UK, #3 US. 1987 "Hysteria" #26 UK, #10 US. 1987 "Pour Some Sugar on Me" #18 UK, #2 US. 1987 "Animal" #6 UK, #19 US.

1987 "Women" #80 US. 1983 "Rock of Ages" #16 US. 1983 "Photograph" #12 US. 1983 "Foolin'" #28 US.

Rock Of Ages - The Definitive Collection (2005). The Best of Def Leppard (2004). X (2002) #14 UK, #11 US. Euphoria (1999)#11 UK, #11 US.

Slang (1996) #5 UK, #14 US. Vault: Def Leppard's Greatest Hits 1980-1995 (1995) #3 UK, #15 US. Retro Active (1993) #6 UK, #9 US. Adrenalize (1992) #1 UK, #1 US.

Hysteria (1987) #1 UK, #1 US. Pyromania (1983) #18 UK, #2 US. High 'N' Dry (1981) #26 UK, #38 US. On through the Night (1980) #15 UK, #51 US.