Def Leppard was formed in 1977 by vocalist Joe Elliott, bass player Rick "Sav" Savage, guitarist Pete Willis, and drummer Tony Kenning. They later released the EP The Def Leppard E.P. in 1979. The band signed with Mercury Records and released their debut full-length album On Through the Night. The band's follow up was High 'n' Dry, which reached number 26 in the UK and was certified platinum two times in the United States. Their next album, titled Pyromania, would be their big breakthrough album and would later sell more than 10 million copies in the United States alone.
After touring in support of Pyromania, the band released Hysteria which topped the American and British album charts and is their best-selling album worldwide, selling more than 12 million copies in the United States alone and more than 25 million worldwide. Adrenalize, released in 1992, debuted at number one on the UK Album Chart and the US Billboard 200 and launched several successful singles, including "Let's Get Rocked" and "Make Love Like a Man" and went on to sell 8 million albums worldwide. In 1996, the band released its sixth studio album, Slang; while successful, the album could not reach the precedent set by Def Leppard's previous albums and was certified gold in the United States. After three years, Def Leppard released Euphoria, which is the band's last certified album by the RIAA, CRIA, and BPI.
At the start of the 21st century, the band released X. Four years later, Def Leppard released the studio/cover album, Yeah!, which included covers by Thin Lizzy and The Kinks. On 25 April 2008, the band released Songs from the Sparkle Lounge, which included the single "Nine Lives" featuring country singer Tim McGraw. The band released Mirrorball, its first live album, in 2011, which would be followed by another live album in 2013, Viva! Hysteria, featuring the Hysteria album played live in its entirety, from their Las Vegasresidency at the Hard Rock Hotel. The band released a self-titled studio album on 30 October 2015. Seven years later, on 27 May 2022, Def Leppard released Diamond Star Halos.
In January 2022, it was announced that Primary Wave Music had acquired an "additional" stake in Def Leppard's music publishing catalog, as well as the band's master royalty income stream.
London to Vegas Released: 29 May 2020 Label: Eagle Rock Ent Formats: CD, DVD Recorded: 2019
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2024
One Night Only: Live at the Leadmill Released: 11 October 2024 Label: Mercury Formats: CD+BD, CD+DVD, LP, digital, streaming Recorded: 19 May 2023
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2025
Diamond Star Heroes: Live from Sheffield Released: 21 November 2025 Label: Mercury Formats: CD+BD, CD+DVD, LP, digital, streaming Recorded: 22 May 2023
HysteriaHysteria remixes & b-sides Live: In the Round, in Your Face (live in Denver, Colorado, February 1988) (CD) Classic Albums – Hysteria (DVD) Hysteria music videos (DVD)
2018
The Collection: Volume One Released: 1 June 2018 7 CDs/9 LPs, 71 tracks
Hysteria – The Singles Released: 30 November 2018 10 7”s, 20 tracks
"Women" / "Tear it Down" "Animal" / "I Wanna Be Your Hero" "Hysteria" / "Ride into the Sun" "Pour Some Sugar on Me" / "Ring of Fire" "Love Bites" / "Billy's Got a Gun" (live) "Armageddon It" / "Release Me" "Rocket" / "Women" (live) "Excitable" / "Run Riot" "Love and Affection" / "Don't Shoot Shotgun" "Animal" / "Tear it Down"
2019
The Collection: Volume Two Released: 21 June 2019 7 CDs/10 LPs, 86 tracks
On Through the NightHigh 'n' DryWhen the Walls Came Tumbling Down – Live in Oxford 26/04/1980Too Many Jitterbugs – B-Sides and RaritiesRaw – Early BBC Recordings
2021
The Collection: Volume Three Released: 11 June 2021 6 CDs/9 LPs, 77 tracks
Pyromania: 40th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition Released: 26 April 2024 4 CDs, 53 tracks, 1 Blu-ray disc
PyromaniaOuttakes, Demoes and Rough MixesLive Westfalen Halle, Dortmund, Germany 1983Live at the L.A. Forum 1983 Dolby Atmos, 5.1 Audio, PCM Stereo and instrumental mixes of Pyromania and music videos (Blu-ray disc)
^ † CD version only, all of the tracks on Rarities Volume Four are included in the vinyl version of Rarities Volume Three.
Extended plays
Year
Title
1979
The Def Leppard E.P. Released: January 1979 Label: Bludgeon-Riffola (BR #SRTS/78/CUS/232) Format: LP, single, digital download
2018
The Lost Session Released: 19 January 2018 Label: Bludgeon Riffola Format: Digital download
2018
Live at Abbey Road Studios Released: 21 April 2018 Label: Bludgeon Riffola Format: LP, single
2020
Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame 29March2019 Released: 29 August 2020 Label: Bludgeon Riffola Format: LP, Record Store Day exclusive