Def Leppard releases "X" 2002

Def Leppard released X, their eighth studio album (and tenth album overall) July 30, 2002.  The album was a departure from their previous sound and did not sell as well as the previous albums.  It did not receive any RIAA certifications.

X generated three singles, Now, Four Letter Word and Long, Long Way to Go.  Now made it to #23 and Long, Long Way to Go made it to #40, their last Top 40 hit.

Def Leppard releases "Songs from the Sparkle Lounge" 2008

Def Leppard released their 10th studio album, Songs from the Sparkle Lounge, April 25, 2008 in Europe, and four days later in the U.S.  The title refers to a backstage tuning room at shows where Def Leppard would work on new material.

The first single from the album was Nine Lives which featured country mega-star Tim McGraw, and it was released on April 27.

Songs from the Sparkle Lounge debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200.  All the songs were written or co-written by Joe Elliott, Vivian Campbell and Phil Collen, except for Nine Lives, which McGraw helped write.

Def Leppard releases "Pyromania" in 1983

Def Leppard released their third studio album, "Pyromania" January 20, 1983, one of my most favorite albums of all time.  It was the first to feature Phil Collen on guitar.  It reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and No. 18 on the UK Albums chart.  It sold over ten million copies in the US, and was certified diamond by Recording Industry Association of America.  "Rock of Ages" and "Photograph" both reached #1 on the Mainstream Rock Chart.

Happy birthday, Phil Collen (Def Leppard)!

Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen, born in 1957, celebrates his birthday today.  He joined Def Leppard when they were recording "Pyromania" in 1982.