Only a handful of high school or teenage bands actually go anywhere outside of their local bars and their parent’s garages. But Def Leppard was different – they really made it. They have their teenage selves to thank for it, too, though they could never imagine the amount of success they’d grow to have. The group started with Pete Willis, Joe Elliot, and Rick Savage, back in 1977. And while they’ve added and lost members along the way, they’ve never lost their punk-rock sound.

The Rock of Their Ages

Though there wasn’t much of a market for slow-punk heavy metal in England at the time, they managed to get their name out with an extended-play record in 1980. That album and the new obsession with music videos, helped them get international attention with their album “High ‘n’ Dry” in 1981. The fact that they were all young hunks didn’t hurt either. While their 1980 album did okay in England, their 1981 album was the first one that made it overseas. That success was partially due to their collaboration with Robert Lange. Lange, a producer who’s worked with some of the biggest names of the business, made them what they are today.

Success in America

Some of their greatest hits came off this album, earning them over two million copies of record sales. But the songs you really know them for, like “Photograph” and “Rock of Ages” came from their 1983 Album, “Pyromania”. It was their best selling record to date, with over 10 million copies sold. The band went through some personal troubles and traumas, leading to a change in band members. That didn’t stop them from putting out more hits, though. The time-spanning classics “Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Love Bites” came out post-tragedy. And while you can’t see the original members from 1977, you can still get Def Leppard tickets and see their iconic show.