Joe Elliott
By All Music Guide
By All Music Guide
A contract with Mercury-Polygram followed in 1979 due to the popularity of their self-released EP, Getcha Rocks Off. Their major-label debut followed a year later, On Through the Night, while 1981 saw the release of their sophomore effort (and first to be produced by Mutt Lange), High N Dry. Willis was replaced with Phil Collen for the bands third release, Pyromania, which saw the group sweeten their sound even more and indulge in a complete image makeover (especially Elliot, who barely resembled his old self in the video for the albums first single, Photograph, sporting newly frosted hair and such hip 80s fashions as leg warmers and a union jack t-shirt). The album quickly rocketed up the charts and became 1983s most popular rock release, as Def Leppard became worldwide arena headliners. A long four-year layoff followed (in which drummer Rick Allen lost his arm in a car accident) before the release of the bands much-delayed fourth album, Hysteria, saw the light of day. But the album was worth the wait, as it somehow even outsold its mega-platinum predecessor, spawning a total of seven hit singles and videos. After releasing two classic rock releases back to back, the band took a break, but tragedy struck the band again in early 1991 when Clarke died after a long bout with alcoholism. The band regrouped with ex-Dio/Whitesnake guitarist Vivian Campbell and soldiered on throughout the rest of the decade with such albums as 1992s Adrenalize, 1996s Slang, and 1999s Euphoria, as well as the compilations Retro Active and Vault: Def Leppards Greatest Hits.
Elliot has appeared on other artists recordings, including Mick Ronsons (his idol) 1994 release Heaven and Hull and Ron Woods Slide on This, as well as singing All the Young Dudes alongside another idol, Ian Hunter, at the 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium. Elliot also penned a pair of songs for the 1996 British motion picture When Saturday Comes (the title track and an instrumental ballad called Jimmys Theme), and lent his vocal talents to a rendition of Under My Wheels for the Alice Cooper tribute disc Humanary Stew. In addition to his musical activities, in 1998 Elliot and Savage opened up an American-style restaurant/bar in Sheffield called the Players Café.
