Original DEF LEPPARD Guitarist PETE WILLIS Celebrates 58th Birthday
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Def Leppard's original guitarist Pete Willis is celebrating his 58th birthday today in Sheffield, England.
Pete formed local Sheffield band Atomic Mass with Rick Savage and drummer Tony Kenning which went on to become Def Leppard in 1977.
He was forced out of the band during the making of the 'Pyromania' album in July 1982 when his heavy drinking affected the recording sessions.
The above photo is taken from the March 2002 VH1 special 'Ultimate Albums Pyromania' where he talked about the issues surrounding his sacking from the band.
Around the same time as this show an article appeared in Classic Rock Magazine where he explained he had left the music industry and was working in property management in Sheffield with his wife.
View a few photos of the band when Pete was still a member courtesy of Gettyimages.
Classic Rock 2002 - Pete Willis Interview Quote
"Things were going too fast for me." he now admits. "I was still enjoying it, but I was using drink as a crutch. It wasn't nice to go that way, but it was something that needed to happen for them and the best thing to happen health-wise for me. If I'd stayed, there was a good chance that I'd have ended up going the same way as Steve Clark."
Ultimate Albums Pyromania 2002 - Pete Willis Interview Quotes
"Steve was probably drinking more if not the same as I was but he was a different type of guy. He wouldn't say boo to a ghost basically."
"Obviously I tried to you know play the guitar and that wasn't happening at all. And that's when Mutt exploded at me. So because of that I turned around and I you know give Mutt a mouthful back and it just went downhill from there really. If Mutt's listening I'm sorry for giving you a mouthful."
"Once something's been decided like that between a group of friends it can't be the same again really. Just for my health and maybe sanity it (was) probably the best thing that could have happened to me. Which is a hard thing to say."
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- Def Leppard - Pete Willis Band Page
- Def Leppard - On Through The Night Tour 1980
- Previous Show - 13th February 2018
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