Def Leppard News - 4 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD Release Inspired Self-Titled Studio Album

Wednesday, 30th October 2019

4 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD Release Inspired Self-Titled Studio Album

Def Leppard 2015

Def Leppard's self-titled studio album was released around the world on this day in 2015 with the band finding new inspiration.

The band's tenth studio album of all original material was also the first to be released on the new global Friday release day on 30th October 2015.

The eagerly awaited new album, their first in seven years, was a hit with fans and critics alike having been talked about enthusiastically by the band in the months leading up to its release.

In the UK a special Classic Rock Fanpack edition (featuring a 116 page magazine) was released on this day ahead of the regular CD release on 27th November.

The first ever self titled 'Def Leppard' album and featuring the first song with all band members sing lead vocal lines.

All five members collaborated together in one room over three sessions and played live in studio for the first time since 1996's 'Slang'.

Work on the new album started back in February 2014 at Joe's Garage studio near Dublin, Ireland. The band had intended to record a single or an EP but ended up with 12 songs written in just one month prompting them to record a full album.

Up to 16 songs were near completion after a second session in May 2014 and the band continued to work on the album through the Summer Tour with KISS. Vivian recorded most of his guitar and vocal parts on the road after missing the second session due to his ongoing battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

A third and final full-band recording session took place in January/February 2015. Joe then announced on his radio show on 7th March 2015 that the band had completed the recording work. This proved a little premature as later interviews leading up to and during the 2015 world tour (which started on 15th April) revealed "finishing up" work on the album was still ongoing before it was finally finished and mixed/mastered by mid August.

Both Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell had stated the album is either "the best since Hysteria" or "the strongest in 23 years" in interviews in the six/seven months leading up to its eventual release.

The album title and late 2015 release were first revealed (somewhat awkwardly) via the tour poster for the UK shows when that tour was announced on 27th March.

It contained the line - "Def Leppard's highly anticipated new self-titled studio album coming late 2015". This pre album teaser was then used on the side screens at all 2015 shows starting in Penticton, BC on 15th April but shortened to "The Highly Anticipated New Album". Rick Allen also used the artwork on his bass/kick drum head throughout the 2015 tour. Which glowed in the dark.