This section looks at the 'Rock Of Ages' USA single release. The second single to be released from the 'Pyromania' album in America and second Top 20 hit.
"Somebody left a hymn book behind."
Def Leppard released their classic Rock Of Ages single on this day in 1983 in the USA.
The anthemic song was the second single to be released from the 'Pyromania' album.
The album had been released on 20th January 1983 worldwide.
The first single Photograph had been released on 28th February and during this week it was at Number 16.
'Rock Of Ages' was released on 2nd June 1983 and peaked at Number 16 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.
It would spend 15 weeks on the chart. Three inside the Top 20.
The 'Pyromania' album had peaked at Number 2 on 14th May and was still at Number 4 at the time this second single was released.
Below are some comments made by Joe about the song in an archive interview with VH1.
VH1 - Joe Elliott Interview Quotes
Where did the idea for "Rock of Ages" come from?
"We had the backing track for "Rock Of Ages" but were singing melodies because we didn't have any lyrics. We let somebody use the studio the night before, and they held a bible study session. A Bible was left in the studio open to the hymn "Rock of Ages." So I picked it up and started singing, "Rock of ages." Mutt went, "That's it! That's the chorus!" It was a very anthemic song. This was us doing Joan Jett's "I Love Rock And Roll" or Billy Squier's "The Stroke" or Queen's "We Will Rock You." Big drums, handclaps, no guitars in the verse, singing, and then guitars blaring in on the chorus."
Gunter glieben glauten globen?
"That's the intro to "Rock Of Ages." It's Mutt Lange. There were no guitars in the verses, just drums. So instead of counting off one, two, three, four, he'd say these ridiculous things to make everybody laugh. One of them was "chapatti puppadum something something," all about Indian food. The other one was "Gunter glieben glauten globen." Some German guy sent a letter to our Artist Pages and said that it's German for "running through the forest silently." I'm assured it isn't. This guy must have just escaped from the happy house or something."
2001 Def Leppard Official FAQ Quote - (Note spelling)
5.1 - What does "Gunter Glieben Glauten Globen" mean?
"Nothing in particular (although the band sometimes jokingly claims it means "running through the forest silently"). It's gibberish said by producer Mutt Lange during the recordings of "Rock Of Ages", instead of the regular one, two, three, four."
Rolling Stone 2016 - Joe Elliott Interview Quotes
"For the longest time, we were making the backing track without any lyrics. Then when it came time to add vocals, we had no idea where anything came in because there are no musical cues."
"Once the guitar drops out, it's just drums and some bass. There's no indication for where the guitar comes back in for what turned into the "What do you want?" section."
"So everything had to be done with counts: "1, 2, 3, 4 … go!" Eventually, Mutt got bored of "1, 2, 3, 4," and so he started saying all these mad things — "Gunter, Glieben, Glauten, Globen" was just one of them."
"And between cabin fever, stupidity, rock & roll, whatever you want to call it, it became the joke. By the time we got the song finished, we stuck it on the front because it was just part of our DNA by then."
"And people got the humor. Over the last 30 years, everyone asks, "Dude, what the hell is that thing you say?" And then the Offspring stole it for "Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)"
"Well, they didn't steal it; they asked permission. But it connected."
2004 Best Of Def Leppard Song Quotes
Joe Elliott
“We were working at Battery Studios in London and a church choir had used it before us. Somebody left a hymn book behind. And it was open at a page with the words ‘Rock of Ages’ on it. Boom, off we went from there.”
Phil Collen
“The ‘Pyromania’ era was such an exciting time. My first Leppard gig was at the Marquee Club in London. And the tour ended with us headlining in front of 55,000 people at the Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego. That all happened within seven months. ‘Rock of Ages’ takes me back to getting mobbed and jumped on by girls again - wow.”
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