38 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD's PYROMANIA Album Released In The UK

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Thursday, 4th March 2021

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Def Leppard 1983

Def Leppard released their classic third studio album Pyromania 37 years ago on this day in 1983 in the UK.

The band's third studio album had been released on 20th January 1983 in North America and Canada.

It would soon enter the UK charts and eventually peak at Number 18.

The release came as the band ended their 9 date UK and Irish tour before the second European leg and on to the USA to suport Billy Squier.

It went on to reach Number Two on the Billboard Top 200 chart in May 1983 spending two weeks there and eventually sold over 10 million copies around the world. The album sold over 7 million copies in the USA by late 1988 and eventually over 10 million.

The success of the album was helped by the three singles - 'Photograph', 'Rock Of Ages' and 'Foolin' which all reached the Top 20 or 30 on the Hot 100 singles chart between May and November 1983.

The album would achieve Diamond status with 10 million sales in July 2004. Their second Diamond Award after 'Hysteria'.

The making of the album began in January 1982 when the band commenced songwriting sessions in Sheffield before meeting up with producer Mutt Lange in London. Unlike the 'High 'n' Dry' album before it, Mutt became a sixth member of the band for the songwriting and arranging on 'Pyromania'.

The recording would begin under a cloud as the band's managers were involved in a legal dispute with the Leber-Krebs management company. They were also heading into major debt of almost £1 million as recording costs spiralled.

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