This song was written and recorded during the 'Hysteria' album sessions and released as one of the seven singles.
song written by
- 01 - Steve Clark - Guitars.
- 02 - Phil Collen - Guitars.
- 03 - Joe Elliott - Lead Vocals.
- 04 - Robert John 'Mutt' Lange - Producer.
- 05 - Rick Savage - Bass.
performed by
- 01 - Joe Elliott - Lead Vocals.
- 02 - Phil Collen - Guitars.
- 03 - Steve Clark - Guitars.
- 04 - Rick Savage - Bass.
- 05 - Rick Allen - Drums.
other performers / guest appearances by
- n/a
song info
- Song Type - Cover.
- Song Type - Streaming Session Track/Single.
- Release Format - Digtal Stream/Download/CD/Vinyl.
- First Released - 18th July 2018.
- Remix First Released - 12th October 2018.
- Produced By - Ronan McHugh/Def Leppard.
- Mixed By - Ronan McHugh.
- Recording Date - 16th May 2018.
- Location - Spotify Studios, New York, NY, USA.
original song info
- Artist - Depeche Mode.
- Length - 3:44 (Single Edit Version).
- First Released - 29th August 1989.
- Producer - Depeche Mode/Flood.
- From The Album - Violator.
- UK Chart Position - 13.
- USA Chart Position - 20.
song versions
version 1 - (1987)
- Hysteria (Album/Single Version) - :
The original version recorded for a 'Spotify Singles' session. It was released in July 2018 along with a live version of 'Hysteria' from the same session.
Def Leppard's version stays faithful to the mostly electronic nature of the original alongside the main electric guitar riff. This was a new addition to Depeche Mode's sound at the time of it's original release in 1989. This version is also based on the most popular version of the original 3:44 minute single edit also used for the iconic Anton Corbin directed promo video.
version 2 - (1987)
- Hysteria () - :
A remix version by producer Ronan McHugh included as part of 'The Story So Far...The Best Of' greatest hits album. It features more production and effects especially on the vocals and the drum sounds. Compare the two versions at the bottom of the page. This version was used on the music video which was released in late November 2018 on YouTube.
This version was released as a download single in October ahead of the album in November 2018. Also included as Side A on the bonus seven inch single with the deluxe 2 LP vinyl version.
Hysteria / audio releases
| type | title | date | version | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Album |  |
Hysteria | August 1987 | 1 |
| Single | |
Hysteria | November 1987 | 1/2 |
| Single | |
Hysteria | November 1987 | 2 |
| Single | |
Hysteria | November 1987 | 2 |
song trivia
The decision to cover this song was instigated by Vivian Campbell who suggested it based on producer/live sound engineer Roman McHugh using it to test the venue PA at live concerts. This came about after his original suggestion to cover the ABBA song 'Knowing Me, Knowing You' was shot down by the rest of the band members. The irony being Vivian had himself previously (jokingly?) referred to Depeche Mode as 'Depressed Toad' during a radio interview.
The song was originally released by Depeche Mode in August 1989 as they worked on their most commercially successful album 'Violator' which was released in March 1990. It would be followed up by three more huge hit singles in 'Enjoy The Silence', 'Policy Of Truth' and 'World In My Eyes'. It was written by their main songwriter, backing vocalist and sometimes lead vocalist Martin L. Gore.
As shown below Martin explained the song was about Priscilla Presley's relationship with Elvis. The lyric had been inspired by reading her 1985 book 'Elvis and Me'.
According to Depeche Mode's website the original single was "one of the highest selling US single releases in the history of Warner Brothers records."
The song had been previously covered by both Johnny Cash and Marilyn Manson.
song commentary
Joe Elliott (2018)
"We did a session for them. Just two songs. I won't say any more because I don't want to spoil the surprise for whenever it's gonna get broadcast, but bit of fun. One of ours and a cover of somebody else's stuff."
Vivian Campbell (2018)
"They wanted a classic Def Leppard song, which we decided was gonna be 'Hysteria', and something that was a little bit outside of our genre, not a hard rock band. Don't be covering AC/DC or something like QUEEN or whatever. My first choice was ABBA. I thought that we would rock the hell out of ABBA because of our vocals. So I wrote back to everyone. I said, 'Knowing Me, Knowing You' by ABBA. I think we could do a good rock version of it. Plus, there's a little harmony line in it, an instrumental line, that would have been a great rock guitar line. I know it's a bit of a happy song, but I think we could have darkened it up a bit."
"Anyway, that got shot down in flames. But, fortunately, my second suggestion was, 'Why don't we do 'Personal Jesus' by Depeche Mode?' And everyone picked up on that. So, we did it. And, to be honest, it was probably a much, much easier song to do than anything by ABBA. But I still think we could rock the shit out of ABBA some day."
Martin L. Gore (1990)
"It's a song about being a Jesus for somebody else, someone to give you hope and care. It's about how Elvis Presley was her man and her mentor and how often that happens in love relationships; how everybody's heart is like a god in some way, and that's not a very balanced view of someone, is it?."
tours played on
- This song has never been performed live.
It was first played over the PA before the show in Hartford, CT on 21st May 2018. The opening night of the Def Leppard x Journey North American co-headline tour.
Hysteria / song lyrics sample
Out of touch, out of reach, yeah
You could try to get closer to me
I'm in love, I'm in deep, yeah
Hypnotized, I'm shaking to my knees
I got to know tonight
If you're alone tonight
Can't stop this feeling
Can't stop this fire
Oh, I get hysterical, hysteria
Oh, can you feel it, do you believe it?
It's such a magical mysteria
When you get that feeling better start believin'
'Cause it's a miracle, oh, say you will, ooh babe
Hysteria when you're near
Listen To 'Hysteria'
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