Monday, 22nd January 20178
Prev  |  Next

24 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD's ACTION At Number 14 In The UK

Action 1994.

Def Leppard's classic single Action hit Number 14 in the UK singles chart 24 years ago on this day in 1994.

The song was the first cover version to be released as a single by the band.

It spent five weeks on the chart in all (3 weeks inside the Top 40) peaking at Number 14.

This was one better than the original by Sweet from 1974 which got to Number 15.

It was revamped from the 1992 B-Side version and released as a single on 4th January 1994 from the October 1993 'Retro-Active' collection.

D:Ream were at Number One on this day with their single 'Things Can Only Get Better (1994)' featuring one Professor Brian Cox on keyboards.

The Top 40 also featured Thomas Dolby at Number 32 who had played keyboards on 'Pyromania'.

UK Singles Chart - 22nd January 1994

  • 01 - D:Ream - Things Can Only Get Better (1994)
  • 02 - Chaka Demus And Pliers - Twist And Shout
  • 03 - K7 - Come Baby Come
  • 04 - Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, Sting - All For Love
  • 05 - Culture Beat - Anything
  • 14 - Def Leppard - Action - (Peak Position)

Action 1994.

Joe Elliott - Vault Inner Sleeve Quote

"If you're going to cover a song there's two choices: either copy it exactly or do it completely different. We opted for the former and got Andy Scott's enthusiastic approval."

Def Leppard - Retro-Active Inner Sleeve Quote

"We wanted to do a couple of cover tunes for the 'Adrenalize' album B-Sides. We did this tune because we were all Big Sweet fans. Nuff said."

Phil Collen - 2004 Best Of Sleeve Quote

"I was also a huge Sweet fan when I was a kid."

Vivian Campbell - 2004 Best Of Sleeve Quote

"I don't think I actually played guitar on it. Those parts were already done before I joined. But I definitely remember trying to sing those ridiculously high vocal parts. It was a song that had a big influence on me as a spotty-faced youth. Sweet were definitely one of the rockier glam bands."

Joe Elliott - 2004 Best Of Sleeve Quote

"The backing track was recorded in a day. And I sang it the next night. I was hammered so there was much sobering up to be done. But when I heard it back. I thought. 'Wow, I should get drunk more often'. We knew we could cut loose on b-sides. Which 'Action' was at first. But we had to learn to extend that to everything. It certainly pulled the stick from out of my ass."


Related News - 29 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD's ARMAGEDDON IT At Number 3 In The USA

Related News - The Story Of Def Leppard's PYROMANIA Album (Released 35 Years Ago)

Related News - 22 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD's When Love And Hate Collide #58 In The USA

Related News - 25 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD Release HEAVEN IS Single In The UK

Related News - 30 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD Release HYSTERIA Single In The USA

Related News - 39 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD Release First Record (The DEF LEPPARD EP)


share this story:





get def leppard news

Stay in touch with the latest updates.


explore def leppard tour history
Phil Collen - Guitar
Phil Collen - Guitar
Phil Collen - Guitar
Phil Collen - Guitar