Revisiting Def Leppard’s Adrenalize

[MOON]

The B side version of “tear it down” is so much better.
They sucked the life right out of it

Agreed

[Mister Freeze]

I listened to Adrenalize while hanging out in a hotel room about a year ago. I wouldn't call the album good or make a case it aged well, but it had a certain nostalgic appeal.

Still remember every song, although you don't hear 'em much in the real world anymore.

[DangerZone]

Adrenalize has that signature Def Leppard sound imbued with powerful anthems.

Adrenalize isn't just an amazing album, it's a timeless classic that even after all these years I still enjoy listening to on a regular basis.

This reads like ‘American psycho’s’ Huey Lewis scene

[Mister Freeze]

Adrenalize has that signature Def Leppard sound imbued with powerful anthems.

Adrenalize isn't just an amazing album, it's a timeless classic that even after all these years I still enjoy listening to on a regular basis.

This reads like ‘American psycho’s’ Huey Lewis scene

Do you like Def Leppard?

Take "Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion)" for instance. It's not just a power ballad, but a bold statement on the difficulties of finding companionship in the material world. Sonically, it's a radio-friendly masterpiece. Lyrically, it's something much more. Def Leppard is standing up - not sitting - and kicking love right in the face. Where? Into motion. It's the first time that anyone did a kick of some sort on the pop charts since INXS.

[DangerZone]

Adrenalize has that signature Def Leppard sound imbued with powerful anthems.

Adrenalize isn't just an amazing album, it's a timeless classic that even after all these years I still enjoy listening to on a regular basis.

This reads like ‘American psycho’s’ Huey Lewis scene

Do you like Def Leppard?

Take "Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion)" for instance. It's not just a power ballad, but a bold statement on the difficulties of finding companionship in the material world. Sonically, it's a radio-friendly masterpiece. Lyrically, it's something much more. Def Leppard is standing up - not sitting - and kicking love right in the face. Where? Into motion. It's the first time that anyone did a kick of some sort on the pop charts since INXS.

Nice!

[eddie lee roth]

I listened to Adrenalize while hanging out in a hotel room about a year ago. I wouldn't call the album good or make a case it aged well, but it had a certain nostalgic appeal.

Still remember every song, although you don't hear 'em much in the real world anymore.

I remember you talking about that. Have you got a handle on your drinking now?

[Ziggy Sawdust]

The Steve Clark co- written songs are mostly pretty good. Everything else since this album has been shite.

[Mister Freeze]

I listened to Adrenalize while hanging out in a hotel room about a year ago. I wouldn't call the album good or make a case it aged well, but it had a certain nostalgic appeal.

Still remember every song, although you don't hear 'em much in the real world anymore.

I remember you talking about that. Have you got a handle on your drinking now?

It's gotten worse.

[eddie lee roth]

I listened to Adrenalize while hanging out in a hotel room about a year ago. I wouldn't call the album good or make a case it aged well, but it had a certain nostalgic appeal.

Still remember every song, although you don't hear 'em much in the real world anymore.

I remember you talking about that. Have you got a handle on your drinking now?

It's gotten worse.

I hope you haven’t been mixing it with some Slang too.

[Bono Nettencourt]

He's still trying to work it out.

[Tommy2Tone84]

Stand Up is a great song. I recall seeing DL tour this album when l was a Freshman in High School. They were still doing the in the round set up. Crowd was down a full 1/3 from the prior tour.

I saw them on that tour and the arena was sold out to the rafters. 16,000 people going nuts. I’ve seen the band numerous times since then and that show was the best I’ve ever seen them. Vivian was new to the band and shared lead guitar duties equally with Phil. Phil’s ego got in the way later and Vivian’s role was glaringly reduced over the years. Vivian was an absolute monster. He had chops but he had feel too. His note choices and phrasing blew Phil out of the water. Phil has his strong points but he’s my least favorite out of the four guys. Steve, as much of a rock star as he is, and as cool as his swagger was, wasn’t exactly awesome at the end of his life. You can tell he’s burnt out on the Hysteria tour. Maybe the same fate would have befallen Pete too.

It did - he couldn't handle the life BEFORE they were famous, that's why he got kicked out of his own band.

BTW, Viv Campbell is heinously overrated.

The thing I’ve never understood is, Steve wasn’t any better. He was on his last legs by Hysteria. I think it might have been Pete’s “looks” more than anything. He was really short and not exactly a pretty boy like the rest of them.

Rick almost killed himself and his girlfriend in a car wreck during Pyromania.

No, that would be guys like Phil Collen and Zakk Wylde

Viv is heinously underrated.

[Venus Flytrap]

Couldn't wait for the album to come out. I was kinda disappointed. Hysteria went up to the rock/pop line in the sand without crossing over it for me. Adrenalize did an Olympic long jump over that line. It's not bad but with the anticipation as the Hysteria follow-up it was just ok. Agree in Tear It Down. The original version was much better. If they put that on the album and took out Personal Property, MLLAM and Let's Get Rocked and put in Fractured Love, Ring of Fire and Desert Song which were lying around waiting for Retro Active, well then you got a serious album there.

[DangerZone]

I saw them on that tour and the arena was sold out to the rafters. 16,000 people going nuts. I’ve seen the band numerous times since then and that show was the best I’ve ever seen them. Vivian was new to the band and shared lead guitar duties equally with Phil. Phil’s ego got in the way later and Vivian’s role was glaringly reduced over the years. Vivian was an absolute monster. He had chops but he had feel too. His note choices and phrasing blew Phil out of the water. Phil has his strong points but he’s my least favorite out of the four guys. Steve, as much of a rock star as he is, and as cool as his swagger was, wasn’t exactly awesome at the end of his life. You can tell he’s burnt out on the Hysteria tour. Maybe the same fate would have befallen Pete too.

It did - he couldn't handle the life BEFORE they were famous, that's why he got kicked out of his own band.

BTW, Viv Campbell is heinously overrated.

The thing I’ve never understood is, Steve wasn’t any better. He was on his last legs by Hysteria. I think it might have been Pete’s “looks” more than anything. He was really short and not exactly a pretty boy like the rest of them.

Rick almost killed himself and his girlfriend in a car wreck during Pyromania.

No, that would be guys like Phil Collen and Zakk Wylde

Viv is heinously underrated.

I don’t understand the 4 statements.
What would be guys like Zakk Wylde?

What is the purpose of the Rick statement?

can not
fol low

[Mister Freeze]

I remember you talking about that. Have you got a handle on your drinking now?

It's gotten worse.

I hope you haven’t been mixing it with some Slang too.

There isn't a bottle of whiskey strong enough to get through Slang.

[Mister Freeze]

Hysteria went up to the rock/pop line in the sand without crossing over it for me. Adrenalize did an Olympic long jump over that line.

Cheap Trick was the worst example of this.

"Can't Stop Falling Into Love" sounded like a Rod Stewart single. No lines blurred. Richard Marx was rocking harder that year.

[dmbrocker]

Hysteria went up to the rock/pop line in the sand without crossing over it for me. Adrenalize did an Olympic long jump over that line.

Cheap Trick was the worst example of this.

"Can't Stop Falling Into Love" sounded like a Rod Stewart single. No lines blurred. Richard Marx was rocking harder that year.

It’s funny because Richard Marx admitted to having been inspired by Def Leppard when he wrote “Angelia”, and then the Leps later admitted to having been inspired by “Angelia” when they wrote “Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion)”. I guess they decided to return the favor.

[Bono Nettencourt]

Both were failed attempts to clone the album before in pursuit of maximum commerciality.

[Tommy2Tone84]

It did - he couldn't handle the life BEFORE they were famous, that's why he got kicked out of his own band.

BTW, Viv Campbell is heinously overrated.

The thing I’ve never understood is, Steve wasn’t any better. He was on his last legs by Hysteria. I think it might have been Pete’s “looks” more than anything. He was really short and not exactly a pretty boy like the rest of them.

Rick almost killed himself and his girlfriend in a car wreck during Pyromania.

No, that would be guys like Phil Collen and Zakk Wylde

Viv is heinously underrated.

I don’t understand the 4 statements.
What would be guys like Zakk Wylde?

What is the purpose of the Rick statement?

can not
fol low

Steve Clark was a notorious alcoholic and drug addict. But they used that excuse to kick Pete Willis out of the band. Supposedly Pete was a hothead. But Def Leppard was also concerned about pop, crossover mainstream success and Pete wasn’t exactly a tall, strapping young lad with movie star good looks. Given Joe and the band’s drive, I tend to think Pete’s “looks” had “become a problem” just as much or more so than his alcohol use since Steve, Joe, Rick and later Phil were all heavy drinkers in their youth.

Rick Allen was off the rails and almost killed himself and his girlfriend in a car crash in a road rage incident. He lost his arm and never got kicked out of the band. But they kicked Pete out for being a drunk, hothead.

Nuno said Vivian was “heinously overrated.” I countered and said guys Phil and Zakk were overrated. Vivian is underrated.

[Ziggy Sawdust]

I don’t think Steve had a behavior problem like Pete though, he was a nice guy and got a long with the others even when he was going too far with his addictions.

[Venus Flytrap]

I don’t think Steve had a behavior problem like Pete though, he was a nice guy and got a long with the others even when he was going too far with his addictions.

Yeah Steve by most accounts was an affable guy regardless of his condition. Also he could still play. Yes he'd get the shakes when going through withdrawal but after a few swigs his hands would steady and he was ready to play. Pete on the other hand would show up to the studio blasted and couldn't play. There's a snippet out there I think on Pyromania Ultimate Albums doc. Hence the boot. Also, yeah Steve got a longer leash but their patience wasn't infinite. Joe had said once in the 2000's even if Steve had survived that night he probably wouldn't still be with the band now. Meaning the band saying they need someone clean or Steve walking away on his own.

[Love_Industry]

I don’t think Steve had a behavior problem like Pete though, he was a nice guy and got a long with the others even when he was going too far with his addictions.

Yeah Steve by most accounts was an affable guy regardless of his condition. Also he could still play. Yes he'd get the shakes when going through withdrawal but after a few swigs his hands would steady and he was ready to play. Pete on the other hand would show up to the studio blasted and couldn't play.

I was waiting to meet the band after watching a rehearsal in 1988 and ended up roaming around Gothenburg looking for an open bar with Steve and Phil. Don't think any of them was drunk when they were playing, and Steve was indeed nice enough after pounding down a bunch of beers in a dive bar in a shopping mall, the only open place we found that Wednesday night. A bit quiet, maybe he needed more drinks.

The most bizarre thing is that the place was far from empty and nobody noticed that next to them sat two members of one of the most popular bands at the time, drinking beer with two teenage fans....

[pieceofme]

I don’t think Steve had a behavior problem like Pete though, he was a nice guy and got a long with the others even when he was going too far with his addictions.

Yeah Steve by most accounts was an affable guy regardless of his condition. Also he could still play. Yes he'd get the shakes when going through withdrawal but after a few swigs his hands would steady and he was ready to play. Pete on the other hand would show up to the studio blasted and couldn't play.

I was waiting to meet the band after watching a rehearsal in 1988 and ended up roaming around Gothenburg looking for an open bar with Steve and Phil. Don't think any of them was drunk when they were playing, and Steve was indeed nice enough after pounding down a bunch of beers in a dive bar in a shopping mall, the only open place we found that Wednesday night. A bit quiet, maybe he needed more drinks.

The most bizarre thing is that the place was far from empty and nobody noticed that next to them sat two members of one of the most popular bands at the time, drinking beer with two teenage fans....

In all fairness, as big as Def Leppard were, the members were quite faceless to the masses. Joe Elliott maybe being the exception. But he was also the singer so they normally get more limelight.

[FreddyFender]

Reto Active > Adrenalize

[Ozzy Stradlin]

I don’t think Steve had a behavior problem like Pete though, he was a nice guy and got a long with the others even when he was going too far with his addictions.

I also think that Steve was more important to the band’s songwriting than Pete, despite his own fairly substantial contributions to the first 3 albums.

[Tommy2Tone84]

I don’t think Steve had a behavior problem like Pete though, he was a nice guy and got a long with the others even when he was going too far with his addictions.

I also think that Steve was more important to the band’s songwriting than Pete, despite his own fairly substantial contributions to the first 3 albums.

I have to disagree given that HND is my favorite DL album of all time. Pete’s comparative minimal contributions to Pyro are huge. Hysteria, for all of its sales was a huge step down from Pete’s time in the band.

[Tommy2Tone84]

I don’t think Steve had a behavior problem like Pete though, he was a nice guy and got a long with the others even when he was going too far with his addictions.

I also think that Steve was more important to the band’s songwriting than Pete, despite his own fairly substantial contributions to the first 3 albums.

I have to disagree given that HND is my favorite DL album of all time. Pete’s comparative minimal contributions to Pyro are huge. Hysteria, for all of its sales was a huge step down from Pete’s time in the band.

[HottKarl777]

This thread got me to listen to Adrenalize again and it was meh.

But then I listened to the Pyromania Deluxe lp with the demos. None of the demo tunes stand out but you can really hear the interesting "harmony chords" that Steve and Pete (and later Phil) would play. They would both play different 2 note power chords from each other to make one big suspended chord. Kind of an Andy Summers sound with 9ths. Very cool.