User:DLManiac/List of Def Leppard band members

Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. The following is a complete list of all official members, session musicians, featured artists, touring musicians, and live guests of Def Leppard's career

Def Leppard evolved from Atomic Mass after vocalist Joe Elliott joined Atomic Mass in November 1977. The lineup of Elliott, drummer Tony Kenning, bassist Rick Savage, and guitarist Pete Willis was completed by the addition of guitarist Steve Clark in January 1978. The band would play their first show on 18 July of the same year before recording their first EP in the fall after the departure of Kenning.

The departure of Kenning having left the drummer position open, Rick Allen joined the band in November 1978 and has been the full time drummer ever since, despite the loss of his left arm in a car accident on 31 December 1984. Def Leppard recorded On Through the Night and High 'n' Dry as the five piece of Savage, Willis, Elliott, Clark, and Allen before Pete Willis was fired in July 1982. Willis was replaced by Phil Collen of Girl, and the band went on to the most commercially successful period of their career, the releases of Pyromania and Hysteria.

On 8 January 1991, during a leave of absence from the band, guitarist Steve Clark was found dead in his home. Savage, Elliott, Allen, and Collen recorded their next album Adrenalize as a four-piece before hiring Vivian Campbell, formerly of Dio and Whitesnake, to replace the deceased Clark. The lineup of Def Leppard has not changed since the addition of Campbell in April 1992, and is thus the longest standing lineup of the band since its incarnation. The current lineup has released four compilations, two live albums, and six studio albums in the time since, most recently the self titled, Def Leppard, on 30 October 2015.

Current members

 * Rick Savage
 * Active: November 1977 – present
 * Primary instruments: bass guitar, backing vocals
 * Secondary instruments: guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards, lead vocals
 * Release contributions: all Def Leppard releases
 * Rick Savage, commonly referred to as "Sav", was a founding member and the guitarist of the pre-Def Leppard band, Atomic Mass. He later became the bassist for Atomic Mass and retained that position when Atomic Mass became Def Leppard in 1977.


 * Joe Elliott
 * Active: November 1977 – present
 * Primary instruments: lead vocals
 * Secondary instruments: backing vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards, percussion
 * Release contributions: all Def Leppard releases
 * Soon after joining Atomic Mass as lead singer and guitarist, Joe Elliott proposed that the band changed their name to Def Leppard. He soon became just the lead vocalist when Steve Clark joined the band as full time guitarist a few months later.


 * Rick Allen
 * Active: 27 November 1978 – present
 * Primary instruments: drums, percussion
 * Secondary instruments: backing vocals, lead vocals
 * Release contributions: all Def Leppard releases except The Def Leppard E.P.
 * Rick Allen joined Def Leppard in November 1978, shortly after the band had recorded their first recording, The Def Leppard E.P. with session drummer Frank Noon following the departure of drummer Tony Kenning. Although credited for contributing backing vocals on early Def Leppard albums, Allen has limited his vocal duties in recent years.


 * Phil Collen
 * Active: 12 July 1982 – present
 * Primary instruments: guitar, backing vocals
 * Secondary instruments: lead vocals
 * Release contributions: all Def Leppard releases except The Def Leppard E.P., On Through the Night, and High 'n' Dry
 * Phil Collen joined Def Leppard following the firing of Pete Willis in 1982. Def Leppard was touring in support of High 'n' Dry and in the middle of recording Pyromania when Willis was fired, and therefore needed a replacement quickly. Collen left the band Girl to join Def Leppard as a guitarist.


 * Vivian Campbell
 * Active: April 1992 – present
 * Primary instruments: guitar, backing vocals
 * Secondary instruments: lead vocals
 * Release contributions: all Def Leppard releases including and following Retro Active
 * Vivian Campbell, often referred to as "Viv", joined the band after the release of Adrenalize. After the untimely death of Steve Clark in 1991, Def Leppard recorded and released Adrenalize as a quartet with Collen doubling up on guitar duties, but brought Vivian on before the start of the Seven Day Weekend Tour in support of the new album.

Former members

 * Tony Kenning
 * Active: November 1977 – 18 November 1978
 * Instruments: drums, percussion
 * Release contributions: none
 * Tony Kenning was a founding member of Atomic Mass. He is also responsible for the name change from "Deaf Leopard" to "Def Leppard". Kenning left the band in the fall of 1978 just as the band were about to go into the studio to record The Def Leppard E.P.


 * Pete Willis
 * Active: November 1977 – 11 July 1982
 * Instruments: guitar, backing vocals
 * Release contributions: The Def Leppard E.P., On Through the Night, High 'n' Dry, songwriting and rhythm guitar on Pyromania
 * Pete Willis was a member of Atomic Mass when the band became Def Leppard in 1977. He was fired on 11 July 1982 and replaced by Phil Collen.


 * Steve Clark
 * Active: 29 January 1978 – 8 January 1991
 * Instruments: guitar, backing vocals
 * Release contributions: The Def Leppard E.P., On Through the Night, High 'n' Dry, Pyromania, Hysteria, songwriting and demos for Adrenalize, Retro Active.
 * Steve Clark joined Def Leppard on 29 January 1978 after playing Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird" in its entirety. He remained in the band until his untimely death on 8 January 1991.

Session musicians

 * Frank Noon
 * Active: 25–26 November 1978
 * Instruments: drums
 * Release contributions: The Def Leppard E.P.


 * Chris Hughes
 * Active: December 1979
 * Instruments: synthesizers
 * Release contributions: "Hello America" from On Through the Night


 * Robert John "Mutt" Lange
 * Active: 1981 – 1987, 1998–1999
 * Instruments: backing vocals, guitar
 * Release contributions: High 'n' Dry, Pyromania, Hysteria, Adrenalize, "Ring of Fire" from Retro Active, "Promises" and "All Night" from Euphoria


 * John Kongos
 * Active: 1982
 * Instruments: keyboards
 * Release contributions:Pyromania


 * Thomas Dolby, credited as Booker T. Boffin
 * Active: 1982
 * Instruments: keyboards
 * Release contributions: Pyromania


 * Pete Woodroffe
 * Active: 1991–1996
 * Instruments: programming, piano, keyboard strings
 * Release contributions: Adrenalize, Retro Active, Slang


 * John Sykes
 * Active: 1991
 * Instruments: backing vocals
 * Release contributions: Adrenalize


 * Phil "Crash" Nicholas
 * Active: 1991
 * Instruments: keyboards
 * Release contributions: "Stand Up (Kick Love into Motion)" from Adrenalize


 * P.J. Smith
 * Active: April 1992
 * Instruments: backing vocals
 * Release contributions: "Action" from Retro Active


 * Michael Kamen
 * Active: April 1993
 * Instruments: strings
 * Release contributions: "Two Steps Behind" from Retro Active


 * Ian Hunter
 * Active: 1993
 * Instruments: keyboards, backing vocals
 * Release contributions: Honky tonk messiah on "Ride Into the Sun" from Retro Active, "The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll" from Yeah!


 * Fiachna Ó Braonáin
 * Active: March 1992
 * Instruments: tin whistle
 * Release contributions: "From the Inside" from Retro Active, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Little Wing" from Adrenalize B-sides


 * Liam Ó Maonlaí
 * Active: March 1992
 * Instruments: grand piano
 * Release contributions: "From the Inside" from Retro Active, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Little Wing" from Adrenalize B-sides


 * Peter O'Toole
 * Active: March 1992
 * Instruments: mandolin
 * Release contributions: "From the Inside" from Retro Active, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Little Wing" from Adrenalize B-sides


 * Stevie Vann
 * Active: 1995, 2003 – 2005
 * Instruments: vocals, backing vocals
 * Release contributions: "When Love & Hate Collide" from Vault, "20th Century Boy" from Yeah!


 * Craig Pruess
 * Active: 1996
 * Instruments: string and percussion arrangement
 * Release contributions: "Turn to Dust" from Slang


 * Gavyn Wright
 * Active: 1996
 * Instruments: string leader
 * Release contributions: "Turn to Dust" from Slang


 * Ram Naravan
 * Active: 1996
 * Instruments: Sarangi
 * Release contributions: intro for "Turn to Dust" from Slang


 * Shyam Vatish
 * Active: 1996
 * Instruments: Sarangi
 * Release contributions: outro for "Turn to Dust" from Slang


 * Av Singh
 * Active: 1996
 * Instruments: dohl
 * Release contributions: "Turn to Dust" from Slang


 * Damon "Demon" Hill
 * Active: 1998–1999
 * Instruments: guitar
 * Release contributions: end solo on "Demolition Man" from Euphoria


 * Stan Schiller
 * Active: 2002
 * Instruments: guitar
 * Release contributions: shredding tele licks on "Gravity" from X


 * Eric Carter
 * Active: 2002
 * Instruments: keyboards, drum loops
 * Release contributions: "Now", "You're So Beautiful" and "Everyday" from X


 * John "Bro" Campbell
 * Active: 2003 – 2005
 * Instruments: saxophone
 * Release contributions: "20th Century Boy", "Street Life]", "[[Drive-In Saturday", "The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll" from Yeah!


 * Justin Hawkins
 * Active: 2003 – 2005
 * Instruments: backing vocals
 * Release contributions: "Hell Raiser" from Yeah!


 * Ronan McHugh
 * Active: 2003 – 2005
 * Instruments: mellotron
 * Release contributions: "Drive-In Saturday", "Little Bit of Love" from Yeah!


 * Emm Gryner
 * Active: 2003 – 2005
 * Instruments: piano, backing vocals
 * Release contributions: "The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll" from Yeah!


 * Anita Thomas-Collen
 * Active: 2003 – 2005
 * Instruments: backing vocals
 * Release contributions: "The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll" from Yeah!


 * Kristine Elliott
 * Active: 2003 – 2005
 * Instruments: backing vocals
 * Release contributions: "The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll" from Yeah!


 * Marc Danzeisen
 * Active: 2003 – 2005
 * Instruments: drums, backing vocals
 * Release contributions: "American Girl" from Yeah!


 * Dick Decent
 * Active: 2011
 * Instruments: piano, backing vocals
 * Release contributions: "Kings of the World" from Mirror Ball – Live & More

Featured artists

 * Tim McGraw
 * Active: 2008
 * Instruments: lead vocals
 * Release contributions: "Nine Lives" from Songs from the Sparkle Lounge

Touring musicians

 * Jeff Rich
 * Active: August 1986
 * Instruments: drums, percussion
 * Played alongside Rick Allen for the first live shows back since the 1984 accident that resulted in the loss of Allen's left arm.


 * Sinéad Madden
 * Active: 2012
 * Instruments: fiddle


 * Steve Brown
 * Active: September – November 2014, June 2015
 * Instruments: guitar, backing vocals
 * Trixter guitarist Steve Brown stepped in for Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campell in 2014 and 2015 while Campbell underwent treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Live guests

 * Bryan May
 * Active: 11 September 1983, 9 September 1986, 20 April 1992, 31 October 2003, 25 May 2006
 * Instruments: guitar, vocals
 * Release contributions: Pyromania Deluxe Edition, Adrenalize Deluxe Edition
 * Performed: ''Travelin' Band", "Now I'm Here", "Tie Your Mother Down", "20th Century Boy"
 * Brian May has joined Def Leppard on multiple occasions, most notably the The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992 in honor of his former bandmate, Freddie Mercury. In May 2006, Brian May performed "20th Century Boy" with the band on VH1 Rock Honors.


 * Brian Robertson
 * Active: 9 February 1983
 * Instruments: guitar, vocals
 * Performed: "Travelin' Band"


 * Jon Butcher
 * Active: 29 May 1983
 * Instruments: guitar, vocals
 * Performed: "Travelin' Band"


 * Gary Moore
 * Active: 1983
 * Instruments: guitar, vocals
 * Performed: "Travelin' Band"


 * Jon Bon Jovi
 * Active: 23 June 1988, 27 October, 1992
 * Instruments: vocals
 * Performed: "Travelin' Band", "Can't Get Enough of Your Love"


 * Steve Harris
 * Active: 26 October 1988
 * Instruments: bass
 * Performed: "Travelin' Band"


 * Richie Sambora
 * Active: 27 October, 1992
 * Instruments: guitar
 * Performed: "Can't Get Enough of Your Love"


 * Lou Gramm
 * Active: 1992
 * Instruments: vocals
 * Performed: "Can't Get Enough of Your Love"


 * Robert Plant
 * Active: 6 May 1993
 * Instruments: vocals
 * Performed: Led Zeppelin medley


 * Bryan Adams
 * Active: 14 May 1993
 * Instruments: vocals
 * Performed: "Can't Get Enough of Your Love"


 * Stevie Vann
 * Active: 23 October 1995
 * Instruments: vocals
 * Performed: "When Love & Hate Collide"


 * Ian Hunter
 * Active: 19 July 1996, 24 July 2000
 * Instruments: vocals
 * Performed: "All the Young Dudes"


 * Gloria Flores
 * Active: 27 August 1996
 * Instruments: vocals
 * Performed: "Slang"


 * Frank Hannon
 * Active: 31 August 1999
 * Instruments: guitar
 * Performed: "Let It Go"


 * Ricky Warwick
 * Active: 19 April 2003
 * Instruments: acoustic guitar, vocals
 * Performed: "Two Steps Behind"


 * Dick Decent
 * Active: 17, 18 June 2006, 12, 14 June 2009
 * Instruments: keyboards, vocals
 * Performed: "When Love & Hate Collide"


 * Tim McGraw
 * Active: 13 October 2006
 * Instruments: lead vocals
 * Performed: "Pour Some Sugar on Me"


 * Taylor Swift
 * Active: 7 November 2008, 16 June 2009
 * Instruments: vocals, acoustic guitar
 * Release contributions: Taylor Swift and Def Leppard
 * Swift first performed with Def Leppard in 2008 as a part of the CMT Crossroads performance which was filmed and released in 2009. Swift later performed "Pour Some Sugar on Me" with Def Leppard on 16 June 2009 on the televised CMT Music Awards where both artists were nominated for awards.


 * Keith Weir
 * Active: 7, 8, 10 June 2011
 * Instruments: keyboards
 * Performed: "When Love & Hate Collide" in Belfast, Dublin, Donnington

Atomic Mass members
This is a list of members of Atomic Mass, which became Def Leppard shortly after Joe Elliott joined the band in 1977. Only Savage, Kenning, Willis, Elliott were members of Def Leppard.


 * Rick Savage – guitar, backing vocals (1977); bass, backing vocals (1977)
 * Nicholas "Nick" Mackley – lead vocals (1977)
 * Tony "Reuben" Kenning – drums, percussion (1977)
 * Peter "Pete" Doubleday – guitar, backing vocals (1977)
 * Andy Nicholas – bass, backing vocals (1977)
 * Paul Holland – lead vocals (1977)
 * Paul Hampshire – bass, backing vocals (1977)
 * Pete Willis – guitar, backing vocals (1977)
 * Joe Elliott – guitar, backing vocals (1977); lead vocals (1977)


 * 2003 Reunion Lineup
 * Joe Elliott
 * Rick Savage
 * Pete Willis
 * Frank Noon