Def Leppard’s Hysteria Reviewed: Hair, Glam, Hard By Todd Leibowitz

Def Leppard – Hysteria (1987)

1. Women
2. Rocket
3. Animal
4. Love Bites
5. Pour Some Sugar on Me
6. Armageddon It
7. Gods of War
8. Don’t Shoot Shotgun
9. Run Riot
10. Hysteria
11. Excitable
12. Love and Affection

Just looking at the track listing of Def Leppard’s classic album Hysteria – you can count about 7 #1 singles. The first 6 songs on the disc were all #1 hits for the band. It is the band’s best-selling album to date, selling over 20 million copies worldwide. There is no band today that has an album of 7 #1 singles. This album was with 5 guys with 9 arms. Unfortunately, the drummer Rick Allen lost his arm in a bad car accident. He continues to play with one arm today – which in my book makes him one of the best drummers ever.

I remember getting this album on cassette, later on in life I had to buy the CD. This was one of my first hard rock/metal bands that I truly loved.

From the opening lick to “Women”, you know you are in for an amazing hard rock album. “Animal”, “Excitable”, “Armageddon It” are just some killer songs that brings a smile to your face and bring your hand in the air making the devil horns m/ .

There are very few songs that can stand the test of time, for Def Leppard it is “Pour Some Sugar On Me”. This is the type of song, when it comes on the radio, ipod, in a bar or a car – everyone starts singing it. The song that we all know the lyrics and for the 4.5 minutes of the song brings us back to our youth.

Def Leppard also has a soft side to them as well. “Love Bites” is masterpiece ballad. But my favorite is the title track Hysteria. I can listen to that song 24 hours a day and never get bored of it.

So, if you are fan of the 80s/90s hair, glam, hard rock era. Or whatever you want to call it – every once in a while you need a little nostalgia – play this album. You won’t be disappointed.