How a missed bus led to the birth of a heavy metal icon
In short: In November 1977, a chance encounter caused by a missed bus changed rock history. Joe Elliott didn't set out to be a frontman; he actually auditioned as a guitarist. What followed was the rise of a band that would eventually challenge Michael Jackson for the top of the charts.
The origins of Def Leppard are rooted in a stroke of luck in Sheffield. While attempting to audition for the band Atomic Mass as a guitarist, Joe Elliott met band member Pete Willis after missing his bus in November 1977. During the audition, the group realized Elliott was better suited for vocals, launching a career defined by his wide-ranging, raspy voice. The Sheffield-born musician, an only child of Joseph William Elliott and Cynthia Gibson, attended King Edward VII School.
The band's identity was also a product of creative improvisation. The name 'Deaf Leopard' was originally an idea Elliott developed while designing posters in art class. To avoid looking like a punk band, the spelling was later modified. By 1979, the group had become leaders of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, eventually securing a deal with Phonogram/Vertigo. The group's rise eventually led to a 1984 Gallup poll where they were voted America's favorite rock band, surpassing legends like AC/DC and the Rolling Stones.
The 1980s saw the band achieve unprecedented commercial heights. Their 1983 album, Pyromania, was a massive phenomenon, selling six million copies in 1983 alone—averaging over 100,000 copies every week. MTV viewers requested 'Photograph' more frequently than Michael Jackson's 'Beat It', making the track a massive hit. The success of Pyromania was so immense that it was only prevented from reaching the top of the US charts by Michael Jackson's Thriller.
Despite their massive success, the band's journey included significant friction. Their original management, MSB, was dismissed after a physical altercation between Elliott and manager Pete Martin. Yet, the band's momentum continued through the decade, with the 1987 album Hysteria producing hits like 'Love Bites,' which reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. Apart from his work in rock, Elliott led groups such as Down 'n' Outz and the Cybernauts, earning a 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Joe Elliott
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