http://www.bjc.psu.edu/Events/event.asp?event_code=082903&month=8&day=29&year=2003

There are few bands that exemplified the 1980's the way Def Leppard did. Their
combination of pop and metal had its finger on the pulse of 80's record buyers.
The high-tech sound they pursued on their albums helped define pop-music
recording techniques of 1980's. They were also one of the first bands to take
advantage of the possibilities of MTV by creating a string of videos that played
up their good looks and youthful appeal to help sell their records. As a result,
they became internationally successful and their sound and style set the tone
for many future pop/metal acts.

Def Leppard got their start in the English town of Sheffield in 1977. They
united over a mutual love of bands like T-Rex and Mott The Hoople and began to
write songs that fused hard-rock riffs to pop-music hooks. The group made a
successful independent EP, which brought them to the attention of a record
company. They released "On Through The Night" as they began to build a fan base
in both the U.K. and the U.S. through touring. Their second album, "High and
Dry", became a Top-40 hit thanks to MTV's frequently playing the video for
"Bringing On The Heartache."

In 1982, Def Leppard spent much of the year recording what would become their
breakthrough album. The end result, "Pyromania", perfected their mix of pop
hooks and metal riffs. Songs like "Rock of Ages," "Foolin" and "photograph"
mixed sweet harmonies and hard-rock swagger in a way that pleased pop fans and
metal heads alike. The group's videos took advantage of their good looks (along
with some Dungeons & Dragons-like Medieval imagery on the ever-popular "Rock of
Ages" video) and thus added teen appeal to the mix. Def Leppard embarked on
successful world tour and "Pyromania" became one of the most internationally
successful albums of the year.

After a long break, Def Leppard reunited to record a new album. It didn't come
easily. The task would ultimately take three years, a change of producers, and
several aborted recordings before the band produced a finished album. During
this time, drummer Rick Allen lost his left arm in a car accident. However, he
triumphed over his misfortune by learning to play a special set of electronic
drums that used footpads to fill out his drum sound. The band also took
advantage of the gap between albums to experiment with synthesizers and sampling
techniques as they painstakingly pieced together their complex new songs.

Finally, "Hysteria" was released in the summer of 1987. Like "Pyromania", it was
a massive international success. The months spent in the studio paid off,
resulting in a lush, high-tech album that smoothly blended cutting-edge rockers
like "Animal" and "Armageddon It" with gorgeous ballads like "Hysteria" and
"Love Bites." There were also nifty surprises like the techno-styled "Animal,"
which was successfully promoted in dance clubs through a 12-inch remix. All in
all, Hysteria gave the band six consecutive Top-20 hits that kept them riding
high on the charts for two years straight. Def Leppard followed their
spectacular chart success with an equally successful international tour, an
impressive spectacle that featured plenty of lights and lasers.

Further tragedy struck Def Leppard when guitarist Steve Clark overdosed after
years of drug and alcohol abuse. Carrying on as a foursome, the group released
"Adrenalize" in 1992. "Let's Get Rocked" became a #15 hit, and its video, which
mixed a band performance with computer animation, became an MTV favorite. "Have
You Ever Needed Someone So Bad" was a trademark richly harmonized ballad that
also became a Top-20 hit.

After several years, it was time for a long hiatus, and the members of Def
Leppard took a break to recharge and tackle individual projects. Although they
played the occasional concert, they would be out of action until 1996. In the
interim, they released "Retro Active", a collection of rarities and B-sides, and
"Vault", a best-of album. The 1993 Arnold Schwarzenegger flick Last Action Hero
also gave Def Leppard a chance to show off their balladry on the soundtrack
single "Two Steps Behind." The song hit #12 on the charts, boosted by a
memorable video filmed entirely backward (but with lead singer Joe Elliot still
mouthing the words in forward motion).

The group returned in 1996 with "Slang", which stripped down the group's
trademark big sound to experiment with new styles. For instance, "Truth" toyed
with an industrial sound, while the album's title track was surprisingly
r&b-flavored.

Most recently, Def Leppard released "Euphoria" and "X", albums that hearkened
back to the 'big sounds' of classics like "Pyromania" and "Hysteria." They are
currently on tour, and performing for the first time at the Bryce Jordan Center,
proving that their polished pop-metal sound is still very much in style.

DATE:       August 29, 7:30 p.m.
TICKETS:    $35.00 and $45.00
ONSALE:     Saturday, July 12 at 10 a.m.
SETUP:      end
GUESTS:	    Ricky Warwick
WRISTBANDS: Wristbands will be made available Friday, July 11 from 8:00 a.m.
until 5:00 p.m., and Saturday, July 12 from 8 a.m. until 9 a.m. Wristbands are
for ticket buyers wishing to purchase tickets at the Bryce Jordan Ticket Center
only.