http://www.columbian.com/09232003/life/75143.html

'80s headliners rockin' again

Tuesday, September 23, 2003
By BRETT OPPEGAARD, Columbian staff writer

Radio stations have resurrected the format. Teenagers have reinvented the
styles.

    And many of the so-quickly-forgotten bands of the 1980s have returned to the
road, with a resurgence in popularity rising to levels not seen for at least a
decade.

    Def Leppard, a prime example of this '80s-revival phenomenon, is one of
those touring again, including a stop Friday night in The Amphitheater at Clark
County.

    The British band started a string of hit records in 1981 with "High 'n'
Dry," followed by "Pyromania" in 1983 and "Hysteria" in 1987.

    "Hysteria" -- which included six Top 40 singles, including "Pour Some Sugar
on Me" and "Armageddon It" -- sold more than 12 million copies in the United
States, a benchmark that fewer than 50 artists/bands have reached.

    Other notable songs in Def Leppard's catalog include "Rock of Ages,"
"Foolin' " and "Photograph." "Love Bites," also off the "Hysteria" album, was
the group's lone No. 1 single.

    Founded in Sheffield, England, in 1977, Def Leppard originally was composed
of singer Joe Elliott, guitarists Steve Clark and Pete Willis, bassist Rick
Savage and drummer Rick Allen.

    Willis was fired early on and replaced by Phil Collen. Then drummer Allen,
on New Year's Eve 1984, rolled his Corvette, severing his arm. He vowed to keep
performing and eventually developed ways he could use foot pedals and occasional
pre-recorded tracks to continue.

    The other original guitarist, Clark, died in 1991 from mixing alcohol and
drugs. He has been replaced by Vivian Campbell, formerly of the bands Whitesnake
and Dio.

    It's been almost a decade since Def Leppard released its greatest hits
album, "Vault," but the band has a new effort dubbed "X," as in the Roman
numeral 10, which is the number of records now produced by the group.

    Meanwhile, the band has been featured on a variety of VH1 TV specials,
including those in series such as "Behind the Music," "Storytellers" and
"Ultimate Albums."

    IF YOU GO

    * WHAT: Def Leppard, with opening act Ricky Warwick.
    * WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday.
    * WHERE: The Amphitheater at Clark County, 17402 Delfel Road, Ridgefield.
    * COST: $37.50 and $47.50.
    * INFORMATION: To reserve seats, call Ticketmaster at 503-224-4400.
    * ON THE WEB: www.clarkcountyamp.com.

Copyright © 2003 by The Columbian Publishing Co.