Def Leppard singer: Band is blessed
Like the fictional Spinal Tap, the real-life Def Leppard is known as one of the most enduring bands in rock. Case in point: After drummer Rick Allen lost an arm in 1985 as a result of a car crash, he developed a specialized drum kit and managed to keep on playing.
Tragedy visited the band again in 1991 with the death of guitarist Steve Clark after a long bout with drug and alcohol addiction. Yet, despite adversity, Def Leppard, whose current tour hits Verizon Amphitheater on Saturday, has continued to perform, produce albums such as 2002's "X" and maintain a loyal fan base.
The band's story is the stuff of VH1's "Behind the Music" — and indeed, the Def Leppard "BTM" was one of the channel's more successful episodes and even spawned a VH1 made-for-TV movie.