Though metal bands with big hair and spandex were a dime a dozen in the ‘80s, none had the solid chops of Def Leppard, which turned out some of the era's most melodic hard rock with an image and charisma that was second to none. The fact that they also pulled through personal tragedy, sticking together and continuing to tour with drummer Rick Allen after he tragically lost his arm in a car accident.

The band formed its roots in Sheffield, England in 1977, when bassist Rick Savage, guitarist Pete Willis, and vocalist Joe Elliot joined together as teenagers bent on bringing their love of early ‘70s glam and hard rock to grander stage. In time, they would include guitarist Steve Clark as well. The band went through several drummers before settling on Allen in 1978.

Originally called Deaf Leopard, they changed the name, giving them a distinctive edge. Within just a few years, they had released a debut EP and secured a niche in the music press as up-and-coming rockers that could be appreciated best live. Hitting the road and touring heavily, they scored a major hit in 1981 with High and Dry, their second full-length album but their first to go platinum. The hit single "Bringin' on the Heartbreak" surely helped move copies of the album, with a music video increasing their exposure on a new television channel called MTV.

Music videos were a path to success for the band, who scored further hits with "Photograph" and "Rock of Ages" in 1983. Unfortunately, shortly afterward, Rick Allen would be severely injured in a car accident. Though his arm was reattached, an infection required it to be amputated.

That didn't stop the band from rocking hard and touring across America and the world, where they would continue to find success until the early ‘90s, when their popularity finally waned.