Between these two albums, the band faced a major tragedy. Drummer Rick Allen was in a near-fatal car crash. He lost his left arm in the accident. Despite this, Allen survived and learned to play drums again. He redesigned his drum kit using electronic trigger pads. This new style of drumming influenced the sound of Hysteria.
Producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange, known for his strict attention to detail, layered many guitars and vocals on the album. His work created a sound so dense and rich that it made Phil Spector’s famous Wall of Sound seem small in comparison.
More than half of the album’s songs were released as singles. Def Leppard wanted Hysteria to be their version of Thriller by Michael Jackson. They saw themselves as part of the broader pop music world. Their peers were not bands like Bon Jovi or Mötley Crüe but pop legends like Michael Jackson and Prince.
Whether Hysteria equals Thriller is a debate for the internet. But there is no doubt that Def Leppard perfected the art of pop metal, hair metal, and 80s hard rock. The five songs below show why Hysteria remains a unique achievement in music.
“Pour Some Sugar On Me”
When this song came out in 1987, it was everywhere. Guitarists Phil Collen and Steve Clark layered many guitar parts, but they left room for Allen’s electronic drumming. The beat had a new wave feel, and the catchy vocals leaned more towards pop than metal. Yet, the song still packs a punch and sounds as modern as anything made with today’s digital tools. Modern country music’s polished sound owes a lot to the style of “Pour Some Sugar On Me.”
“Armageddon It”
Hair metal, which started in early 70s glam rock, shows its roots in this song. It has the flashy style of T. Rex’s Electric Warrior. While many 80s guitarists focused on showy playing, every note on this track is carefully written. Despite the detailed production, the song feels alive and musical. Lange’s vocal production makes even Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet sound simple by comparison. And it’s still very danceable.
“Hysteria”
When people mention hair metal, it often comes with a note: guilty pleasure, ironic listening, or 80s tribute night. But the title track from Hysteria needs no such label. The band also avoided typical power ballads. Instead, “Hysteria” uses layers of clean guitars, which could fit on U2’s The Joshua Tree. This song may be Def Leppard’s power ballad, but it is more refined than songs like “Home Sweet Home.” Since 1987, any band using the suspended D chord progression invites comparison to “Hysteria.”
“Animal”
The pre-chorus of “Animal” could be a hit chorus for many pop metal bands. But Def Leppard always took their music further. Just when it seems the vocals can’t get better, lead singer Joe Elliott surprises listeners. While many bands use gang vocals that sound vague, Def Leppard’s gang vocals remain distinctively theirs. This song is a key track on Hysteria. The band nearly named the album Animal Instinct, showing how important this song was among the album’s 62 minutes of music.
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