Def Leppard – ‘Bringin On The Heartbreak’
  • Writers: Steve Clark, Joe Elliott, and Pete Willis
  • Producer: Robert John “Mutt” Lange
  • Recorded: Spring 1981 in England
  • Released: Summer 1981
  • Players:
    Joe Elliott — vocals
    Steve Clark — guitar, vocals
    Pete Willis — guitar, vocals
    Rick Savage — bass, vocals
    Rick Allen — drums
  • Album: High ‘N’ Dry (Mercury, 1981)
  • Also On:
    Vault–Greatest Hits 1980-1995 (Mercury, 1996)
    Rock Of Ages: The Definitive Collection (Island, 2005)
  • Taken from Def Leppard‘s second album, “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak” only reached Number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart but received substantial airplay at rock radio, giving the group their first hit.
  • Bassist Rick Savage, however, notes that the song “nearly didn’t make High ‘N’ Dry because it was a ballad.”
  • A remixed version of “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak” appeared on a reissued High ‘N’ Dry that was released in 1984, in the wake of the multi-platinum success of Def Leppard’s third album, Pyromania.
  • High ‘N’ Dry and “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak” marked the beginning of Def Leppard’s association with producer Robert John Mutt Lange, who was brought in specifically to create a smoother, more polished, and radio-friendly sound for the band.
  • High ‘N’ Dry reached Number 38 on the Billboard 200 and Number 26 on the U.K. chart.

FAST FORWARD:

  • Guitarist Pete Willis was booted out of Def Leppard in 1982 because of a reported alcohol problem and increasing acrimony between him and the rest of the group. Former Girl guitarist Phil Collen replaced Willis.
  • Drummer Rick Allen lost his left arm in a New Year’s Eve 1984 auto accident. He adapted to a one-arm style and continues to play with the band.
  • Def Leppard continues to tour and record. The group’s latest release, a covers project titled Yeah!, came out last year, and they mounted an extremely successful tour with Journey.

Their upcoming album Songs From the Sparkle Lounge comes out April 29th, and the band is now on tour.