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Definitely

The Official Story of Def Leppard

Def Leppard

'We had balls and we were naive, in a good way. We just went out there, full throttle…' - Joe Elliott

 
Offering fans the first-ever anthology of Def Leppard, Definitely: The Official Story of Def Leppard is narrated by the band and illustrated with hundreds of photographs and items of memorabilia from their personal archives.

The Authors

Definitely

'We've been around each other's pain and suffering, as well as the wonderful stuff like kids and marriage. And then when we make music together it's amazing.' - Phil Collen
Despite an average age of only 18, Def Leppard forever transformed the hard-rock scene upon their arrival in 1980, causing a new wave of the genre to erupt. Thinking big from the very start, the blueprint for their music was stated by singer Joe Elliott as 'Queen meets AC/DC.' Current members are Joe Elliott (lead vocals), Rick Savage (bass and vocals), Rick Allen (drums), Phil Collen (guitar and vocals) and Vivian Campbell (guitar and vocals). Past members were Tony Kenning (drums), Pete Willis (guitar) and Steve Clark (guitar). From extensive new text contributions to in-depth archival interviews, every member's voice is present within the book.
 
Def Leppard's story is one of stratospheric highs and crashing lows, one of triumph over adversity. As the band became one of the world's best-selling music artists with hit albums Pyromania and Hysteria, the band overcame drummer Rick Allen's accident and the death of bandmate Steve Clark. During their 45-year history, Def Leppard have continued their streak of bestselling albums, with 12 studio albums to their name including their 2022 release Diamond Star Halos, finding further success with every record and tour.

'We've grown up together. We've all been through a lot and had enough setbacks to realise that we're really strong as a team.' - Rick Allen

The Manuscript

Definitely

'Coming up during the punk era helped us because there were only a couple of bands playing our type of music. People probably took more notice of us because we stood out.' - Rick Savage The 62,000-word manuscript has been gathered from extensive new interviews with current band members, as well as text from archive interviews with Steve Clark and Pete Willis. The band's wide-ranging account chronicles Def Leppard's incredible story, from rehearsing in a spoon factory in Sheffield, to recording ground-breaking multi-platinum albums and playing sell-out stadium tours around the world.

'In the summer of 1988 we shifted 4 million copies of Hysteria in the US alone. At that moment we were the biggest band in the world.' - Joe Elliott
 
Definitely also features introductions by Queen founder and guitar maestro, Brian May, and renowned journalist and senior editor of Rolling Stone, David Fricke. A long-time friend and champion of the group, Brian May delivered the speech for Def Leppard's induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019, while David Fricke has written about the band from their earliest successes.
 
'Def Leppard are original, inimitable and, well, I'm gonna say immortal.' - Brian May

The Vault

Definitely

With unlimited access to the Def Leppard Vault, Definitely presents over 1,500 items of memorabilia and photography, spanning four decades of the band's history.

The hundreds of pieces of ephemera include handwritten correspondence, rare vinyl pressings, tour memorabilia, set lists, lyrics, stage clothing, music video storyboards, draft album artwork and press cuttings, including many from the band's early days presented in a wallpaper sample scrapbook compiled by Joe Elliott's mother, Cindy Elliott.

Hundreds of photographs are featured within the book, many of these unseen, granting the viewer unprecedented access to Def Leppard. Photographs from band members' personal archives and fans across the world are featured alongside those taken by renowned rock photographers such as Ross Halfin, Mick Rock and Anton Corbijn. The band is seen recording in various studios, at promo shoots, on tour in planes, trains, cars and Holiday Inns, backstage and, of course, doing what they are best known for - performing their explosive live shows in front of global audiences from 1978 to the present day.

Part memoir, part scrapbook, Definitely: The Official Story of Def Leppard is the ultimate record of Def Leppard's legendary career.

'Resilience and drive are at the core of Def Leppard and a big reason why the band has endured.' - Vivian Campbell

The Collector Copies

Definitely

Numbered 351 to 1,500, the Collector copies are 3/4 quarter bound in black vegan leather, with a portrait of the band printed on an aluminium plate front cover and the Def Leppard logo blocked on the back cover. The 296-page book is finished with colour foil blocking on the spine, and red page edging. Every copy in the edition is signed by Joe Elliott, Phil Collen, Rick Savage, Rick Allen and Vivian Campbell.

Presented in a clamshell box covered in a montage of images with an inset Def Leppard logo sticker and tour pass, the interior lid holds a specially pressed 7" single. The red and black marbled vinyl presents two previously unreleased live recordings: the A-side is 'Animal' (performed at the Royal Albert Hall, 2018), and the B-side is 'Slang' (recorded in Las Vegas, 2019).

A compartment under the book includes five Diamond Star Halos guitar picks in a small cloth bag and three replica tour passes. A large pull-ribbon, printed with the Def Leppard logo, lifts the book.

Edition: 1,150 numbered copies
Main volume: 245mm x 290mm, 296 pages
Signed by: Joe Elliott, Phil Collen, Rick Allen, Rick Savage and Vivian Campbell
7" Vinyl: Live recordings of 'Animal' (A-side) and 'Slang' (B-side)
Memorabilia: Five guitar picks and two tour passes 

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The Deluxe Copies

Definitely

Numbered 1 to 350, the Deluxe copies are fully bound in black vegan leather, with an inset aluminium plate on the front, printed with a portrait of the band, and the Def Leppard logo blocked on the back. Every Deluxe copy is signed by Joe Elliott, Phil Collen, Rick Savage, Rick Allen and Vivian Campbell.

Presented in a clamshell box, the interior holds the specially pressed 7" single. The red and black marbled vinyl presents two previously unreleased live recordings: the A-side is 'Animal' (performed at the Royal Albert Hall, 2018), and the B-side is 'Slang' (recorded in Las Vegas, 2019).

A compartment under the book includes five Diamond Star Halos guitar picks in a small cloth bag and three replica tour passes. A large pull-ribbon, printed with the Def Leppard logo, lifts the book.

Exclusive to the Deluxe copies is a signed and numbered photographic print of Def Leppard on stage at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, Wembley Stadium, 20 April 1992. Suitable for framing, the print is signed by Joe Elliott, Phil Collen, Rick Allen, Rick Savage and Vivian Campbell.

Completing the Deluxe boxed set, a second recess under the book contains a collectable cassette of the band's latest studio album, Diamond Star Halos.

Edition: 350 numbered copies
Main volume: 245mm x 290mm, 296 pages
Signed by: Joe Elliott, Phil Collen, Rick Allen, Rick Savage and Vivian Campbell
7" Vinyl: Live recordings of 'Animal' (A-side) and 'Slang' (B-side)
Memorabilia: Five guitar picks and two tour passes 
Deluxe Print: 10" x 8" photographic print on archival paper, hand-signed by the band
Cassette Album: Diamond Star Halos
 
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Definitely

The Official Story of Def Leppard

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Deluxe
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Offering fans the most personal and comprehensive record of Def Leppard's history to date, Definitely: The Official Story of Def Leppard is narrated by the band in their own words, illustrated with photography and memorabilia from the Def Leppard archives. Published as a signed limited edition box set of 1,500 copies worldwide.

  • Available from: June 2022
  • Published: February 2024
  • Page size: 290mm x 245mm
  • 240 pages
  • 62000 words
  • 1520 images
  • ISBN:
    9781905662784
  • Deluxe
    350 copies
  • Signed by:
    Joe Elliott, Phil Collen, Rick Allen, Rick Savage and Vivian Campbell
  • Contributors:
    Brian May, David Fricke
  • Binding:
    Fully bound in vegan leather with inset aluminium plate
  • Box:
    Solander (clamshell) case
  • Extras:
    Exclusive vinyl pressing, tour memorabilia, signed photographic print, collectable Diamond Star Halos cassette

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