Tuesday
Nov092021
42 Years Ago In The UK
Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 03:51PM
Do you ever wonder what Def Leppard would sound like today if Pete Willis had remained in the band? That is always one of the favorite musical "what ifs" I like to ponder from time to time. I was surprised to see Def Leppard post the anniversary of "Wasted/Hello America" today, but glad for it. Gave me time to ponder about Willis again and also prompted me to listen to "Wasted" for the first time in a long while.
Celebrating 42 years since the release of Wasted/Hello America in the UK 🤘 pic.twitter.com/mWu2YxrTHn
— Def Leppard (@DefLeppard) November 9, 2021
tagged Def Leppard, Pete Willis
Def Leppard, Pete Willis
Reader Comments (8)
the original with Pete: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwa6-w2yqcM
the one with Phil and Vivian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWR1Uw5qOK4
both fucking amazing!
I can play this song minus the solo's but I'm trying to learn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWR1Uw5qOK4
And, yes, I know he was in Gogmagog (short lived). And also Roadhouse (short lived, natch). And I liked Roadhouse's "Tower of Love" for what it was (those choruses sure sound funny nowadays though). And Gogmagog? Well, it sounds like Iron Maiden falling apart. You had Gers, Burr, and Di'Anno, of course. I don't see Murray adding much to it. I mean, the title song "I Will Be There" limps along with the twin guitar attack. But, again, this sounds like left-over Maiden. I don't hear Will is on this (in a figurative way). And it wasn't a real band to begin with. So, moving on . . .
Thing is, I think that Lep--with Willis and Clark in tow--might have stayed heavier longer . . . but not for the long-haul. But you jettison the one and then watch, sadly, the other fall apart. And what do you have? A lot of gloss, a lot of sheen, and not much of what those first two or three albums sounded like (I am putting aside the fact that a robot played drums on one of them!!!). And I am not disputing that they were onto something, commercially.
The lifers--and, to be clear, I don't just mean the originals, as some of the newcomers were also on board with adding a coat of oil, now and then--in that band had an idea. And you could hear it germinating on at least the second and third albums. It came to fruition on the fourth, albeit partially inspired by some tragedy in the band that they respectfully dealt with and through. But that was it. By the time of Hysteria, the grit was wiped away (and a vestige of their earlier sound was dying, slowly, because of his demons). By the time of Adrenalize, you couldn't even find it if you wanted to do so with a forensics scientist! Well, that's not true (as others have pointed out in previous points). Clark's DNA exists on that album. But the cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T) of hard rock are being overwhelmed by the adrenalize (A) of pap. That's a science joke! Enjoy!
I know they love Mott. But I think they love Pop more. And that is okay. But I think that the glam of Mott was not the pop of Lep, even if it might nod to it. Besides, Lep is doing well. And doing well because they moved beyond the stuff that I still prefer. So I am an outlier, yes? Yes. Think I will go listen to Gogmagog's "Living in a F---ing Time Warp." Why? It sounds like the Sex Pistols took quaaludes! Hahaha.
One thing that bothers me, though: not sure why I added that mysterious space in Willis' name. Again, I blame the editor!
Do you read this site often? Just curious? I don't recall you posting. But I might be mistaken.
And, to be clear, this site has a short tail nowadays. Not sure anyone who reads or posts will see this after more than two days. Me? Well, I go back a bit further (as one who posts, not as one who simply reads).
So chime in now and again. Add your flavor to this site. Me? I am a nobody. But I love what Allyson provides.
Again, thanks for sharing. I enjoyed that.