Can You Play An Instrument? Enter The Def Leppard Covers Contest

Def Leppard continues their 45th anniversary celebration with a contest for fans who also happen to be musicians. Enter the #DefLeppardCovers contest through TikTok or Instagram Reels... and see if you are chosen a winner! If you enter, please let me know in the comments!

How to enter:
1. Record a video of you playing/singing a cover of your favorite Def Leppard song
2. Upload it to TikTok / Instagram Reels
3. Tag @DefLeppard
4. Use the hashtag #DefLeppardCovers
5. Contest ends on February 15!

Good luck – we can’t wait to see your entries! 🤘

— Def Leppard (@DefLeppard) February 1, 2022

Looking for inspiration to enter the #DefLeppardCovers contest? Check out this Pour Some Sugar On Me guitar tutorial from Phil Collen himself 🎸

What song will YOU be covering for this contest? Upload your video, tag @DefLeppard and use #DefLeppardCovers, and let us know!🤘 pic.twitter.com/FwmCuBamEt

— Def Leppard (@DefLeppard) February 3, 2022

45 Years Of Def Leppard

This year marks the 45th anniversary of Def Leppard.

One of my very favorite band shirts is one that Heather gave me many years ago. It has the Leps band name on the front and the number "77" on the back in yellow. It is raglan style - and sort of resembles a sports jersey. It is kind of cool to know that the band is going to commemorate the anniversary all year long. You can share your memories of the Leps on social media. 

2022 marks 45 years since Def Leppard’s formation in 1977! Get ready to celebrate with us all year long 🤘

We want to hear how Def Leppard has been a part of YOUR life in the past 45 years!

Share your Leppard memories using #DefLeppard45 for a chance to be featured💥 pic.twitter.com/KQPfj7Z3u2

— Def Leppard (@DefLeppard) January 25, 2022

Sharing A Fun Def Leppard Tweet

November is the official 44th anniversary of Def Leppard becoming a band. Today is the last day of the month, so the Leps marked the anniversary with a Tweet. They are asking for fans to share their favorite songs and memories. The same post is on Facebook. All you need to do to share your memories is to reply to either social post. It's always fun for me to read people's responses to questions like the one posted below.

November 2021 marks 44 years since the formation of DEF LEPPARD in 1977 🤘

Let us know your favorite Def Leppard songs, albums, and memories in the comments 🙏 pic.twitter.com/JngUkdcsok

— Def Leppard (@DefLeppard) November 30, 2021

42 Years Ago In The UK

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

The Escape Club: Glam or Nah?

Way back in the 80s there was a UK band called The Escape club and they had a massive hit in America with "Wild, Wild West." The song reentered my orbit Friday night while once again watching MTV classic 80s block (or something to that effect). Watching the clip for "Wild, Wild West" I was sort of struck by the song and how the band looked and then I started to wonder... were these guys Glam? Like, maybe a little?

Now they are very pop-oriented but so was Def Leppard in 1988. "Wild, Wild West" was a single that year. The track is from the album of the same name. I do not think it is much of a leap to think fans of Hysteria-era Def Leppard also jammed out to The Escape Club.

Now the video is insane and completely 80s. I remember watching the clip all those years ago and thinking how odd it was, even by 80s MTV standards. It garnered a lot of news coverage too. Press called it everything from sexist (it is), to modernist and innovative (yep) and just straight-up bizarre (check). Regardless, the weird little video helped make the band famous, at least for a minute. The members definitely look Glam to me. What do you think?

A making-of look back:

Def Leppard Announces Limited Edition 'Pyromania' Merch

From the company Collectionzz, Def Leppard just launched a limited edition run of Pyromania era merch, including a patch and tour screenprint (poster). I share because I know a few of you have jean jackets with band patches. Looks like the poster is $75, so not cheap! There are only 200 of them and they are hand signed by the artist.

Scrolling through artists, I noticed Motley Crue is listed. There are a lot of nice posters featuring them back in the 80s.

Still In My Top 5 Of All Time

Def Leppard's Hysteria will always be in my top 5 albums of all time. In fact, it's probably my second favorite album, following Aerosmith Rocks. On this date back in 1988, Hysteria reached the top position on the Billboard chart. It stayed there for six weeks, but not consecutively. That is a huge accomplishment and testament to the popularity of the band and their place in cultural music history.

On this day in Leppard History - 33 Years ago on July 23, Hysteria peaked at #1 on @billboard's Top 200 Chart 🤘 Blast the album to celebrate 💥 pic.twitter.com/E7Ti0hyi1A

— Def Leppard (@DefLeppard) July 23, 2021