Adrenalize

Def Leppard’s “Adrenalize” is their fifth studio album, released on 31 March 1992, by Mercury Records. Notably, it marks the band’s first album without guitarist Steve Clark, who passed away in 1991. Although many songs were written and partly demoed before his death, guitarist Phil Collen re-recorded them solo in 1991-1992. This album stands as the only one recorded by Def Leppard as a four-member band.

Featuring seven singles, four of which, “Let’s Get Rocked”, “Make Love Like a Man”, “Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad”, and “Stand Up (Kick Love into Motion)” ‚ became major hits. “Tear It Down” is a re-recording of a track from a recording session post their “Hysteria” album, released as a B-side for the single “Women” in 1987. “White Lightning” is dedicated to Steve Clark, who has writing credits on six of the album’s ten tracks.

The album’s creation was marked by challenges, including drummer Rick Allen’s loss of an arm during the making of their previous album, “Hysteria”, and guitarist Steve Clark’s struggle with alcohol addiction, which eventually led to his death in January 1991. The band, coping with these losses, recorded the album as a four-piece.

Unlike their previous albums, “Adrenalize” was produced by the band themselves along with engineer Mike Shipley, with Robert John “Mutt” Lange serving as executive producer. The album debuted at No. 1 on both the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200, remaining atop the latter for five weeks. “Adrenalize” went on to sell over seven million copies worldwide, marking it as Def Leppard’s last studio album to achieve major mainstream success.