Pyromania | ||||
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Studio album by Def Leppard | ||||
Released | 20 January 1983 | |||
Recorded | January–November 1982 | |||
Studio | Park Gates Studios, Battle, East Sussex, England; Battery Studios, London | |||
Genre | Hard rock, heavy metal, Glam metal | |||
Length | 44:57 | |||
Label |
Vertigo (UK and Europe) Mercury (US) |
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Producer | Robert John "Mutt" Lange | |||
Def Leppard chronology | ||||
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Singles from Pyromania | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
CD Guide to Pop & Rock | |
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 7/10 |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
The Great Rock Discography | 7/10 |
MusicHound | 3.5/5 |
Rolling Stone | |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
Sputnikmusic | 4.5/5 |
The Village Voice | C |
Pyromania is the third studio album by English rock band Def Leppard, released on 20 January 1983. The first album to feature guitarist Phil Collen who replaced founding member Pete Willis, Pyromania was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. The album was a shift away from the band's heavy metal roots towards more radio-friendly glam rock and hard rock, finding massive mainstream success. Pyromania charted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, No. 4 on the Canadian RPM Album chart and No. 18 on the UK Albums Chart selling over ten million copies in the US, thus being certified diamond by the RIAA.
The album was partially recorded with original guitarist Pete Willis, whose rhythm guitar tracks appear on all songs. Midway through the recording sessions, Willis was fired for excessive alcohol abuse and was replaced by guitarist Phil Collen, who contributed guitar solos and other parts that had not yet been recorded by Willis. On the original LP release, Willis is visible in the background of the photograph of lead singer Joe Elliott, while Collen is given his own personal photo as the new full-time member of the group.
The album can also be seen as a transitional one between the heavy metal sound of their first two albums and the beginning of the radio-friendly direction of later releases. The album featured heavy metal rockers such as "Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)", "Stagefright" and "Die Hard the Hunter" as well as Top-40 hits "Photograph", "Rock of Ages" and "Foolin'".