Def Leppard News - 28 Years Ago Def Leppard Release Rocket Single In The UK

Monday, 30th January 2017

28 Years Ago Def Leppard Release Rocket Single In The UK

Rocket 1989.

Def Leppard released their classic Rocket single 28 years ago on this day in 1989 in the UK.

The sixth and final single to be released from the Hysteria album in the UK.

It was released on 30th January 1989 reaching Number 15 on the singles chart.

A song which referenced many of the band's early musical influences from the early 1970s Glam period including Elton John and David Bowie.

The follow up to 'Love Bites' which had reached Number 11 in July.

The single released on regular 7", 12", CD and cassette featuring a new B-Side called 'Release Me' and a live version of 'Rock of Ages' from Tilburg, Holland.

This song was jokingly recorded during the 'Hysteria' B-Side sessions in February 1987 with Steve Clark's roadie Malvin Mortimer on guest lead vocals.

The song was billed as being by Stumpus Maximus And The Good Ol' Boys. Malvin being Stumpus and Def Leppard as the backing musicians.

The CD, 12" Picture Disc and 7" 'Brit Pack' box versions included three different versions of 'Rocket'.

The main single edit, extended mix and radio edit. The main edit and extended versions were billed as 'The Lunar Mix'.

The two other versions of 'Rocket' were the regular album version and a shorter extended mix of 7 minutes that was released with the 'Love Bites' CD single.

This sixth UK single featured custom artwork using the back cover of the 'Hysteria' album. 'Love Bites' had been intended as the final UK single and was the last of the album cover segment singles, meaning only five UK singles could be used to make up the full cover art.

Shown below are some quotes from the band about this song.

Def Leppard 1989.

Canadian Rocket EP - Band Message

"January 1989 - In your hands is Def Leppard single #7 from 'Hysteria'. You gotta hand it to the Brits for this one 'cause they thought it would be a great follow up to their last single, which was either "Sugar" or "Love Bites" (I've lost track). They wanted a video for the track and since we had such a good time making the "Rocket" video (our childhood, what can we say!), why not give everybody a chance to play and watch "Rocket".

Right now we're back making the 5th album, thrilled to bits with everything that's gone on and looking forward to putting out our live concert video; In The Round-In Your face (something like that). One track on this piece of vinyl/plastic/whatever comes from that live video. I believe it was song number 3 in the show: "Women".

"Thank you and goodnight."

Phil Collen - Vault Inner Sleeve Quote

"Probably our most adventurous song from 'Hysteria'. A cool video and my favourite live song."

Phil Collen - 27th July 2011 Interview Quote

"My favorite song to play is "Rocket." I think that kind of represents Def Leppard in one sentence, you know? Big guitars, big drums, a tribal song, actually. It's what the song is about, our heroes and the whole thing."

Phil Collen - 5th July 2012 Interview Quotes

"Even in demo form, Joe said, 'I've got an idea to use the rhythm from this African Burundi tribe.' There was a song in the '70s called Burundi Black, and I remembered it, and so the idea was to use that feel and turn it into a real rock anthem. It was a little weird and quirky, but it really came together.

"I feel that Rocket is the absolute pinnacle of Def Leppard. It sums us up in a nutshell: massive drums, massive guitars, big choruses, and lyrically, it's what the Yeah! album was. So you've got all of our influences and elements right there.

"I used the Strat on all the jangle parts and the rhythms. We had a lot of fun making that Star Wars bit in the middle - you know, 'Countdown commencing' and all that. It was an absolute blast. It's Star Wars for the ears. And again, what was great was to not be restricted by your genre. We knew what we were doing was different and it sounded great.

"We had started taking weekends off, and I remember Nigel Green, the engineer, sitting in the studio with an AMS delay machine, and he was delaying all the stuff by hand. 'Ahh-ahh-ahhh…' Now you can do that so easily, but he had to do it the hard way - physically."

2004 Best Of Liner Notes - Joe Elliott Quote

"It’s sometimes compared to Adam & The Ant’s or the Glitter Band because they both made an effort to feature the drums. In fact. The idea came from an African band called Burundi Black. I first heard them while having a meal on a barge in Holland. I borrowed the tape. Took it to the guys and they loved it. The band took the ball. Ran with it and made it sound fantastic. Even making the mid-section sound like an updated version of ‘Whole Lotta Love’. Lyrically. We namechecked everything from our youth: There were references to artists diverse as Lou Reed to Elton John. A real team effort."

2004 Best Of Liner Notes - Phil Collen Quote

"Probably our most adventurous song. It’s also my favourite of ours to play live."

Def Leppard - Rocket Single Section
Def Leppard - Hysteria Tour 1987/1988
Def Leppard - Hysteria Album Section
Related News - 30th January 2017
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