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Def Leppard Tour History Fan Archive.
21 Years Ago Def Leppard's SLANG Single #17 In The UK

Thursday, 11th May 2017





Slang 1996.

Def Leppard's classic Slang single peaked at Number 17 in the UK charts on this day in 1996.

The title track and first UK single to be released from the 'Slang' album.

The single was released on 22nd April 1996 and was the first of four UK singles from the album of the same name.

It entered at Number 18 on 4th May before rising to 17 in its second week helped by another Top Of The Pops performance.

It spent five weeks in total on the Top 100 chart.

On the same day the single also went to Number One on the Rock Singles chart having been at Number 2 the week before.

The late George Michael was at Number One with the single 'Fastlove'.

Both this and Def Leppard's single gave proceeds to the Mercury Phoenix Trust.

Other rock acts in the Top 40 that week included Manic Street Preachers (9) and Oasis (36).

Just above Def Leppard in the chart at Number 16 was Robert Miles with electronic hit 'Children'. His death, at the age of 47, was announced on 10th May by the press.

UK Singles Chart - 11th May 1996

  • 01 - George Michael - Fastlove
  • 02 - Mark Morrison - Return Of The Mack
  • 03 - Gina G - Ooh Aah...Just A Little Bit
  • 04 - Suggs & Louchie Lou/Michie One - Cecilia
  • 05 - Blur - Charmless Man - (New Entry)
  • 17 - Def Leppard - Slang - (New Entry/Peak Position)

UK Rock Singles Chart - 11th May 1996

  • 01 - Def Leppard - Slang - (Peak Position)
  • 02 - Honeycrack - King Of Misery
  • 03 - Terrorvision - Celebrity Hit List
  • 04 - AC/DC - Hail Caesar - (New Entry)
  • 05 - Babylon Zoo - Animal Army

Slang 1996.
UK Advert

Slang - Song Description By Phil Collen 1996

"Contrary to popular belief this song is not about shagging! In fact, it's more of a safe sex anthem (avoiding contact and the like). We wanted to blend metal guitars with an almost James Brown kind of thing over a modern dance track then add some Latin percussion and stuff. It's very hard to make those hybrid or fusion type songs work, but we really nailed it!"

Joe Elliott - May 1996 Biography Quote

"Possibly the most obvious Def Leppard thing on the record. We wanted to get a thing going, a cross between a Kinksy, Stonesy rock song and a rap thing."

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