Monday, 13th August 2018
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35 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD's ROCK OF AGES At Number 16 In The USA

Def Leppard 1983. Rock Of Ages 1983

Def Leppard's classic single Rock Of Ages reached Number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart on this day in 1983.

The single was the second to be released from the 'Pyromania' album.

It reached Number 16 on the main Billboard Top 100 singles chart spending 15 weeks on there in total.

It spent three weeks inside the Top 20 in all.

It had entered the chart on 11th June at Number 75 taking ten weeks to rise to its peak position.

Read some comments below on the song by Joe from various sources.

Rock Of Ages 1983.

Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart - 13th August 1983

  • 01 - The Police - Every Breath You Take
  • 02 - Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
  • 03 - Donna Summer - She Works Hard For The Money
  • 04 - Michael Sembello - Maniac
  • 05 - Duran Duran - Is There Something I Should Know
  • 16 - Def Leppard - Rock Of Ages (Peak Position)

Fellow British band The Police were at Number One on this day with 'Every Breath You Take' which was in that position for eight weeks.

Other rock acts on the chart this week included many future touring partners such as Loverboy, Journey, Bryan Adams and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts.

Joe Elliott - Vault Album Sleeve Quote

"Stole the chorus from the Bible. Honestly!!. We wanted something big and bombastic. After all, it was the eighties."

VH1- Joe Elliott Interview Quotes

Where did the idea for "Rock of Ages" come from?

"We had the backing track for "Rock Of Ages" but were singing melodies because we didn't have any lyrics. We let somebody use the studio the night before, and they held a bible study session. A Bible was left in the studio open to the hymn "Rock of Ages." So I picked it up and started singing, "Rock of ages." Mutt went, "That's it! That's the chorus!" It was a very anthemic song. This was us doing Joan Jett's "I Love Rock And Roll" or Billy Squier's "The Stroke" or Queen's "We Will Rock You." Big drums, handclaps, no guitars in the verse, singing, and then guitars blaring in on the chorus."

Rock Of Ages 1983.

Gunter glieben glauten globen?

"That's the intro to "Rock Of Ages." It's Mutt Lange. There were no guitars in the verses, just drums. So instead of counting off one, two, three, four, he'd say these ridiculous things to make everybody laugh. One of them was "chapati papadum something something," all about Indian food. The other one was "Gunter glieben glauten globen." Some German guy sent a letter to our Artist Pages and said that it's German for "running through the forest silently." I'm assured it isn't. This guy must have just escaped from the happy house or something."


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