Def Leppard News - 41 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD Release First Record (The DEF LEPPARD EP)

Sunday, 5th January 2020

41 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD Release First Record (The DEF LEPPARD EP)

Def Leppard 1979

Def Leppard released their first record The Def Leppard EP in England 41 years ago this month in January 1979.

The band had travelled to Fairview Studios in Hull, England in late November 1978 to spend two days recording their very first vinyl release.

The band's very first vinyl record featured three original songs, 'Ride Into The Sun', 'Getcha Rocks Off' and 'The Overture', and marked the start of their long recording career.

The EP helped to get them noticed in the UK press via journalists like Geoff Barton at Sounds magazine who would eventually come up to Sheffield in June 1979 with Ross Halfin to see them for the first time. Following months of letters from Joe asking him to see them.

Joe gave the EP to DJ John Peel who played it on his BBC Radio 1 show. Another BBC DJ Andy Peebles heard the EP and gave the band their first Radio 1 live session.

Frank was borrowed from The Next Band specifically for this session after original drummer Tony Kenning had been fired on 18th November.

The EP cost £148.50 to record which was borrowed from Joe Elliott Snr. A further £450 was borrowed by Joe from a work colleague to fund the first vinyl pressing and the picture sleeves (stuck together by Joe and his Mum) cost £65.

It was first released in January 1979 on their own jokingly titled "Bludgeon Riffola Records" with a red label.

The EP was later issued by Phonogram Records as their first ever 7" maxi-single in September 1979 with 'Getcha Rocks Off' as the lead track. Although it was actually track 1 on Side A with 'Ride Into The Sun' moved to track 2 on the same side. This release of the EP is why it is sometimes referred to as 'Getcha Rocks Off' EP or their first single.

The EP was issued by Phonogram Records as their first ever 7" maxi-single in September 1979 with 'Getcha Rocks Off' as the lead track. Although it was actually track 1 on Side A with 'Ride Into The Sun' moved to track 2 on the same side. This release of the EP is why it is sometimes referred to as 'Getcha Rocks Off' EP or their first single.

Technically speaking the first stand alone 7" single for the band was 'Wasted' in November 1979.

The EP was issued by Phonogram Records as their first ever 7" maxi-single in September 1979 with 'Getcha Rocks Off' as the lead track.