Tuesday, 30th March 2021
Prev  |  Next

29 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD Get Rocked With ADRENALIZE Album Release

Adrenalize 1992. Def Leppard 1992

Def Leppard released their classic Adrenalize album 29 years ago on 30th March 1992 in the UK.

The band's fifth studio album was released on this day in UK and around the world and in North America a day later.

It was released on CD, LP and cassette and featured ten songs including a re-recording of 1987 B-Side 'Tear It Down'. Co-produced by the band a long time engineer Mike Shipley with guru Mutt Lange credited as Executive Producer. Their first album without him in the main role since 1980.

It included the singles Let's Get Rocked, 'Make Love Like A Man', 'Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad', 'Heaven Is', 'Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion)' and 'Tonight'. It went on to sell over 10 million copies around the world. At least six million of those in the first six months of release.

It would also enter the album charts in the UK/USA at Number One, spending the first five weeks at the top of the US Billboard Top 200 chart.

Having spent over three years making their fourth album 'Hysteria', and having dealt with Rick's Allen's car accident, illness and technical problems. The band vowed to make sure their fifth album would not take as long.

Towards the end of the 1988 Hysteria world tour the band stated that they "had a plan". Initially that plan indicated a 'Retro-Active' type album mixing new recordings of B-Sides and some new material with a view to releasing it by Summer 1989 or early 1990, touring more for 'Hysteria' or releasing it and working on a proper fifth album.

As with 'Hysteria', those plans changed with more album delays and the biggest setback of their career to date, the death of band member Steve Clark in January 1991. His illness also hindering the progress of the album in 1989 and 1990 as he was in and our of rehab and battling serious alcohol addiction.

Following his death the band finished the album as a four piece. In February 1992 they would recruit a new guitarist from Belfast for their upcoming world tour.

"New Guy" Vivian Campbell would not be unveiled until after the album's release. The band completing and releasing the album as a four piece as a mark of respect to Steve to whom the album was also dedicated.


Visit the Tour News section. For more news on future tour plans.

Visit the Album News section for more news on new music (based on band member quotes).


Def Leppard 1992.

Read the full 'Adrenalize' album release story in the Lep History section.

This section includes all major historical events and releases.



Def Leppard 2020.

Def Leppard / Latest Release


Def Leppard / Latest Tour

Def Leppard World Tour 2021


Related News - 32 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD's HYSTERIA Album 2x Platinum In The UK

Related News - 41 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD's ON THROUGH THE NIGHT Album At #15 In UK

Related News - 33 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD Release ARMAGEDDON IT Single In UK

Related News - 41 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD's ON THROUGH THE NIGHT North American Release

Related News - 33 Years Ago HYSTERIA Becomes DEF LEPPARD's First US Top Ten Hit

Related News - 38 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD's PYROMANIA Album Certified GOLD In USA


share this story:





get def leppard news

Stay in touch with the latest updates.


explore def leppard tour history
All News
Tour News
Album News
All Tours