Tony was (presumably) born in Sheffield, England.
He attended Tapton Comprehensive School along with future Def Leppard bassist Rick Savage.
Together they would form Atomic Mass in 1976 with Peter Doubleday (guitar) and Nicholas Mackley (singer). Later featuring Pete Willis.
By November 1977 Atomic Mass would become Def Leppard after they were joined by Joe Elliott.
Tony is credited with finding the legendary Portland Works 'Spoon Factory' rehearsal rooms for the band in 1977.
He also suggested changing the name 'Deaf Leopard' to 'Def Leppard'.
Tony was nicknamed 'Reuben' due to his 'classical looks' according to the 1987 'Animal Instinct' official biography book.
Joe Elliott has said in interviews that Tony played with the band for at least the first eight Def Leppard shows.
Firing From Def Leppard (1978)
Tony was fired from the band over dinner with Joe Elliott on 18th November 1978.
His firing came just a week before the recording of The Def Leppard E.P.
The band thought he was not reliable enough and after he missed rehearsals decided he had to go.
Joe told him of his firing at The Wapentake which the band would go on to play in 1979.
Tony Kenning on his firing (1987)
"I said I was thinking of leaving anyway. And it was true at the time. I didn't really want to leave, but I was feeling low."
"They'd all made up their minds that the band was the only thing they wanted to do."
"I was still a bit unsure."
Spoon Factory Rehearsal (1977-1979)
Tony was the band member in charge of finding a rehearsal space in Sheffield after they formed.
In September 1977 he found one near Sheffield United's Bramall Lane football ground for five pounds per week.
Def Leppard Band Name (1977)
In late 1977 it was Tony who suggested changing the spelling of Joe Elliott's original 'Deaf Leopard' band name.
'Deaf Leopard' then became 'Def Leppard' which has been used ever since.
Any resemblance to 'Led Zeppelin' was unintentional.
Trivia
Tony was one of the four original members of pre-Lep band Atomic Mass who became Def Leppard.
He later played in a four-piece pop band called Cairo who released an independent single called 'Eight Bells' in 1984.
They were still together in mid 1985 and rehearsing in the same Spoon Factory he had found for Def Leppard.
In November 2013 Tony tried to sell the original Pearl drum kit he had used on the 1978 live shows, demo recordings.
The kit failed to sell. It had been listed with a price of 10,000 UK pounds.
Tony Kenning (eBay Listing Quotes 2013)
"For sale is the Drum Kit owned and used by me when I played for Def Leppard in the late 1970's. I have owned this kit for 35 years."
"It was used in all the early Gig's and was also used on the recording of the 1978 Demo featuring me playing and also the self financed Def Leppard E.P."
