Def Leppard News - 31 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD's LOVE BITES At Number One In The USA

home > def leppard news >

Tuesday, 8th October 2019

Prev | Next

31 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD's LOVE BITES At Number One In The USA

Love Bites 1988

Def Leppard's classic Love Bites single reached Number One on the US Billboard Top 100 chart on this day in 1988.

The fifth US single from the Hysteria album was released on 27th August 1988 and had entered the chart at 52.

It went to Number One on 8th October 1988 replacing Bobby McFerrin's 'Don t Worry, Be Happy' at the top of the Hot 100.

The single would go on to spend 6 weeks in the Top 10 and 23 weeks in total on the chart.

It was Number 30 on the Year-End Hot 100 Singles of 1988.

The band were in Atlanta, GA on this day for the second of three sold out In The Round shows during the final month of the Hysteria world tour.

'Love Bites' remains their only US Number One single. Its success came off the back of the 'Hysteria' album reaching Number One and 'PSSOM' reaching Number Two on the Hot 100 in late July.

On the same day the 'Hysteria' album was at Number Two having recently ended the last of its six weeks at Number One on the Top 200 chart.

Joe and Phil spoke to Billboard in late 2011 about reaching Number One - watch the video below.

Fellow British band UB40 were at Number Two with Red Red Wine.

Lots of other rock acts were in the Top 40 that week including many who have since toured with Def Leppard including Europe who had supported them in July/August 1988.

They included Joan Jett And The Blackhearts (8), Poison (12), Guns N' Roses (16), INXS (18), Bon Jovi (26), Europe (31), Cinderella (34), U2 (37) and Van Halen (40).