03/25/2026
This week in 1984, the Def Leppard LP “Pyromania” re-entered the UK Albums Chart at #87 (March 24)
It was Def Leppard’s third studio album (originally released on 20 January 1983, and the first to feature guitarist Phil Collen who replaced founding member Pete Willis.
The rhythm guitar tracks played by Willis appear on all songs, but after he was fired from the band, Phil Collen contributed solos and guitar parts not yet recorded by Willis.
“I had all the fun stuff, none of the heavy lifting..." Collen remembered. "Pete and Steve [Clark] had done these amazing rhythm guitar beds, and it was a joy to whizz around and play solos over the top... Mutt [Lange] was going, 'Just have fun: be a lead guitarist, go nuts.'"
"Photograph", "Rock of Ages" and "Foolin'" from the album became Top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, with "Photograph" peaking at #13 and "Rock of Ages" at #16.
“Photograph" (6 weeks) and "Rock of Ages" (1 week) both topped the Billboard Top Rock Tracks while "Foolin'" and "Too Late for Love" made the Top 10.
The album peaked at #2 in the US, #4 in Canada, #18 in the UK, #23 in Sweden, #26 in New Zealand, #30 in Finland, and #70 in Australia and Japan.
In 2003, the album was ranked #384 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
In 2015, Rolling Stone ranked “Pyromania” at #17 among the 50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time, and in 2017, the same magazine listed the album at #52 on its list of the 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time.