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 By Will Stroock
Generation X is usually viewed
as a monolith but there are major differences. If you were born
in 1968, like my older sister, or 1973, like me, the cultural
feel of your formative years are very different. This difference
can be illustrated by the heavy metal band, Def Leppard. In many
ways Gen X can be divided into two wings by one simple question:
which was your Def Leppard Album, Pyromania or
Hysteria? Both were huge, both changed metal and both were
overshadowed by Michael Jackson. Pyromania feels like
rough, 70’s era hard rock, while Hysteria is softer and more
user-friendly. Both are masterpieces and essential parts of any
80’s soundtrack.
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Pyromania
came out in 1983. It had a hard edge to it and was closer to Def
Leppard’s earlier days when they wrote hard songs like ‘Let it Go’ and ‘Bringin’
on the Heartbreak’ (off of High 'n' Dry), both of which
featured power chords and air piercing guitar licks. The best example
from Pyromania is ‘Too Late forLove’ which is driven by a
simple riff and chord progression. There is something ominous in the way
the song is written and arranged; that is the essence of metal. ‘Foolin’
has some of Def Leppard’s old edge as does the underrated ‘Billy Got a
Gun’ about a young man who has been wronged somehow and is out for
revenge. The theme and verse are unmistakably metal: “He was locked up
in a room, without a door/His innocence, he has suffered for/in a world
of black and white/they were wrong and he was right.” The song is
powered throughout by hard driving, locomotive-like chords. ‘Rock of
Ages’ is as good a metal anthem as there is, and is usually part of Def
Leppard’s live finale. And of course let us not forget ‘Photograph,’ the
pop-metal song with the unforgettable (and annoying?) guitar riff that
made the band international stars and the first metal band with decent
looking musicians, decent looking in an early 80’s sort of way. My
hippy-dippy stupid older sister (class of ’86) owned a copy.
Hysteria, released in
1987, almost seems like it was cut by a different band. The
songs are more harmonic, featuring powerful background vocals
with less emphasis on locomotive power chords typical of heavy
metal bands. ‘Animal’, a decent song, relies on bright, open
background vocals for its umph, so much so that the
song ends with the chorus. ‘Hysteria’ (now there is a late 80’s
school dance make out song) lacks power chords altogether except
for the bridge
between
the verse and chorus. All of this is not to say the album is
light—it isn’t. ‘Women’ (their disastrous first release) sounds
like it could be on Pyromania. The album’s biggest hit,
‘Poor some Sugar on
Me,’ is a metal classic. But, listen carefully. Rick Allen’s
drumming is what bashes you over the head, not the guitars, at
least not at first. The power chords don’t come in until midway
through the verse. The drums and Joe Elliot’s raspy, guttural
singing are what make ‘Poor Some Sugar On Me.’ The guitars are
simply the last layer of a catchy cadence. Again, the background
vocals are key, making the song in several places. This happens
midway through the verse where ‘Loosen up’ is sung and in the
second verse at ‘Knockin on My Door.’ ‘Poor Some Sugar on Me’ is
a simple tune with simple drums, guitars, lyrics, and a few
catchy voice and guitar tricks thrown in for fun. It’s the
biggest hit the band ever had. As of 2007, they close their
shows with the song.
Michael Jackson, first with Thriller,
then with Bad, kept Def Leppard locked in the number two spot
on music charts, but Def Leppard was the biggest rock & roll act of the
era. Hysteria alone produced six singles, Pyromania
four. Each is nearly perfect in its own way, a far cry from the flawed
Adrenalize. Pyromania is the culmination of a metal
career, Hysteria the beginning of a new direction for the band.
Post Script: Adrenalize is not
an entirely bad album, but it has some stupid songs. Readers are invited
to submit their entry for worst Adrenalize song to
will@gulfwarone.com
