Artist: DEF LEPPARD
Album: ADRENALIZE (CD)

Release date: 1992
Media type: CD

At the end of the Hysteria world tour in October 1988, Def Leppard vowed to the press that their next album would not take another four years to be released, and quickly reconvened weeks later to start work. However, Steve Clark's alcoholism was taking a turn for the worse. Whereas touring had kept him sober onstage, offstage his condition was beginning to affect his work in the studio. In addition, Mutt Lange was unavailable to return as producer as he was working with Canadian rocker Bryan Adams on Waking up the Neighbours.

The band chose to produce the album themselves. Steve's problems did not help to advance progress and in fact, was starting to set them back. In late 1989, Clark would be found unconscious in a gutter in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was immediately sent to rehab, and band members (along with Lange) started attending confrontational therapy to attempt to shame him into defeating his addictions. In a desperate move to help their friend, guitar tech Malvin Mortimer would be assigned to keep a 24 hour watch on Clark, according to Joe Elliott, it was a difficult task.

None of this would prove to be fruitful, and in August 1990 the band granted Clark a six-month leave of absence. While it was hoped that this break would free him of any stresses, the band seemed resigned to the fact that they could no longer do anything for Clark.

On January 8, 1991, Steve Clark was found dead in his London home by his girlfriend Janie Dean. The coroner's report revealed that Clark had died of an accidental mix of alcohol with painkillers and anti-depressants that led to compression of the brain stem.

After a short period of uncertainty about the band's future, the remaining members decided to resume work on the album. Former Lange engineer Mike Shipley was hired as co-producer, while Lange maintained a minor role via phone calls and demos sent to him.

A search for Clark's replacement was held off until after the completion of the album, and recording sessions progressed quickly in the year that followed. On March 31, 1992, Adrenalize was released worldwide. While some reviews were favorable (Rolling Stone magazine awarded it 4 out of 5 stars), many critics attacked the album for being formulaic and too similar to Hysteria.

Further complicating matters, Adrenalize was released during the time when grunge and alternative rock bands were breaking into the mainstream at the expense of "glam/pop metal" bands. Nonetheless, Adrenalize debuted at the number one position in both the UK and the US (quickly going triple platinum there). The album has sold over 7 million copies worldwide. The album was dedicated to the memory of Steve Clark.

Former Dio and Whitesnake guitarist Vivian Campbell, a longtime friend of the band, was brought in as the newest member in April 1992. He appears in all promotional videos for the album's singles (except "Let's Get Rocked"), despite not playing on the album.

TRACKLIST:

01. "Let's Get Rocked" 4:56
02. "Heaven Is" 3:37
03. "Make Love Like a Man" 4:13
04. "Tonight" 4:03
05. "White Lightning" 7:03
06. "Stand Up (Kick Love into Motion)" 4:31
07. "Personal Property" 4:20
08. "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad" 5:25
09. "I Wanna Touch U" 3:38
10. "Tear It Down" 3:38

LINE-UP:

Joe Elliott – the voice
Phil Collen – all guitars except acoustic guitar on "Tonight", Cockney rhyming rap on "Make Love Like a Man"
Rick Savage – Hamer 5-string, acoustic guitar on "Tonight"
Rick Allen – skins

Additional Personnel:
The Sideways Mob – backing vocals
Phil "Crash" Nicholas – keyboards on "Stand Up (Kick Love into Motion)"