Watch Def Leppard: Hysteria

Def Leppard: Hysteria (Classic Albums) is a documentary movie that takes a deep dive into the making of the album 'Hysteria' by the iconic British rock band Def Leppard. The movie, released in 2002, chronicles the making of the album that shot Def Leppard to global superstardom in the late 80s and early 90s. The documentary kicks off with some background information on the early days of the band and their rise to stardom with their first two albums 'On Through the Night' and 'High n' Dry'. The movie then focuses on the making of the 'Hysteria' album, which was the band's fourth studio album, released in 1987, and went on to sell over 20 million copies worldwide.

The movie features interviews with all the band members, including Rick Allen, Rick Savage, Joe Elliott, Phil Collen, and Steve Clark. The interviews are intercut with footage of the band recording the album and rare archive footage from the time. The movie does an excellent job of capturing the zeitgeist of the time, with the band members looking back on their hair metal fashion choices and laughing at their younger selves.

The documentary delves into the production process of the album, which took over three years to complete due to a series of setbacks. The most significant of these setbacks was the car accident that claimed the life of the band's guitarist, Steve Clark, in 1991. However, the band rallied and continued to work on the album, despite the loss of their friend and bandmate.

The movie focuses on the key tracks from the album, including 'Animal,' 'Love Bites,' and of course, 'Pour Some Sugar on Me.' The band members discuss the writing and recording process for each track and offer insights into the inspiration behind the lyrics.

In addition to the band members, the movie also features interviews with the album's producers, Mutt Lange and Jim Steinman. Lange, in particular, is an essential figure in the making of the album, and the movie does a great job of showcasing his unique production style.

The documentary also touches on the challenges faced by Rick Allen, the band's drummer, who lost his arm in a car accident in 1984. The movie chronicles Allen's incredible journey to work with one arm and develop a unique drumming technique that would help define the sound of the band. It's a touching and inspiring story that adds an extra layer of emotional depth to the documentary.

Overall, Def Leppard: Hysteria (Classic Albums) is an engaging and informative documentary that provides a fascinating insight into the making of one of the most iconic rock albums of the 80s. The movie captures the essence of the band and their music and will be a must-see for any Def Leppard fan or music lover looking to learn more about the history of rock.

Def Leppard: Hysteria is a 2003 documentary with a runtime of 49 minutes.