For years there have been many comments suggesting that Lep is surrounded by
a curse. By the time Hysteria was released in 1987, reports of the "Curse of Def
Leppard" were rampant. Some bought into the idea easily and others disregarded
such a notion. This carries on today. After reading the facts, and some
opinions, we ask that you draw your own
conclusions.
The Major Facts
During work on Hysteria, Mutt Lange wasn't available to produce, so the band
settled on Jim Steinman. Recording didn't go well, and the band dismissed
Steinman, abandoned all of the recordings, and made plans to regroup after
Christmas. However, on New Year's Eve 1984, Rick was involved in a horrible
accident in which he lost his left arm.
Joe Elliott caughts the mumps twice.
While working with Lep, Lange was involved in a car wreck which resulted in
leg injuries that required three weeks of hospitalization.
Guitarist Steve Clark died during the making of Adrenalize.
The Minor Facts
Big supporters of the curse also consider the following as
evidence.
Having to fire the first lead guitarist, Pete Willis, early on due to
alcoholism
In 1993, Sav suffered an attack of Bell's Palsy.
All of the band members have gone through divorces, three of them while they
were making Slang.
Rick's alcoholism leading to a climax of
being arrested and pleading guilty for spousal battery after choking and
slamming then-wife Stacy's head into a wall.
Joe and then-girlfriend, Bobbie, were arrested at a West Hollywood hotel for
spousal assault. Both clarified it was a misunderstanding and was simply an
argument.
The Band's Response
"Is there a curse? Jon Bon Jovi is convinced of it. He won't travel in a car
with me!" ~ Joe
People started talking about the curse of Def Leppard, but Joe is
philosophical:
"There's been way more good things happen than bad things
happen, but when bad things happen they're just astonishingly massive bad
things," he said. He added: "Death happens, limbs flying off
doesn't."
It's a bit silly if people think that there's a, you know,
curse of Def Leppard or something like that and expect thunder and lightening to
go off as I say those words. ~ Joe
Rick has said:
"Any kind of tragedies, anything negative that's happened to this band had
never been while the band had been active, or band-related. My accident happened
while I was home in Sheffield and Steve, he was home also. Nothing's gone wrong
when we've actually been together as a band. So it's kind of unfair to say
tragedies follow us
around."