Bringin’ On the Heartbreak

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs at THE ZOO radio station, are spinning the classic track "Bringin’ On the Heartbreak" by Def Leppard from their 1981 album High ’n’ Dry, and the Zoo Freaks are surely vibing to this power ballad. This song, written by band members Steve Clark, Pete Willis, and Joe Elliott, was initially titled "A Certain Heartache" before producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange helped transform it into the iconic track we know today. Interestingly, guitarist Pete Willis was hesitant to play it for their manager, Cliff Burnstein, because it was a ballad, fearing it might not fit the band’s hard rock image. Lange, however, saw its potential, noting that the band aimed for a "jangly" verse with a nod to Led Zeppelin’s "Stairway to Heaven," thanks to Steve Clark’s love for intricate guitar work. The song’s studio recording even captured a faint voice saying, “Out of tune, eh? Pete’s,” referring to the deliberate detuning of guitars by Clark and Willis to achieve the song’s unique sound.

Despite its initial lack of chart success when released as a single in November 1981, "Bringin’ On the Heartbreak" found a second life thanks to heavy rotation on MTV. The song’s first music video, a live performance filmed at the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool on July 22, 1981, for Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert, became a staple on the fledgling network. This exposure helped High ’n’ Dry sell over two million copies, with Joe Elliott recalling telexes reporting weekly sales climbing from 6,000 to 20,000 copies as the song gained traction. A 1984 remix, featuring synthesizers and new guitarist Phil Collen, was filmed in Dublin’s Jacob’s Biscuit Factory and hit #61 on the Billboard Hot 100, bridging the gap to their Pyromania success. Joe Elliott later shared in a 2016 Rolling Stone interview that the song became a live staple, evoking a response akin to Led Zeppelin’s "Stairway to Heaven" during their Pyromania tour, with fans holding up lighters during performances, especially the acoustic-electric version from the 1987-1988 Hysteria tour.

Adding to its legacy, Mariah Carey covered "Bringin’ On the Heartbreak" for her 2002 album Charmbracelet, a move that sparked mixed reactions. While some metal fans ranked it #24 on VH1’s "Least Metal Moments," calling it "Bringin’ On the Headache," Joe Elliott praised Carey’s version in a Las Vegas Sun interview, noting its fidelity to the original arrangement and her “astonishing vocal gymnastics” that made “Minnie Riperton sound like Tom Waits.” Carey, who co-produced the track with Randy Jackson and included guitar overdubs by Dave Navarro, performed it live at the 2002 Mexican Teletón to a crowd of 50,000. Fans on Reddit have also celebrated the song’s enduring appeal, with one user in a 2018 post calling High ’n’ Dry a “fantastic” album and urging listeners to avoid the keyboard-heavy remix in favor of the original’s raw energy.

Def Leppard began their journey in Sheffield, England, in 1977, emerging as a key player in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Formed by teenagers Joe Elliott (vocals), Rick Savage (bass), Pete Willis (guitar), and Steve Clark (guitar), with drummer Tony Kenning, the band initially called themselves Atomic Mass. Inspired by Led Zeppelin’s fictional “Deaf Leopard” from a song lyric, they tweaked the name to Def Leppard for a cooler edge. Their early days were gritty, with Elliott working on a building site while penning songs like "Bringin’ On the Heartbreak." After recording a three-song EP in 1978, funded by Savage’s father, they caught the attention of BBC Radio DJ John Peel. Drummer Rick Allen joined in 1978, replacing Kenning, and their debut album, On Through the Night (1980), cracked the UK Top 20. Despite backlash from some UK fans for their “Americanized” sound, their work with producer Mutt Lange on High ’n’ Dry set the stage for global stardom, cemented by Pyromania (1983) and Hysteria (1987). The band’s resilience, particularly after Allen lost his arm in a 1984 car accident and Clark’s death in 1991, has defined their enduring legacy.

Stay connected with Def Leppard through their Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where they share tour updates and celebrate milestones like the 40th anniversary of "Bringin’ On the Heartbreak" in 2021, as seen in a nostalgic X post. Fans can dive deeper into the band’s world at sites like Def Leppard UK, a treasure trove of tour history and news, or join discussions on the Def Leppard Fans Facebook group, where Zoo Freaks and other devotees swap stories and memorabilia. For merch and more, Rockabilia offers a range of Def Leppard gear, perfect for rocking out to those heartbreak anthems.