Women

The Zoo Crew is spinning "Women" by Def Leppard, the hard-hitting opener from their iconic 1987 album Hysteria, and the Zoo Freaks are surely feeling the vibe. This track, chosen as the first single for the U.S. and Canada, was a strategic move to reconnect with the band’s hard rock audience after a four-year gap since their breakthrough album Pyromania. Manager Cliff Burnstein believed its raw energy would resonate with rock fans before the band leaned into more pop-friendly singles like "Pour Some Sugar on Me." However, "Women" only peaked at #80 on the Billboard Hot 100, though it hit #7 on the rock charts, showing its appeal to the band’s core fanbase. Joe Elliott, the band’s lead singer, noted in a 2017 Rolling Stone interview that the song was built around a riff from bassist Rick Savage, enhanced with cutting-edge tech like Fairlight samplers, giving it a polished yet gritty edge that set the tone for Hysteria’s ambitious sound.

Another tidbit about "Women" comes from guitarist Phil Collen, who shared in a 2017 Apple Music interview that the track was deliberately crafted to blend Def Leppard’s raw rock roots with a modern, genre-crossing appeal, inspired by artists like Prince and Queen. The song’s production, overseen by Robert John "Mutt" Lange, was meticulous—layered vocals and guitars were recorded note by note to create a massive, arena-ready sound. On X, the band celebrated the song’s release anniversary in 2021, with a post from @mitchlafon noting its August 11, 1987, release, sparking debates among fans about its timing just days after the album dropped. The track’s comic book-style video, featuring a skateboarding hero named “Def Leppard,” also became a staple on MTV, with its artwork tying into the album’s cover, designed by Andie Airfix, who cleverly split the Hysteria artwork into nine parts for the singles to form a 3x3 mural.

Def Leppard formed in Sheffield, England, in 1977, emerging from the working-class steel town with a grit that shaped their early sound. Joe Elliott, then a teenager, met guitarist Pete Willis at a bus stop, bonding over a shared love for glam rock bands like T. Rex and David Bowie. They recruited bassist Rick Savage, drummer Tony Kenning, and later guitarist Steve Clark, naming the band after a fictional group Elliott doodled in school. Their raw, energetic demos caught the ear of BBC DJ John Peel, leading to a session that helped them land a deal with Mercury Records. By 1980, their debut album On Through the Night was released, blending the raw energy of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with a melodic edge. The band’s relentless touring, including opening for AC/DC, built their reputation, but it was their collaboration with producer Mutt Lange on 1981’s High ‘n’ Dry that refined their sound, paving the way for the global success of Pyromania and Hysteria.

Fans can dive deeper into Def Leppard’s world through their official channels: the band’s website, Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts keep Zoo Freaks updated on tours, releases, and throwback content like #HysteriaWeek posts. For fan communities, the Def Leppard Wiki on Fandom is a treasure trove of detailed history, while the r/defleppard subreddit, home to the Official Rock Brigade Community, buzzes with discussions, cover song contests, and fan stories, like one user’s memory of buying Hysteria on cassette in 1987. On Facebook, groups like “Def Leppard Fans” and “Def Leppard Rock Brigade” unite thousands of devotees sharing concert photos, rare vinyl finds, and love for tracks like "Women," keeping the band’s legacy alive for new generations of rockers.