NEW YORK, NY (Universal
Music Enterprises) - Sixty-five million albums later and the hysteria continues for iconic rockers Def Leppard. With the band's latest album, "Yeah!," debuting in the Top 20 of Billboard's Top 200 Album Chart (marking the group's 10th consecutive Top 20 debut), and a sold-out tour that rocks
America through November 19th,
Def Leppard is now preparing to release a special edition of "Hysteria," the group's best-selling album and one of the pre-eminent rock albums in music history. The release celebrates the album's upcoming 20th anniversary with a two-CD "Hysteria -
Deluxe Edition" (Bludgeon Riffola/Island/UMe), set for release on October 24, 2006.
Along with the original album, newly digitally re-mastered, "Hysteria - Deluxe Edition" adds 15 bonus tracks recorded around the time of the original 1987 release. The collection includes all five studio b-sides of the 7" singles, all five live b-sides issued on 7" and 12" (and later on CD singles), and all five extended remixes from 12" and CD singles. The packaging features all of the elements of the original album plus additional photos, single sleeve artwork, an essay by noted rock journalist David Fricke, and detailed discographical information. For Def Leppard fans, as well as rock fans in general, the "Hysteria - Deluxe Edition" offers the most complete presentation of the legendary album ever issued.
Since its debut, "Hysteria" has sold more than 18 million copies worldwide, including 12 times platinum in the U.S., making it one of the best-selling albums of all time and earning a prestigious Diamond Award in 1999. The Diamond Award recognizes sales of over 10 million, a feat not many bands and only a handful of British artists have been able to achieve (The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Elton John, Eric Clapton). The blockbuster album spawned six smash hits - the Top 10s "Love Bites" (No 1), "Pour Some Sugar On Me" (No 2), "Armageddon It" (No 3) and "Hysteria" (No 10), and Top 20s "Rocket" (No 12) and "Animal" (No 19). Produced by the renowned Mutt Lange, "Hysteria" was a milestone that expanded the boundaries of the hard rock album by redefining pop and metal.
Disc One of the "Hysteria - Deluxe Edition" brings together the original album and the studio b-sides "Tear It Down," "Ride Into The Sun," "I Wanna Be Your Hero" and "Ring Of Fire." Disc Two collects the live b-sides "Elected," "Love And Affection," "Billy's Got A Gun" and the medley titled "Rock Of Ages" (which includes parts of the classic rock anthems "Not Fade Away," "My Generation," "Radar Love," "Come Together" and "Whole Lotta Love") - all recorded in concert in Tilburg, Holland in July 1987 - and also "Women," recorded live in Denver the following year. The remixes are extended versions of "Animal" and "Pour Some Sugar On Me"; The Nuclear Mix of "Armageddon It"; Orgasmic Mix of "Excitable"; and The Lunar Mix of "Rocket." Disc Two also features another studio b-side, a humorous version of "Release Me," credited to Stumpus Maximus & The Good Ol' Boys.
In addition to the release of the "Hysteria - Deluxe Edition," Def Leppard is in the midst of a national U.S. tour with Journey that has become one of the hottest tours of the summer and was recently extended to include an impressive third leg due to overwhelming demand from music fans across the nation. Tickets for the fall leg went on-sale in August with dates that will keep them on the road through November 19th. Both bands have teamed up with ILoveAllAccess.com to offer a variety of VIP ticket packages.
For more information on the "Hysteria - Deluxe Edition" or Def Leppard tour dates please go to www.defleppard.com.
