THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

479-Def Leppard-Animal.

1987-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 3.54. The band play a very well deserved encore.

Def Leppard were formed in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, in 1977, originally calling themselves ‘Atomic Mass’, they remain active, with the founding members Rick Savage, and Joe Elliott being the bands two constants.It was the groups lead singer Joe Elliott who suggested the bands name ‘Deaf Leopard,’ which was modified to ‘Def Leppard’ by Tony Kenning, who was a band member in the original line up, and stayed with the group until 1978.The other founding member was Peter Willis, who remained with the band until 1982, and was then replaced by Phil Collen. Rick Allen joined as the drummer in 1978, the same year as Steve Clark (1960-1991) joined as a guitarist, after Clark’s death, Vivian Campell became his replacement. Def Leppard are one of the worlds best selling artists, with sales in excess of 100 million records. Two of their studio Albums ‘Pyromania’ from 1983, and ‘Hysteria’ from 1987, have sold over 10 million copies each in America.In total Def Leppard have recorded 11 studio Albums to date between 1980-2015. In the UK they have achieved 19 top 40 singles, while in America on Billboard, they have had 14, with ‘Love Bites’ reaching Number 1 in 1988.

‘Animal’ was the second single released from Def Leppard’s fourth studio Album ‘Hysteria’ from 1987, and has song writing credits attributed to Elliott, Collen, Clark, and Savage, along with the songs producer Robert John ‘Mutt’ Lange. Prior to the release of ‘Hysteria,’ Def Leppard had become superstars in America, due to the success of their previous Album ‘Pyromania,’ although they had a following in the UK, it wasn’t until ‘Animal’ and the more commercial ‘Pop/Rock’ production on Hysteria’ which brought them success in Europe. Paul Collen the bands guitarist had written the original demo for ‘Animal,’ and he has credited Robert John ‘Mutt’ Lange (see also best songs 632-314 and 170) for the songs success, saying it was Lange’s painstaking work on the songs production that took it to the next level.

‘Animal’ is a song about lusting after another,the narrator compares himself to an animal who is stalking his prey.The line,’Like the restless rust, I never sleep,’ is a reference to Neil Young’s 1979 live Album ‘Rust Never Sleeps’ (see also best songs 602.)

‘A wild ride over stony ground, such a lust for life, the circus comes to town.We are the hungry ones, on a lightning raid, just like a river runs, like a fire needs a flame, I burn for you.’