The article examines the impact of Def Leppard's 'Hysteria', highlighting its evolution from uncertain beginnings to a multi-platinum success. The lead single "Women" faced initial rejection, peaking at only No. 80 in the U.S. charts, reflecting the band's worries about maintaining their metal credibility. Despite this, 'Hysteria' became an iconic album with several hit tracks. The contrast between the song's humble start and the eventual acclaim it garnered underscores the complexities and challenges of achieving widespread acceptance in the music industry.
The lead single wasn't one of them. Def Leppard were, above all else, worried about the metal cred they forfeited the moment they showed up on MTV looking like themselves, i.e., a Van Halen that more closely resembled Duran Duran.
Hysteria spun off enough inescapable hits to make over half its 63-minute runtime instantly familiar to anyone within earshot of a July 4th classic-rock block.
It's still an awe-inspiring teaser of Def Leppard's state-of-the-art pop metal, a song that might be more beloved if it had been the seventh single, rather than the first.
Some albums are too big to fail, but 'Women' is a necessary reminder that Hysteria once appeared doomed to failure.
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