Adrenalize

Adrenalize is the fifth studio album by British Hard rock band Def Leppard, released in 1992. The album was the first by the band following the 1991 death of guitarist Steve Clark. It was produced by Mike Shipley and Def Leppard, with Robert John “Mutt” Lange as executive producer.

At the end of the Hysteria World Tour in October 1988, Def Leppard vowed to the press that their next album would not take another four years to be released, and quickly reconvened weeks later to start work. However, Steve Clark’s alcoholism was taking a turn for the worse. Whereas touring had kept him sober onstage, offstage his condition was beginning to affect his work in the studio. In addition, Mutt Lange was unavailable to return as producer as he was working with Canadian rocker Bryan Adams on Waking Up the Neighbours.

The band chose to produce the album themselves. Steve’s problems did not help to advance progress and in fact, was starting to set them back. In late 1989, Clark would be found unconscious in a gutter in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was immediately sent to rehab, and band members (along with Lange) started attending confrontational therapy to attempt to shame him into defeating his addictions. In a desperate move to help their friend, guitar tech Malvin Mortimer (AKA Stumpus Maximus) would be assigned to keep a 24 hour watch on Clark, according to Joe Elliott, it was a difficult task.