Def Leppard release Hysteria

Hysteria is the fourth studio album by the English Heavy Metal band Def Leppard.

It was released on August 3, 1987 through Mercury Records. It is the band's best-selling album to date, selling over 20 million copies worldwide, and spawning six hit singles. The album charted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the UK Albums Chart. It was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. The title of the album was thought up by drummer Rick Allen, relating to his experiences during the time of his auto accident, and the worldwide media coverage that followed. It's also the last album to feature guitarist Steve Clark, but their next album, Adrenalize is the last to feature his songwriting.

The album was the follow-up to the band's 1983 breakthrough Pyromania. Its creation process was one of the longest ever for a rock album, taking over three years, and was plagued by many trials, such as the December 31, 1984 car accident that cost Rick Allen his left arm.

Subsequent to the release of the album, Def Leppard published a book on the tough times the band went through to record the album, including issues with production and Rick Allen's car crash. Ordering information was printed on the last page of the cover booklet inside the CD case.

At the time of the LP's release, this was the longest rock album ever released as a single LP or cassette, clocking in at just under 63 minutes long (62 minutes 52 seconds). 'Konzerte' by German progressive rock band Novalis from 1977, duration 62 minutes 42 seconds was the longest, but was beat out by ten seconds to Hysteria. Deep Purple's greatest hits album Deepest Purple was released at 62 minutes 48 seconds (4 seconds shorter than Hysteria), which beat Konzerte in 1980. The iconic album cover was designed by Andie Airfix of Satori, who has done other covers of Def Leppard albums before and since.