Photograph (Def Leppard song)

Infobox Single
Name = Photograph


Artist = Def Leppard
from Album = Pyromania
B-side =
Released = 1983
Format = 7"
Recorded = 1982
Park Gates Studios
Battle, Sussex, England
Battery Studios
London, England
Genre = Hard rock
Length = 4:12
Label = Mercury
Writer = Joe Elliott, Pete Willis, Steve Clark, Rick Savage, Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Producer = Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Certification =
Chart position =

• #1 (Mainstream Rock Charts)
  
• #12 (Pop Singles)
  Last single = "Bringin' on the Heartbreak"
  (1981)
  This single = "Photograph"
  (1983)
  Next single = "Rock of Ages"
  (1983)

  "Photograph" is one of the most famous songs and 1983 single by British hard rock band Def Leppard from their multi-platinum album "Pyromania". It was written for the late Marilyn Monroe, as Joe Elliott often stated before playing the song live in concerts. When released as a single later that year, it reached #1 on the Mainstream Rock charts and #12 on Pop Singles. More recently, the song was used in promotional ads for the DVD release of "Blades of Glory". "Photograph" is known for sparking the mainstream's awareness of glam metal.

  The 1993 live recording of the song back in Sheffield, England appeared in the music video game as part of a Def Leppard downloadable track pack, as did the 1993 live recording of Rock of Ages.

  Before the song starts a click created by guitarist Steve Clark accidentally catching the A string of his guitar can be heard.

  Music Video

  There are two versions of the Music Video. The uncensored version shows some knife scenes at the beginning. On the censored version of the video this knife scenes are replaced with some female hands, a black cat, and girls dancing.

  The music video was directed by David Mallet [ [http://www.deflepparduk.com/defvideo2.html ((( Def Leppard UK.com ))) :: Def Video 2 Pyromania 1983/High 'n' Dry 1984: ] ] and was shot on Friday December 2, 1982 (Bassist Rick Savage's 22nd birthday), in Battersea, London, England. It featured the video debut of guitarist Phil Collen.

  Track listing

  7": Vertigo / Phonogram Ltd / VERP 5 / Photograph pop-up cover

  # "Photograph"
  # "Bringin´on the Heartbreak"

  Trivia

  * As said in the Rock Of Ages commentary, Joe Elliott stated that there are two versions of the music video, although quite similar, but the UK version excluded the knives as shown in the original's beginning parts and replaced it with a black cat.
  * The song is featured prominently in "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure".
  * A Progressive Bluegrass band by the name of Malibu Storm recorded a cover version.

  Notes