WCSX Classic Cuts : Rock of Ages
WCSX Classic Cuts
Def Leppard: “Rock of Ages”
The Hook: No serenade, no fire brigade, just pyromania. C’mon!
Released: 1983
Album: Pyromania
Writers: Joe Elliott, Steve Clark, Mutt Lange
Background: The four words that you hear at the start of Def Leppard’s “Rock of Ages” — “gunter glieben glauten globen” — mean nothing in particular. It’s a gibberish count off by producer Mutt Lange. Singer Joe Elliott came up with the lyrics after finding a hymn book left by a member of a children’s choir that was using the same studio they were recording in.
Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen on “Rock of Ages.” OC:…was fun. :28
“I remember hearing that for the first time, and it reminded me of Queen. It reminded me of ‘The Stroke’ really as well, which we ended going out there opening up for Billy Squier. So it was all these great things with a touch of greatness to it before it was even released. It had this kind of spirit to it. It was great to play. So Mutt goes, ‘Play a solo on it. Just do something over it.’ It was just great. It was fun.”
