Action (Def Leppard song)
Encyclopedia
"Action" is a 1975 song by the rock band Sweet
. It reached the Top 10 in 1975 in numerous Europe
an countries and Canada
but stalled at #15 in the UK
and #20 in the US.
The song was also featured in Formula One
's video for the 2009 Monaco Grand Prix
.
covered it.
The song was also covered by Raven
(on their 1981 album Rock Until You Drop
), by Black 'n Blue
(on their 1984 album Black 'n Blue
), by power metal
band Vengeance Incorporated on their 1988 album Bad Crazy and by Steve Stevens
(on his 1989 album Atomic Playboys
). Scorpions
released it in German
translation as "Wenn es richtig losgeht" on the B-side of the single Fuchs geh' voran
(a translation of Fox on the Run
, also by Sweet).
from their album Retro Active
. The music video
was directed by Phil Tuckett from NFL entertainment. The approximate shooting date was between June and December 1993. The locations are live in Sheffield, Ottawa, and Joe's home in Ireland.
Sweet (band)
Sweet was a British rock band that rose to worldwide fame in the 1970s as one of the most prominent glam rock acts, with the classic line-up of lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bass player Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker.Sweet was formed in 1968 and achieved their first...
. It reached the Top 10 in 1975 in numerous Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an countries and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
but stalled at #15 in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and #20 in the US.
The song was also featured in Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
's video for the 2009 Monaco Grand Prix
2009 Monaco Grand Prix
The 2009 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race that was held on the 24 May, 2009 at the Circuit de Monaco, in Monaco. The race, which was contested over 78 laps, was the sixth round of the 2009 Formula One season...
.
Covers
"Action" became a big hit again in 1993 when Def LeppardDef Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
covered it.
The song was also covered by Raven
Raven (band)
Raven are an English heavy metal band associated with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. They had a hit with the single "On and On", and refer to their music as "athletic rock".-Formation:...
(on their 1981 album Rock Until You Drop
Rock Until You Drop
Rock until You Drop is the first full-length album by the British heavy metal band Raven, released in 1981. The album was the first of many heavy metal studio albums issued by British independent label Neat Records. It reached position No. 63 in the UK Albums Chart.The song "Lambs to the Slaughter"...
), by Black 'n Blue
Black 'N Blue
Black 'n Blue is a Hard rock band from Portland, Oregon. The current members are singer Jaime St. James, guitarist Shawn Sonnenschein, guitarist Jeff Warner, bassist Patrick Young, and drummer Pete Holmes.-History:...
(on their 1984 album Black 'n Blue
Black 'N Blue (album)
Black 'n Blue is the self-titled debut album of Black 'n Blue, recorded in 1984.The track "Chains Around Heaven" had previously appeared on the second pressing of the first Metal Massacre compilation, perhaps best known as the compilation to feature the first commercially-released recording by...
), by power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band Vengeance Incorporated on their 1988 album Bad Crazy and by Steve Stevens
Steve Stevens
Steve Stevens is an American guitarist and songwriter.He is best known for playing for other artists and less known for his critically acclaimed solo efforts , collaborations Steve Stevens (born as Steven Schneider on May 5, 1959, in Brooklyn, New York) is an American guitarist and songwriter.He...
(on his 1989 album Atomic Playboys
Atomic Playboys
-Personnel:*Steve Stevens – vocals, electric guitar, classical guitar, bass guitar , production*Perry McCarty – vocals*Phil Ashley – keyboard, preamplifier*Thommy Price – drums *Anton Fig – drums...
). Scorpions
Scorpions (band)
Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still...
released it in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
translation as "Wenn es richtig losgeht" on the B-side of the single Fuchs geh' voran
Fuchs geh' voran
"Fuchs geh' voran" is a German cover version of the Sweet song "Fox on the Run". It was released as a single in 1975 by the German rock band Scorpions as The Hunters. The B-side also features a German cover version of a Sweet song: "Action" as "Wenn es richtig losgeht"....
(a translation of Fox on the Run
Fox on the Run (song)
"Fox on the Run" is a popular glam rock song by the British band Sweet, first recorded in 1974. It was their 14th single and in 1975 reached number 2 on the British single list, 5 in the US, 1 in Australia, 1 in Germany, 2 in the Netherlands and 2 in Norway...
, also by Sweet).
Def Leppard version
"Action" was covered by British hard rock band Def LeppardDef Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
from their album Retro Active
Retro Active
Retro Active is an album by British hard rock band Def Leppard, released in 1993. The album features touched-up versions of B-sides and previously unreleased recordings from the band's recording sessions between 1984 and 1993...
. The music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was directed by Phil Tuckett from NFL entertainment. The approximate shooting date was between June and December 1993. The locations are live in Sheffield, Ottawa, and Joe's home in Ireland.
CD: Bludgeon Riffola / LEPCD 13 (UK) / 858 093-2 (INT)
- "Action"
- "She's Too Tough (Joe's Demo)"
- "Miss You in a Heartbeat (Phil's Demo)"