Pete Willis
Encyclopedia
Pete Willis was one of the original guitarists (along with Steve Clark
) for the British
rock band
Def Leppard
, until he was replaced by Phil Collen
in 1982. He co-wrote many tracks and played guitar
on the band
's third album
, Pyromania
, which was being recorded at the time of his replacement.
and was a guitar enthusiast since his youth
. He was a fan
of Jimi Hendrix
.
In his early adult life, he formed a band called Atomic Mass
with Nicholas Mackley, Rick Savage
, Paul Hampshire, and Tony Kenning. Nicholas Mackley was replaced by Paul Holland and Paul Hampshire was replaced by Andy Nickolas. He met Joe Elliott
in 1977 and invited him to audition for the band, which later became Def Leppard. Willis was one of the main songwriter
s of the band during their first three albums.
He was dismissed from the band during the recording of Pyromania
, and was replaced by guitarist Phil Collen
(formerly of British glam band Girl
). He later recorded with the bands Gogmagog
(with former and current members of Iron Maiden
) and Roadhouse
.
In February 2003, Atomic Mass reunited at the Hallam FM Arena.
As of 2003, Willis left the music business. He now runs his own property management company in Sheffield.
Steve Clark
Stephen Maynard Clark was an English musician, co-lead guitarist for the British hard rock band Def Leppard up until his death in 1991 due to a combination of alcohol and multiple prescription drugs...
) for the British
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...
rock band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
Def Leppard
Def 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...
, until he was replaced by Phil Collen
Phil Collen
Philip Kenneth "Phil" Collen is the co-lead guitarist and one of the backing vocalists for English rock band Def Leppard. He joined the band in 1982 following the departure of Pete Willis.-Early years:...
in 1982. He co-wrote many tracks and played guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
on the band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
's third album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Pyromania
Pyromania (album)
Pyromania is the third studio album by British rock band Def Leppard, released on 20 January 1983. It featured new guitarist Phil Collen and was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. The album charted at #2 on the Billboard 200 and #18 on the UK Albums Chart.The album was partially recorded with...
, which was being recorded at the time of his replacement.
Career
Willis attended Tapton SchoolTapton School
Tapton Secondary School, is a Comprehensive school located in Crosspool, in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. It is a state school, sited next to another secondary, King Edward VII School, and near to Lydgate Junior School, Lydgate Infant School and Notre Dame High School. Tapton School has...
and was a guitar enthusiast since his youth
Adolescence
Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development generally occurring between puberty and legal adulthood , but largely characterized as beginning and ending with the teenage stage...
. He was a fan
Fan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
of Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
.
In his early adult life, he formed a band called Atomic Mass
Atomic Mass (band)
Atomic Mass were an English hard rock/heavy metal band from Sheffield, who formed in 1977 as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement...
with Nicholas Mackley, Rick Savage
Rick Savage
Richard "Rick" Savage is the bassist and one of the founding members of the English rock band, Def Leppard. He is called "Sav" to avoid confusion between him and the other Rick in the band, drummer Rick Allen. He and lead vocalist, Joe Elliot, are the only remaining original members of the band...
, Paul Hampshire, and Tony Kenning. Nicholas Mackley was replaced by Paul Holland and Paul Hampshire was replaced by Andy Nickolas. He met Joe Elliott
Joe Elliott
Joseph Thomas "Joe" Elliott Jr is an English singer-songwriter, and musician, best known as the lead vocalist and occasional rhythm guitarist of the British rock band Def Leppard. He has also been the lead singer of David Bowie cover band, the Cybernauts and the Mott the Hoople cover band, Down...
in 1977 and invited him to audition for the band, which later became Def Leppard. Willis was one of the main songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
s of the band during their first three albums.
He was dismissed from the band during the recording of Pyromania
Pyromania (album)
Pyromania is the third studio album by British rock band Def Leppard, released on 20 January 1983. It featured new guitarist Phil Collen and was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. The album charted at #2 on the Billboard 200 and #18 on the UK Albums Chart.The album was partially recorded with...
, and was replaced by guitarist Phil Collen
Phil Collen
Philip Kenneth "Phil" Collen is the co-lead guitarist and one of the backing vocalists for English rock band Def Leppard. He joined the band in 1982 following the departure of Pete Willis.-Early years:...
(formerly of British glam band Girl
Girl (band)
Girl were an English glam metal band formed in 1979, who split up in 1982 with band members going on to join Def Leppard and L.A. Guns among others.-History:The band's lead vocalist was Phil Lewis...
). He later recorded with the bands Gogmagog
Gogmagog (band)
Gogmagog were a British supergroup put together by British record producer Jonathan King that featured former Iron Maiden members Paul Di'Anno and Clive Burr, former White Spirit and Gillan guitarist Janick Gers , original Def Leppard guitarist Pete Willis, and bassist Neil Murray, who has played...
(with former and current members of Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
) and Roadhouse
Roadhouse (band)
Roadhouse was a British rock band that once included former Def Leppard members guitarist Pete Willis and drummer Frank Noon. However, Noon was no longer in Roadhouse by the time of the recording of their debut album. Roadhouse released their self-titled album in August 1991. The album is often...
.
In February 2003, Atomic Mass reunited at the Hallam FM Arena.
As of 2003, Willis left the music business. He now runs his own property management company in Sheffield.
With Def Leppard
- The Def Leppard E.P. (1979)
- On through the NightOn through the NightOn Through the Night is the debut album by British rock band Def Leppard, released in 1980. The album charted at #51 on The Billboard 200 and #15 on the UK Albums Chart...
(1980) - High 'n' DryHigh 'n' DryHigh 'n' Dry is the second studio album by British heavy metal band Def Leppard, released on 11 July 1981. Its title song, "High 'n' Dry ", ranked number 33 on VH1's 40 Greatest Metal Songs. High 'n' Dry was Pete Willis' last full time album with Def Leppard...
(1981) - PyromaniaPyromania (album)Pyromania is the third studio album by British rock band Def Leppard, released on 20 January 1983. It featured new guitarist Phil Collen and was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. The album charted at #2 on the Billboard 200 and #18 on the UK Albums Chart.The album was partially recorded with...
(1983) (rhythm guitar only) - First Strike (1984)
- Warchild (1998)