10 Biggest Backstabbing Moments In Rock History

10. Pete Willis - Def Leppard

When looking at the career trajectory of Def Leppard, it didn't really kick into high gear until they sunk their teeth into the MTV generation. Regardless of how well they may have fared as a more pop centric metal act, the era of Pyromania was where things started to really take off, making them the darlings of the new age of glam metal. Though much of that credit comes down to superproducer Mutt Lange, the Leppards had to lose some skin before moving forward.

Going into the production with most of the songs intact, rhythm guitarist Pete Willis was known as the solid backbone of most Leppard songs, even taking the odd solo here and there. When he showed up to lay down the tracks though, Willis was blitzed out of his mind, having either been drunk from the previous day's work or unwilling to go along with the program. For a producer as meticulous as Lange, this was a recipe for disaster from the word go.

After an attempt to send Pete back home to cool out, the rest of the band ended up drafting in Phil Collen behind his back, who's approach to rhythm and lead was a perfect fit next to Steve Clark. Though Willis still has writing credits on a lion's share of Pyromania songs, the fact that he never got to see it blossom is sure to rub him the wrong way.