10 Hidden Details In Hard Rock Tracks You Never Noticed
7. Def Leppard's Amalgamate Songs On "Rocket"
When it came time for Def Leppard to followup their massive blockbuster hit Pyromania, they swore to not leave the studio until they had a modern classic on their hands. Upon release, Hysteria managed to top its predecessor, with nearly half of the album becoming a staple in the band's setlist for years.
Though most of the lyrics feature common themes of sex, drugs, and rock and roll, "Rocket" was the one experimental track that the band crammed full of sonic surprises. After taking the phrase Rocket- Satellite of Love from a Lou Reed track, the band decided to base the entire song on references to bands from their youth in the glam rock 70's. Once you focus on the verses, you can pick up shoutouts to David Bowie, Queen, Elton John, and even the Beatles in the band's list of influences.
In addition to their heroes, the band also reference themselves during the song's sequencing breakdown. With all the audio tracks flying overhead, snippets of songs like "Love Bites" and "Gods of War" can also be heard before bringing the song back to the chorus. This unique sonic touch gave the album a more cohesive feel, which put Def Leppard one notch above all of their hair metal competition.