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Def Leppard’s epic journey from Sheffield to global rock superstardom is getting the documentary treatment from filmmaker Jeff Feuerzeig (“The Devil and Daniel Johnston,” “Author: The JT LeRoy Story”).
“Long Live Def
Leppard” is the first authorized feature-length documentary about the British band, which has sold more than 110 million albums worldwide and been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Bleecker Street’s event cinema division Crosswalk has acquired the North American rights to the doc and slated the film for an early 2027 theatrical release.
“In the summer of ’81, after reading about Def Leppard in Creem, I saw the not-yet-famous band open for Ozzy Osbourne on his first Blizzard of Ozz tour at Asbury Park’s Convention Hall,” Feuerzeig said in a press release announcing the acquisition. “These young lads from working-class Sheffield were punching far above their weight and playing for keeps. I was smitten, a fan for life. It has been an honor to collaborate with the guys and bring their unique, heartwarming, and often humorous underdog story to the screen. This is not your typical sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll tale. Long live Def Leppard, indeed!”
Produced in close collaboration with the band, the documentary aims to “take fans on a wild ride into the world of this iconic English rock band, with never-before-seen footage and unparalleled access to its members”: Joe Elliott (vocals), Phil Collen (guitar), Rick Savage (bass), Vivian Campbell (guitar) and Rick Allen (drums).
“After exploding onto the global rock scene with their hit albums ‘Pyromania‘ and ‘Hysteria,‘ the band faced two devastating chapters: drummer Rick Allen’s life-altering accident, which cost him his arm, and the loss of guitarist Steve Clark, whose anthemic and dynamic riffs earned him a permanent place among the guitar legends of all time,” a synopsis explains. “Those tragedies became defining moments in the band’s history, as Def Leppard rebuilt themselves and went on to become one of the most enduring forces in rock.”
“Def Leppard is a once-in-a-lifetime rock band, whose story and live performances demand to be seen and heard on the big screen,” adds Bleecker Street CEO Kent Sanderson. “Longtime fans and those just being introduced to the group are going to be blown away by this high-energy, compelling, and ultimately moving look into this legendary band.”
Sobey Road Entertainment served as lead financier on “Long Live Def Leppard.” The film was executive produced by Nigel Sinclair and Cassidy Hartmann (of White Horse Pictures); Stuart Goldstein and Rosie Taylor (Vice Studios); Andrew Trapani (Sobey Road Entertainment); Emerson G. Farrell; David Sze; David B. Kirk; Bruce Resnikoff and Adam Barker (Universal Music Group); Lawrence Mestel; Natalia Nastaskin and Robert Dippold (Primary Wave Music); Todd Lieberman (Hidden Pictures); Brian Monaco (Sony Music Publishing); and Mike Kobayashi (CSM Management). Vice Studios’ Amy Rattray serves as line producer.
The deal was negotiated by Avy Eschenasy for Crosswalk and Kevin Iwashina of Audiovisuel on behalf of the filmmakers.
