Def Leppard Barely Misses No. 1 To Another Legendary Rock Band

In just two years, Def Leppard will celebrate half a century together, and the band remains incredibly popular to this day, especially in the United Kingdom, where the musicians got their start. The group recently released a new album, Diamond Star Heroes: Live From Sheffield, and the set becomes a fast bestseller in the U.K. and almost earns the rockers another No. 1 – but it misses out by just one space as another legendary rock act beats Def Leppard to the throne.

Def Leppard’s New Album Debuts on Several Charts

Diamond Star Heroes debuts on four charts in the U.K. this week. While the full-length does not make it to the main ranking of the most consumed projects in the country, it sold well enough to appear on a quartet of tallies that look only at pure purchases.

Def Leppard’s Diamond Star Heroes Opens at No. 2

Diamond Star Heroes performs best on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart, the only tally where it manages to break into the top 10. On that genre-specific list, the new live set opens in the runner-up spot, earning the band its twenty-first top 10 success out of 24 total appearances.

Aerosmith and Yungblud Beat Def Leppard to No. 1

Only one title beats Diamond Star Heroes to No. 1 on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart, which ranks the bestselling releases in those styles in the U.K. One More Time, the collaborative EP by Aerosmith and alternative star Yungblud, starts its time at No. 1 on not just the rock list, but also the main albums roster across the pond.

Several Def Leppard Albums Have Missed No. 1 by One Spot

Diamond Star Heroes marks Def Leppard’s third project to peak in the runner-up spot on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart. The group has previously failed to run the show by just one space with both Best Of and The Early Years 79–81.

Which Def Leppard Albums Have Soared to No. 1?

While Def Leppard might not rule the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart this frame, the band has sent half a dozen releases to the loftiest spot in the past. That roundup includes all of the following albums:

• Vault: Greatest Hits 1980–1995
• Euphoria
• Songs From the Sparkle Lounge
• Def Leppard
• Diamond Star Halos
• Drastic Symphonies with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Of that bunch, only Diamond Star Halos managed more than one turn at No. 1, as it commanded the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart for two of the 30 weeks it spent on the tally.

Def Leppard Keeps Its Winning Streak Going for Another Year

2025 now marks the seventh consecutive year that Def Leppard has scored a new placement on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart. The group’s run began in 2019 with The Collection: Volume 2.

The year 2020 was a huge one for Def Leppard, as half a dozen projects launched on the genre-specific ranking. In 2024, Live at Leadmill brought the band back to the roster and stood as Def Leppard’s most recent debut until this week, as Diamond Star Heroes narrowly helps the group return to the ranking before 2026 rolls around.

Def Leppard Scores Several New Top 40 Successes

Diamond Star Heroes opens inside the top 40 on both the Official Albums Sales and Official Physical Albums charts, where it debuts at Nos. 21 and 22, respectively. The project comes in several dozen spaces lower on the Official Album Downloads tally, beginning its time at No. 68.

When Was Def Leppard’s New Live Album Recorded?

Diamond Star Heroes was recorded at a 2023 concert in Def Leppard’s hometown of Sheffield in the U.K. The performance was recently made available across a variety of formats, including Blu-ray, double CD, and a double LP pressed on red, white, and black vinyl.