Pete Willis co-wrote many tracks and played guitar on the band's first three albums: On Through the Night, High 'n' Dry, and Pyromania, which was being recorded at the time of his departure.
10 Facts About Pete Willis
1.
2.
Pete Willis was fired from Def Leppard in 1982 and replaced by Phil Collen.
3.
In 2019, Willis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Def Leppard.
4.
Pete Willis attended Tapton School and has been a guitar enthusiast since his youth.
5.
Pete Willis met Joe Elliott in 1977 and invited him to audition for the band, which later became Def Leppard.
6.
Pete Willis was one of the main songwriters of the band during their first three albums.
7.
Pete Willis was dismissed from the band on 11 July 1982, during the recording of Pyromania, due to excessive drinking that hampered his guitar playing, and was replaced by guitarist Phil Collen two days later.
Related searches
Joe Elliott 8.
Pete Willis later recorded with the bands Gogmagog and Roadhouse.
9.
Pete Willis played Hamer Standard guitars almost exclusively during his tenure with Def Leppard.
10.
Pete Willis married Lindsay Smith in 1985, and had two sons, Luke and Andrew.