Peter Andrew Willis (born 16 February 1960) is a retired English guitarist, best known as a founder member of the hard rock band

Def Leppard Def Leppard are an English Rock music, rock band formed in Sheffield in 1977. Since 1992, the band has consisted of Rick Savage (bass, backing vocals), Joe Elliott (lead vocals), Rick Allen (drummer), Rick Allen (drums), Phil Collen (guitar, ...

. He was with Def Leppard from 1977 to 1982, when he was fired from the band and replaced by Phil Collen. Willis’s firing was due to drinking problems.

Career

He co-wrote many tracks and played guitar on the band's first three albums: '' On Through the Night'', '' High 'n' Dry'', and ''

Pyromania Pyromania is an impulse-control disorder in which individuals repeatedly fail to resist impulses to deliberately start fires, to relieve some tension or for instant gratification. The term ''pyromania'' comes from the Greek word (''pyr'', 'f ...

'', which was being recorded at the time of his departure. He was dismissed from the band on 11 July 1982, during the recording of ''

'', due to excessive drinking that hampered his guitar playing, and was replaced by guitarist Phil Collen the next day. Willis later recorded with the bands Gogmagog (with former and current members of

Iron Maiden Iron Maiden are an English Heavy metal music, heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris (musician), Steve Harris. Although fluid in the early years of the band, the line-up for most ...

) and Roadhouse. Willis played Hamer Standard guitars almost exclusively during his tenure with Def Leppard. Willis later admitted his dismissal from

was the best thing that happened to him. He said "things were going too fast for me; I was still enjoying it, but I was using drink as a crutch." He added "It wasn't nice to go that way, but it was something that needed to happen for them and the best thing to happen health-wise for me...if I'd stayed there was a good chance that I'd have ended up going the same way as Steve Clark." Of his dismissal Willis said " Joe Elliott was nice about it; he said I'm really sorry Pete, I didn't want to have to be the one to tell you this." In 2019, Willis was inducted into the

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), also simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum and hall of fame located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States, on the shore of Lake Erie. The museum documents the history of rock music and the ...

as a member of Def Leppard. He did not attend the induction ceremony, however.

Personal life

Willis married Lindsay Smith in 1985, and had two sons: Luke and Andrew. The family resides in

Crookes Crookes is a suburb of the City of Sheffield, England, about west of the city centre. It borders Broomhill to the south, Walkley and Upperthorpe to the east and open countryside around the River Rivelin to the north. The population of the ...

Sheffield Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, situated south of Leeds and east of Manchester. The city is the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and some of its so ...

. Willis left the music business. He now runs his own property management company in Sheffield.

Discography

With Def Leppard

* '' The Def Leppard E.P.'' (1979) (aka ''Getcha Rocks Off'' EP) * '' On Through the Night'' (1980) * '' High 'n' Dry'' (1981) * ''

'' (1983)

With Gogmagog

* '' I Will Be There EP'' (1985)

With Roadhouse

* '' Roadhouse'' (1991)

References

External links

* * 1960 births Living people People educated at Tapton School Def Leppard members English rock guitarists English heavy metal guitarists English lead guitarists Musicians from Sheffield Musicians from London Gogmagog (band) members 20th-century English musicians {{UK-guitarist-stub