Why did early Def Leppard sound similar to AC/DC?

In a new episode of Rockonteurs, the frontman of Def LeppardJoe Elliott explained why the album of the AC/DC of 1979 “Highway To Hell” And “High ‘N’ Dry” recorded by his band in 1981 sound similar.

Elliott’s account reads: “We had three months planned for “High And Dry”, which we recorded at Battery Studios where they had recorded all of “Highway to Hell”, most of “Back In Black” was done in the Bahamas but then they came back to Battery to mix it.

So our drum kit was set up where Phil Rudd’s (AC/DC drummer, ed.) drum kit was. We used Marshalls the same way Angus and Malcolm did. We did it in the same studio and that’s why if you listen to “High And Dry” and “Highway to Hell” they sound pretty much the same even though they’re two different bands. The only difference is the harmonies of the ballads, a ballad and a little more naivety because AC/DC already had six albums under their belt.”

Talking about that album, the second of the Def Leppard after his debut in 1980 with “On Through the Night”, Joe Elliott explains: “If you look at it now, there are parts that work well and parts that are missing. But overall, as a second album, it was the beginning of where we would go. We had an open mind and were very happy to work with a producer like Mutt Lange (the same one of AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell”, ed.). He was like a teacher and we wanted to learn from him. He was a rock guru and we were ready to go down with him and fight to win.”

Elliott further added that recording “High ‘N’ Dry” It was an experience that paid off for the band: “When we started making “Pyromania” a year later, with what we had experienced recording “High ‘N’ Dry” we realized it had been worth it.”