Pete Willis

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Pete Willis

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name = Peter Andrew Willis

| alias =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1960|02|16}}

| birth_place = Sheffield, England

| origin =

| genre = Heavy metal, hard rock

| occupation = Guitarist

| years_active = 1977–1991

| spouse = {{marriage|Lindsay Smith|1985}}

| past_member_of = Def Leppard, Gogmagog, Roadhouse

| associated_acts = Atomic Mass, Def Leppard, Gogmagog, Nightrun, Roadhouse

| website =

}}

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. 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.{{Cite web |last=Matera |first=Joe |date=2020-06-25 |title=Def Leppard: "Steve Clark was a very unique player - he didn't get enough credit for the stuff he was doing" |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/def-leppard-steve-clark-was-a-very-unique-player-he-didnt-get-enough-credit-for-the-stuff-he-was-doing |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=guitarworld |language=en}}

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, which was being recorded at the time of his departure.{{Cite web |title=This Day in Music Spotlight: The Death of Def Leppard's Steamin' Steve Clark |url=http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/spotlight-0108-2011/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112041451/http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/spotlight-0108-2011/ |archive-date=12 January 2011}}

He was dismissed from the band on 11 July 1982, during the recording of Pyromania, due to excessive drinking that hampered his guitar playing,{{Cite web|url=http://www.deflepparduk.com/2014newsjul107.html|title=Def Leppard News - 32 Years Ago - Pete Willis Gets Fired From Def Leppard|website=Deflepparduk.com}} 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) and Roadhouse. Willis played Hamer Standard guitars almost exclusively during his tenure with Def Leppard.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hamerfanclub.com/def-leppard-and-hamer-steve-clark-pete-willis-rick-savage/|title=Def Leppard – Steve Clark, Pete Willis and Rick Savage – Hamer Fan Club}}

Willis later admitted his dismissal from Def Leppard 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."https://www.deflepparduk.com/2015newsjul98.html

Willis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019 as a member of Def Leppard,Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - 2019 Inductees. Rockhall.com. 15 December 2018. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2020. https://www.rockhall.com/2019-inductees/def-leppard/ but did not attend the induction ceremony.Grow, Kory (30 March 2019). "Read Def Leppard's Celebratory Rock Hall Induction Speech". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 September 2023. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/def-leppard-rock-hall-induction-speech-814637/

Personal life

Willis married Lindsay Smith in 1985, and had two sons: Luke and Andrew. The family resides in Crookes, Sheffield.{{Cite web|title=Def Leppard News - Original DEF LEPPARD Guitarist PETE WILLIS Celebrates 60th Birthday|url=http://www.deflepparduk.com/2020newsfeb76.html|access-date=2020-07-16|website=Def Leppard Tour History|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Kielty|first=Martin|title=35 Years Ago: Def Leppard Replace Pete Willis With Phil Collen|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/phil-collen-replaces-pete-willis-def-leppard/|access-date=2020-07-16|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=12 July 2017 |language=en}} Willis left the music business. He now runs his own property management company in Sheffield.{{Cite web |last=Walllast |first=Mick |date=2011-05-25 |title=In At The Deep End: Def Leppard's Journey From Sheffield To The United States |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/def-leppard-living-the-american-dream |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=louder |language=en}}