Def Leppard - Foolin

What this video is

Released in August 1983, 'Foolin'' arrived at the apex of Def Leppard's US breakthrough, the third consecutive Top 30 single from Pyromania following 'Photograph' and 'Rock of Ages.' The three singles combined for 46 chart weeks, maintaining an unbroken Hot 100 presence from March through December 1983. The video's gothic-ritual visual language — fire, chains, dark passageways, and symbolic props — deliberately…

Why it matters

A canonical artifact of the NWOBHM-to-arena-rock crossover moment, 'Foolin'' demonstrates how British heavy metal acts strategically adopted MTV's theatrical clip format to achieve US mainstream penetration. The video's gothic symbolism, practical pyrotechnics, and fast editorial rhythm codified a…

The director

David Victor Mark Mallet (born 17 December 1945, West Horsley, Surrey, England) is a British director of music videos and concert films. One of the most prolific music video directors of the 1980s, he co-founded the pioneering production company MGMM with…