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Two Steps Behind
Two Steps Behind
Two Steps Behind
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"Two Steps Behind"
Single by Def Leppard
from the album Retro Active and Last Action Hero: Music from the Original Motion Picture
B-side
Released24 August 1993 (1993-08-24)
Recorded
  • 1989 (Joe's demo/original electric version)
  • April 1992 (acoustic version)
  • 7–11 June 1993 (new parts to electric version)
GenreRock
Length
  • 4:58 (Joe's demo)
  • 4:11 (Adrenalize acoustic B-side version)
  • 4:16 (acoustic version/Retro Active/Last Action Hero Soundtrack mix)
  • 4:29 (electric version)
LabelBludgeon Riffola
SongwriterJoe Elliott
Producers
Def Leppard singles chronology
"I Wanna Touch U"
(1993) 		"Two Steps Behind"
(1993) 		"Desert Song"
(1993)
Music video
"Two Steps Behind" on YouTube

"Two Steps Behind" is a song by English hard rock band Def Leppard from their 1993 compilation album Retro Active and the soundtrack to the film Last Action Hero. It reached number five on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, numbers 12 and 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100, and number 32 on the UK Singles Chart. The music video was directed by Wayne Isham. In the 1993 Metal Edge Readers' Choice Awards, the song was voted "Song of the Year" and "Best Song from a Movie Soundtrack".[1]

Background and recording

[edit]

Def Leppard recorded two different versions of the song - an electric version and an acoustic version - the widely released one was the acoustic version which featured on the greatest hits Vault. The widely released acoustic version differs from the original B-side, as it featured the addition of strings by Michael Kamen, for usage on Last Action Hero.

The song was composed and demoed by lead singer Joe Elliott in 1989 during the writing and recording sessions for the band's fifth album Adrenalize. The track was shelved for three years until it resurfaced following a late-night acoustic jamming session with the Hothouse Flowers in March 1992, which yielded three B-side tracks. When Elliott suggested recording "Two Steps Behind", Collen suggested that it be recorded as an acoustic version. The track was recorded in a few hours in April 1992 and was released as the B-side to "Make Love Like a Man" in the UK.

Later in 1993, the producers of the film Last Action Hero contacted the band requesting a new song for the film's soundtrack. As the band were on tour at the time, they were unable to record brand new material for the soundtrack. Instead, they sent the producers the multitracks to the acoustic version of "Two Steps Behind". The track was remixed and conductor Michael Kamen added an orchestral string treatment to the song. The inclusion of the song on the film's soundtrack inspired the band to create the compilation album Retro Active from B-sides and unreleased material, and record new parts to the electric version of the song on 7–11 June.

Along with the song "Let's Get Rocked" from their 1992 album Adrenalize, this is one of only two songs by the band released after the 1980s that is still regularly performed live on nearly all of the bands' tours. Def Leppard's acoustic version also features on the CMT Crossroads DVD with Taylor Swift as a bonus feature.

Critical reception

[edit]

Eduardo Rivadavia, reviewing Retro Active for AllMusic, called "Two Steps Behind" along with "Miss You in a Heartbeat" "solid, but hardly groundbreaking ballads" and one of the album picks.[citation needed]

Commercial performance

[edit]

"Two Steps Behind" reached number five on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.[2] It also peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[3] It also reached No 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100

Music video

[edit]

The music video for "Two Steps Behind" was directed by American director Wayne Isham,[4] and the approximate shoot date was 10 July 1993. This video shows the band playing in car park, Joe Elliott singing on the street while all the people around go backwards and live footage at a concert. The live footage was shot on Irvine Meadows, California. The video was aired in August 1993.

Track listings

[edit]
  1. "Two Steps Behind"
  2. "Tonight" (acoustic version)
  3. "SMC"
  • Cassette (US)[6]
  1. "Two Steps Behind"
  2. "Tonight" (acoustic version)

Charts

[edit]

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for "Two Steps Behind"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States 24 August 1993 Cassette Columbia [30]
United Kingdom 6 September 1993
  • CD
  • cassette
 Bludgeon Riffola [31][32]
Australia 4 October 1993 [33]
Japan 20 December 1993 CD [34]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Two Steps Behind

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
"Two Steps Behind" is an acoustic power ballad written by for the English band . Released as a single on August 24, 1993, it served as the lead single from their compilation album and was also included on the soundtrack for the film . The song features an intimate arrangement highlighting Elliott's vocals and , marking a departure from the band's typical sound. The track originated as a B-side demo from earlier sessions but was refined into its acoustic form for the single, produced by Def Leppard and Pete Woodroffe. An electric version later appeared on Retro Active, which was released on October 5, 1993, and peaked at number 9 on the Billboard 200. "Two Steps Behind" achieved significant commercial success, reaching number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 5 on the Mainstream Rock chart, becoming one of Def Leppard's last major hits in the US during the 1990s. The song's lyrics explore themes of unwavering support and loyalty in a relationship, with lines like "I'll be two steps behind you (and )" resonating as a poignant . Its , directed by Wayne Isham, features the band performing in a minimalist setting, emphasizing the acoustic vibe. "Two Steps Behind" has since become a staple in Def Leppard's live performances and is often cited as one of their most enduring ballads.

Composition and development

Writing and inspiration

Joe Elliott composed "Two Steps Behind" entirely on his own in 1989, during the aftermath of 's grueling Hysteria world tour, a time when the band was recuperating from the intense demands of their breakthrough success and gearing up for future work. This solo writing effort stood out in the band's catalog, as most songs emerged from collaborative sessions among members. The song's lyrics center on themes of unwavering support and loyalty in a relationship amid emotional distance, drawn from Elliott's broader personal experiences rather than any singular event. These elements infused the track with a poignant , allowing Elliott to explore relational dynamics in a way that resonated beyond the band's usual high-energy anthems. Elliott initially demoed the piece as an electric mid-tempo , which underscored its emotional vulnerability and marked a departure from Def Leppard's polished style, thereby enriching their repertoire with a more intimate offering. This raw structure was later refined into an acoustic version during the band's 1992 sessions.

Early demos and shelving

In 1989, during a break in the sessions for Def Leppard's album Adrenalize, frontman Joe Elliott composed "Two Steps Behind" and recorded a basic demo of the track himself in Dublin, with producer Pete Woodroffe engineering. Elliott handled all instrumentation on this initial electric version, capturing the song's core structure as a mid-tempo ballad. The demo was ultimately shelved as the band finalized the tracklist for Adrenalize, an album already featuring several slow, ballad-oriented songs such as "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad" and "Tonight". This decision aligned with the group's focus on delivering a high-energy hard rock follow-up to their 1987 breakthrough Hysteria, prioritizing uptempo material. The song remained unused for over two years, gathering dust as the band toured extensively to promote Adrenalize. The track's revival began in 1992, when guitarist suggested reworking it as an acoustic rendition, which was quickly recorded in about 30 minutes and released as a B-side for the "Make Love Like a Man" single. Later, the producers of the film requested an obscure song for the soundtrack, and this acoustic version was selected, leading to further orchestral enhancement and eventual release as a single.

Recording and production

Acoustic recording

The acoustic version of "Two Steps Behind" was initially recorded in spring 1992 at , the home studio of lead singer in , . Originating as a 1989 electric demo composition by Elliott, the track was revived during sessions for the Adrenalize B-sides, where guitarist proposed a stripped-down acoustic arrangement to capture greater emotional depth. Elliott handled vocals, supported by acoustic bass from and additional acoustic guitar from and , creating a minimalist setup of voice, two guitars, and bass. Producers Pete Woodroffe and the band oversaw basic tracking, emphasizing intimacy over the song's original electric demo to suit potential soundtrack placement in an action-romance context. This approach, completed in a few hours, marked Def Leppard's first fully acoustic recording, prioritizing raw vulnerability to enhance the ballad's themes of loyalty and longing.

Electric version and orchestration

In June 1993, Def Leppard conducted sessions at Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum, Netherlands, to create a new electric version of "Two Steps Behind" based on the original 1989 demo, featured on the Retro Active album. Conductor composed an orchestral string arrangement for the acoustic version of the track, which was recorded separately to impart a cinematic depth for the Last Action Hero soundtrack. The electric version was produced by the band— (lead vocals), (guitars and backing vocals), (guitars and backing vocals), (bass guitar and backing vocals), and Rick Allen (drums)—along with Pete Woodroffe, with engineer contributing to aspects of the album's overall production and the mix finalized by and Liz Stroka at in North Hollywood on 25 June 1993.

Release and promotion

Soundtrack inclusion and single release

"Two Steps Behind" was featured on the soundtrack album for the 1993 action film The Last Action Hero, starring , which was released on June 8, 1993, by . This placement on the soundtrack, alongside tracks from artists such as and , significantly boosted the song's visibility by associating it with a major Hollywood production during the summer blockbuster season. The inclusion highlighted the acoustic rendition's style, distinguishing it from the film's more high-energy rock contributions. The single release of the acoustic version followed shortly after the soundtrack's launch, beginning in the United States on , 1993, as a cassette single under . In the United Kingdom, it was issued on September 6, 1993, primarily as a CD maxi-single that included additional tracks like acoustic versions of "Tonight" and "S.M.C." International variants appeared later that year, with CD singles released in markets such as , , and various European countries, adapting formats to local preferences including 7-inch vinyl in some regions. Positioned as the from Def Leppard's upcoming Retro Active, released on October 5, 1993, "Two Steps Behind" was marketed to showcase the band's versatility beyond their roots, leveraging the ballad's emotional depth for broader radio and crossover appeal. This strategy capitalized on the song's prior soundtrack exposure to drive anticipation for the album, which collected remixed B-sides and unreleased material from the band's 1980s and early 1990s sessions.

Music video production

The music video for "Two Steps Behind" was directed by Wayne Isham. Filming occurred on July 10, 1993, with scenes shot in a car park and a studio featuring a , alongside concert footage captured at in . The video's narrative centers on the band delivering an acoustic performance in the gritty, urban environment of the car park, interspersed with dynamic live acoustic performance clips from their July 10 concert at Irvine Meadows. This intercutting emphasizes the acoustic arrangement and the band's live delivery during their World Tour. The video premiered in August 1993 and received rotation on , supporting the single's promotion around its U.S. release that same month. No alternate versions of the music video were produced.

Reception

Critical reception

Upon its release, "Two Steps Behind" received generally positive notices for its emotional depth and melodic craftsmanship, though some critics viewed it as a departure from Def Leppard's signature sound. Eduardo Rivadavia of praised the song as a solid that exemplified the Retro Active's strengths in structure and accessibility, noting its role in providing a vulnerable to the band's more aggressive tracks. Similarly, David Fricke in Rolling Stone highlighted it as a standout tender acoustic piece, emphasizing Joe Elliott's emotive vocals and its potential to rival the group's major hits. Contemporary reviews were mixed regarding its fit within Def Leppard's oeuvre, with some appreciating its broad appeal while critiquing its perceived unoriginality in the power ballad genre. The commended the acoustic rendition for adding variety but suggested that including both electric and acoustic versions felt redundant, implying a lack of innovation in presentation. The offered a tempered endorsement of the album's acoustic elements, including ballads like this one, as "pleasingly roughshod" relief from overproduction, though the overall collection was faulted for inconsistency across lineups and eras. In retrospective assessments, the song has been celebrated for its lasting romantic allure within Def Leppard's discography. A 2023 Ultimate Classic Rock analysis described "Two Steps Behind" as a key ballad offering emotional resonance for fans, underscoring its enduring appeal as part of Retro Active's diverse appeal to romantics amid the band's harder-edged material.

Commercial performance

"Two Steps Behind" experienced notable commercial success following its release as a single in August 1993, particularly in the United States, where it peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The track also performed strongly on rock radio, reaching number 5 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, while crossing over to adult contemporary audiences with a peak of number 29 on the Adult Contemporary chart during late 1993 and early 1994. Internationally, the song achieved moderate chart success, peaking at number 33 on the Australian Singles Chart after spending seven weeks in the top 50. In the United Kingdom, it reached number 32 on the Official Singles Chart, benefiting from its inclusion on the Last Action Hero soundtrack and the visibility of its music video. Despite its airplay-driven popularity, "Two Steps Behind" did not earn major certifications, such as RIAA Gold status for the single. However, the track's radio success significantly boosted the performance of Def Leppard's 1993 Retro Active, which was certified by the RIAA on December 21, 1993 (indicating 1 million units shipped in the ) and has sold nearly 2 million copies worldwide.

Formats and chart performance

Track listings

The primary single release of "Two Steps Behind" features the acoustic version as the A-side, with B-sides varying by format and region. Common tracks include "Tonight" (acoustic version recorded at Sun Studios) and the instrumental "S.M.C." (a demo lullaby by ).

UK CD single

The UK CD single for "Two Steps Behind," released in September 1993, features the acoustic version of the title track along with two B-sides.
  • "Two Steps Behind" (acoustic version)
  • "Tonight" (acoustic demo)
  • "S.M.C." (demo)

US cassette single

The US cassette single, released in August 1993, includes the acoustic version of the title track paired with an acoustic B-side.
  • "Two Steps Behind" (acoustic version)
  • "Tonight" (acoustic version)

Australian and Japanese CD variants

Australian and Japanese CD single variants, released in 1993, are based on the UK CD configuration with the acoustic version of the title track and the same two B-sides, but feature region-specific artwork. The Japanese variant includes an additional spoken message track from , , and Rick Allen.

Charts

"Two Steps Behind" achieved moderate success on international charts, peaking in the top 40 in several countries during 1993 and 1994. The song's chart performance was largely driven by radio airplay rather than physical sales, as it was initially released as a promotional single tied to the soundtrack before a commercial single followed.

Weekly Charts

Chart (1993–1994)Peak PositionWeeks on Chart
(ARIA)337
Canada Top Singles (RPM)5Not available
UK Singles (OCC)324
Billboard Hot 1001220
US Billboard Mainstream Rock5Not available

Year-End Charts

Chart (1993)Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)40
Billboard Hot 100100

References

  1. https://www.songfacts.com/facts/def-leppard/two-steps-behind
  2. https://www.discogs.com/release/832587-Def-Leppard-Two-Steps-Behind
  3. https://defleppard.com/two-steps-behind-last-action-hero-movie-behind-song-movie-watch-now/
  4. https://www.genius.com/Def-leppard-two-steps-behind-acoustic-version-lyrics/q/producer
  5. https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/retro-active-def-leppard-album/
  6. https://www.billboard.com/artist/def-leppard/
  7. https://genius.com/Def-leppard-two-steps-behind-acoustic-version-lyrics
  8. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8689714/
  9. https://ultimateclassicrock.com/def-leppard-songs-ranked/
  10. https://www.deflepparduk.com/24thaugust1993.html
  11. https://www.deflepparduk.com/2018newsjun60.html
  12. https://louderthanwar.com/joe-elliott-def-leppard-interview/
  13. https://www.discogs.com/release/11752302-Def-Leppard-Retro-Active
  14. https://www.discogs.com/release/2008944-Def-Leppard-Two-Steps-Behind
  15. https://www.mikeladano.com/2015/07/27/review-def-leppard-two-steps-behind-1993-cd-single/
  16. https://www.deflepparduk.com/2018newssep60.html
  17. https://www.deflepparduk.com/album7.html
  18. https://www.discogs.com/release/7409555-Def-Leppard-Retro-Active
  19. https://defleppard.com/album/retro-active/
  20. https://www.discogs.com/release/8841978-Def-Leppard-Two-Steps-Behind
  21. https://www.deflepparduk.com/single27.html
  22. https://ultimateclassicrock.com/last-action-hero-soundtrack/
  23. https://www.discogs.com/master/56470-Def-Leppard-Two-Steps-Behind
  24. https://ultimateclassicrock.com/def-leppard-retro-active/
  25. https://imvdb.com/video/def-leppard/two-steps-behind
  26. https://www.deflepparduk.com/two-steps-behind-promo-video-filming-28-years.html
  27. https://www.ocregister.com/2016/09/23/def-leppard-sticks-to-business-in-irvine/
  28. https://www.deflepparduk.com/1993irvine.html
  29. https://www.allmusic.com/album/retro-active-mw0000103043
  30. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/retro-active-245631/
  31. https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/11/04/def-leppardretro-active-mercurystarstar-12considering-their-last/
  32. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-10-31-ca-51492-story.html
  33. https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Def+Leppard&titel=Two+Steps+Behind&cat=s
  34. https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/def-leppard-two-steps-behind/
  35. https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Def+Leppard&ti=Retro+Active#search_section
  36. https://chartmasters.org/def-leppard-albums-and-songs-sales/
  37. https://us.rarevinyl.com/products/def-leppard-two-steps-behind-japanese-cd-single-cd5-phcr-8040-23076
  38. https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/21191/def-leppard/
  39. https://www.deflepparduk.com/2018newsoct309.html
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