‘Pyromania’ Kicks Off Album Series

It was nearly 20 years ago that Def Leppard’s “Pyromania” helped put pop-metal on the musical map, spawning a flood of Aquanet-armed imitators whose output would rattle the airwaves through the 1980s.

While some music fans would point this out as reason enough to keep that era in the rearview mirror, VH1 has chosen the multi-platinum effort to kick off its latest series, “Ultimate Albums” (Sunday, 9 p.m.)

In coming weeks, the program will feature hourlong examinations of key works by such varied acts as Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley, No Doubt and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Although the music channel is promoting the series as new, it seems more a revival of the “Classic Albums” showcase it launched in 1997. No matter, the format is still entertaining, often as much for the revisionist posturing as insider information.

“Pyromania” is cast as a “Sgt. Pepper’s” for the headbanger set, an album that proved metal could dig deep without being demonic. lts lasting influence is attested to by such current luminaries as System of a Down and Lit.

But while producer Mutt Lange contributed as writer or co-writer on all the tracks and worked as architect of the band’s breakthrough re-direction, he is missing in action on the program.

Many of the anecdotes involve Lange, who is also the husband and Svengali behind country star Shania Twain.

The making-of stories on such hits as “Photograph,” “Rock of Ages” and “Foolin’” are all here, and band members, particularly singer Joe Elliott, fired guitarist Pete Willis and his replacement, Phil Collen, are refreshingly candid.

Does “Pyromania” deserve such a lavish look? Most critics didn’t think so, but as the program asks, can 10 million record buyers be wrong?