A spoon factory near St. Paul, MN (USA) an idea that was suspended for many years in the mind of bass player, Ray "Sav" Ranney, comes to realization. His tribute band experience together with Dane Vorce's unique vocal ability and the driving drums of Shawn Kenning, would be the foundation to put together this Def Leppard tribute band. They asked long time friend and guitarist Dave (Pipes) Louisiana to join, who accepted and brought his guitar talents and keen vocal sense to this project. Together these four put out the word that to complete the line up they needed a second guitarist, in walks Steamin' Doug Tang and after demonstrating rip-roaring guitar renditions and an energized stage presence, was accepted as the final member. Def Repplica was born! A month later drummer Shawn Kenning quits the band and is replaced by Sean "Thundergod" Goettsch, a great and solid drummer with many years experience in previous local bands. Their first public gig at Westfield School in Richfield (UK). They were paid 5 Pounds ah...dollars -- out of a teacher's pocket. Their reputation climbs, the half assed morning show on BBC Radio 1 or 93X gives the band their first radio airplay and a recording deal is signed with TDK (USA.) All band members give up their day jobs...just wishful thinking...and Sean Goettsch drops out of school. The new US cable channel MTV discovers the video for "BRINGIN' ON THE HEARTBREAK" and plays it in heavy rotation, then finds out that it was actually done by a band called Def Leppard not Def Repplica and drops the band from any future consideration. The soon-to-be unofficial sixth Rep member, Josh "Mutt" Lange forms the bands first fan club.

On New Year's Eve, just outside Richfield, Sean Goettsch's car runs out of gas and he is stranded. His left arm is intact. Microsurgery fails because he didn't need it and after adapting to an electronic kit, Sean learns how to use the triggers on his set. Meanwhile, the rest of the band keeps rehearsing. In the spring, "Mutt" Lange takes over as a producer and advises the band to start playing out as much as possible. In May the band makes its amazing debut at Dibbo's to a ruckus crowd of Def Leppard fans. The band shared the stage with TNT (an AC/DC Tribute) that evening. Some would say they had never seen anything like it and others well, let's just say they didn't say anything. Playing with TNT was something they would come to enjoy and it was a good thing, because they had a summer tour booked with them! They played to packed houses all over and enjoyed much success on the twin bill. Numerous reviews praising Def Repplica, their unbelievable shows and their attention to detail, came pouring in. Following the extensive tour that had them playing in many clubs, casinos and any other place that would take them, the group entered the studio to record a demo, but producer Lange was unavailable. Even Jim Steinman wouldn't take the job! So they began the recording sessions by themselves. The pairing turned out to be ill-advised, so the group turned to its friend and brother Ryan Ranney for some direction. The result was a 6 song demo used exclusively to book future gigs. The tour highlight found them with an opening slot for 80's icons Warrant. In late 2006 the band had its heart broken by having to say goodbye to the now infamous Spoon Factory, the rehearsal studio that spawned so many memories and gave birth to the mighty Def Repplica. Undaunted, Def Repplica soldiered on and after many tears and a few manly hugs, they departed. By the end of 2006 the band found itself back on the road doing what it does best, rocking the world like never before! The year wrapped up with a string of huge shows in the Twin City area and a very successful New Years gig in Northern Wisconsin.

After so many great shows Def Repplica thought "it can't get any better then this," boy were they wrong! The band started to expand it's horizons by extending its reach to play anywhere at anytime (with a little notice of course.) The year started off with Def Repplica's first sold out show. Judging by the turnout the band had made the right decision. They had played to packed houses before but never had they had to turn people away at the door! Just a few short weeks later they were stunned again when they played to a sold out crowd of rowdy Def Repplica fans at the annual 93X H.A.M.S snow job at Izaty's resort. They did an in-studio interview on 93X's half assed morning show to promote this appearance. Next Def Repplica traveled the greatest distance it had to date by playing to a group of crazy fans up in Grand Forks, ND. Then it was back to Def Repplica's home club of Dibbo's for their best turnout yet! For sure things could not get any better, right? Wrong! We'll with spring on the horizon they were able to secure 2 minor league baseball stadium gigs, scheduled for summer! Are we talking about the same places where the band they portray played just a few short years ago? YES! After a stunning and wet gig playing at Sioux Falls Stadium in South Dakota, they went on to headline two packed nights at North Dakota's biggest biker rally, right outside of Bismarck, ND. The Craziness continued! The following gig at Midway stadium in St. Paul, MN was just incredible! After a return engagement to Dibbo's the band set its sites on a 4th of July extravaganza, "the 93X Half Assed Morning Shows Booze Cruise." A four level paddle boat on a 3 hour tour (sound familiar? Yeah I think that's how Gilligan got into trouble.) During the day in sweltering heat Def Repplica put on a spectacular show for a rambunctious crowd. Once again the band appeared on the morning show to promote the gig. With all the craziness of the 1st half of the year behind them Def Repplica wanted to show everyone they had hearts of gold (not to mention they love kids, not in a Michael Jackson way), so they put their money where their mouth was and headlined a charity event for the Make a Wish Foundation in St. Paul, MN. Since then Def Repplica has returned to Jersey's and Bogart's for two earth shattering shows.

In early 2008 Def Repplica appeared at the MSP Music Expo where they played a very well received acoustic set and signed autographs to many adoring fans. They followed that up with a return visit to Studio of the Stars in Hurley WI. It was 2 nights of rip roarin' partying while crankin' out the hits of Def Leppard. What more could the fans ask for? The next stop was another sold out return visit to Fargo ND and the nightclub Hooligan's which Repp had rocked to the ground about a year earlier. They closed out their tour to a packed club at Smitty's in MN. With all of the turmoil of a couple of years of touring and drinking Def Repplica took a long deserved break. While in the meantime they stayed busy by starting up a few new projects. Dave (Phil) and Dane (Joe) started a side project called Cybernuts which quickly faded away. Doug (Steve) did a stint in Rehab (a local band in MN.) Sean (Rick) left to pursue his true passion..naked women and Ray just took some good RNR time to work on his solo material. After Cybernuts disbanded Dave (Phil) went on to form Manglaze a side project he keeps going to this day. We think he keeps it in his front pocket, but nobody knows for sure.

It only took one phone call from Dane to the guys along with a lot of sucking up and a few hundred bucks in friendship payments to get Def Repplica back together. After a great warm-up gig at Dougstock II they played back at their old stomping grounds of Dibbo's in Wisconsin to a packed house. Things were looking up for the Reppsters with another thrill packed show at Pickle Park with the Mighty Atomic Punks! In October they announced that they parted ways with Sean and that Billy Wesp was going to beat the skins (hey now!) for Def Repp. They are scheduled to perform with Steel Heart in early November.