Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott on Bowie’s Impact and The Beatles’ Enduring Legacy
Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott has often spoken about the musical influences that shaped his career, and two names consistently rise to the top: David Bowie and The Beatles. While acknowledging The Beatles’ monumental impact, Elliott has stated that Bowie’s innovative spirit resonated with him just as strongly.
Bowie’s Innovation Rivaling The Beatles
Elliott, in a 2016 interview with Classic Rock, positioned David Bowie as an innovator “right up there with The Beatles.”1 He highlighted Bowie’s constant evolution, drawing parallels to The Beatles’ own rapid transformation from early pop hits like “Love Me Do” to more experimental work such as “Taxman” and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Elliott observed that both acts “radically changed,” and Bowie “obviously learned from that.”
The Influence of Bowie’s Constant Reinvention
Elliott specifically admired Bowie’s ability to move beyond glam rock, a genre that initially brought him mainstream attention. As Elliott set it, Bowie embodied the idea that “a man on the move would never obtain tied down.”1 He particularly cited Bowie’s “Berlin trilogy” – Low, Heroes, and Lodger – as pivotal in his own musical development, influencing him during his late teens.
Early Exposure to The Beatles
Born in Sheffield, England, Elliott’s appreciation for music began in his childhood with The Beatles.2 He recalls growing up watching the band’s transformation from pop idols to cultural icons. His fondness for Paul McCartney began remarkably early, with family members remembering a three-year-old Elliott performing “Love Me Do” with a plastic toy guitar.2
A Favorite McCartney Track
When asked to name his favorite Paul McCartney song in 2022, Elliott surprised some fans by choosing “Little Lamb Dragonfly” from McCartney’s 1973 album, Red Rose Speedway.2
Beyond Tribute Bands: Elliott’s Dedication to Bowie
Elliott’s admiration for Bowie extended beyond simply acknowledging his influence. He participated in a David Bowie tribute band called the Cybernauts during the late 1990s and early 2000s, alongside former members of Bowie’s backing band, Spiders from Mars, Trevor Bolder and Mick Woodmansey.3
Elliott’s Career and Legacy
Joe Elliott, born August 1, 1959, is best known as the lead singer and founding member of Def Leppard.3 He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Def Leppard in 2019.3