Joe Elliott celebrates his birthday on August 1. Decades after Def Leppard released their debut album in 1980, Elliott remains one of rock’s most enduring frontmen. The band continues to draw huge crowds, with their recent Stadium Tour alongside Motley Crue, Poison, and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts being a massive success. In fact, it was the eighth highest-grossing tour of 2022, raking in $173.4 million.
Elliott shows no signs of slowing down. Even when he faced health issues before a show in Colombia in February 2023, he was quickly treated, and the concert went on as planned. While he tends to keep a low profile, Elliott is one of rock’s most fascinating figures. His passion for music shines through when he discusses new releases or the artists that inspire him. He still loves music just as much as he did in his youth.
What else makes Joe Elliott interesting? Here are five fun facts about the Def Leppard frontman:
1. Albums He Can’t Live Without: Elliott participated in a feature where he named his top albums. While he mentioned entire catalogs, three specific albums stood out: Mott The Hoople’s *Mott*, David Bowie’s *The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars*, and Ian Hunter’s self-titled debut. His love for Mott the Hoople even led him to form the Down ‘n’ Outz.
2. The Down ‘n’ Outz: This side band includes Paul Guerin, Guy Griffin, Keith Weir, Phil Martini, and Share Ross. They formed to open for Mott the Hoople in 2009 and have been performing covers of Mott and related artists ever since.
3. First Concert: Elliott’s love for glam rock started early. His first concert was T. Rex at Sheffield City Hall in 1971 when he was just 11. He recalls being amazed by the noise and size of the venue.
4. Late Fatherhood: Elliott is a father of three. He and his second wife, Kristine, welcomed their first child, son Finlay, in 2009 when Elliott was 50. They later had two more children, Lyla, 7, and Harper, 3.
5. Fatherhood Changes Everything: Elliott has shared that becoming a dad has transformed his life in unexpected ways.
