At Ottawa Bluesfest on Wednesday, July 16, Def Leppard teamed up with Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine for a special performance. The highlight of the night was their first-ever live rendition of “Just Like 73.” The band shared their excitement on Instagram, saying, “It was an absolute honor to welcome Tom Morello to the stage for ‘Just Like 73.’ Thanks for rockin’ with us!”
This performance marked the first time the two artists played the song together since its release, which recently hit No. 1 on the Mediabase Classic Rock charts. Def Leppard’s lead singer, Joe Elliott, thanked the crowd at LeBreton Flats Park, saying, “Thank you, Ottawa. Thank you very much.” He was joined on stage by bandmates Rick Savage on bass, Rick Allen on drums, and guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell. Their setlist included fan favorites like “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop),” “Rocket,” and “Rock of Ages.”
Earlier in the evening, Morello delivered a powerful blues-rock set, mixing in political messages and encouraging fans to stand against injustice while enjoying the music. Phil Collen mentioned that Morello was impressed when he heard the original demo of “Just Like 73,” which led to their collaboration on the studio version.
Def Leppard’s summer tour, produced by Live Nation, runs until August 31, featuring other acts like Bret Michaels, The Struts, and Extreme. The band continues to enjoy success, with their 2022 album, Diamond Star Halos, making it into Billboard’s Top 10. Keep an eye out for more updates from these rock legends!
