Joe Elliott recalls the first concert that he ever went to

The Def Leppard vocalist Joe Elliott was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England in 1959 and as he recalled in an interview posted on Leppard’s social media, he had the chance to see his first show at the age of 11.

He is a huge fan of 70s Glam Rock groups and he was lucky enough to have attended T. Rex’s concert in 1971. He recalled the impact of that show on him as a young kid and the experience of playing in the same venue nine years later.

Joe Elliott recalls the first concert that he ever went to

“(Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage) The first concert that I ever attended was Sheffield’s City Hall in 1971. I was an eleven year-old kid and I saw T. Rex. I had never been to a concert before but I’ve seen people play on TV. I was absolutely shocked (with) the noise in this place and how big in 1971 the Sheffield City Hall was. Cut to nine years later, we played there.”

“When I went down for the soundcheck I stood where Marc Bolan stood. (I) looked back where I stood watching Bolan in nine years previously. I couldn’t believe how small the place looked, it was incredible,” Joe Elliott said.

What was the first concert you ever saw? Can you guess Joe's? pic.twitter.com/vRuf4UeJ4W

— Def Leppard (@DefLeppard) April 9, 2024

Alongside the bassist Rick Savage, he is the only member of Def Leppard who had been part of all the albums released by the group. In 2006, Def Leppard released the covers album “Yeah!” and they made a version for the T. Rex classic song “20th Century Boy”. But Elliott sadly didn’t hear that track in the show he attended at the age of 11, since it was released only in 1973.

Joe Elliott is such a big fan of bands from that era that he already had been the vocalist of the David Bowie tribute band called The Cybernauts. Also fronting the Mott The Hoople cover band called Down ‘N’ Outz.