Tom Morello Collaborates with Def Leppard on New Single
Def Leppard has teamed up with guitarist Tom Morello for their new single, Just Like 73. Morello, a longtime fan of Def Leppard, brings his distinctive whammy bar skills to the guitar solo, enhancing the song’s vintage rock vibe.
He shared his excitement about the collaboration, recalling his days playing Def Leppard’s Rock of Ages in his college cover band nearly 40 years ago.
Inspiration
Guitarist Phil Collen described the inspiration behind the song, stating, “When I saw David Bowie on TV between 1972 and 1973, everything I thought I knew about music went from black and white to vivid Technicolor. ‘Just Like 73’ represents that awakening.”
To build anticipation for the release, the band used a retro approach on social media, announcing a ‘hotline’ fans could call to hear a snippet of the new song. This track marks Def Leppard’s first new original music since their 2022 album Diamond Star Halos.
Commitment
Collen also emphasized the band’s commitment to their songwriting process, noting, “It’s never been about writing 30 songs and let’s choose the best 10 or whatever. It was always, let’s write 10 great songs.”
