DEF LEPPARD's JOE ELLIOTT On Rock God Ian Hunter For BBC Radio 2 Rock Show

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Sunday, 8th June 2025

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Def Leppard 2025

Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott's 2018 appearance on the Radio 2 Rock Show has been repeated with audio available.

Def Leppard are set to return to the UK at Radio 2 In The Park on 7th September.

The station repeated an appearance by Joe of Friday to celebrate the news.

Joe Elliott Rock God 2018 Repeat

Joe appeared on The Rock Show with the late Johnnie Walker on 20th August 2018.

He picked his Rock God as Ian Hunter and recalled meeting Ian in 1977 and their relationship as friends since then.

The full audio was replayed on the 6th June 2025 edition of The Rock Show with Shaun Keaveny.

Shaun took over from Johnnie due to his ill health in November 2024 with Johnnie sadly passing away in December 2024.

Johnnie had picked 'Animal' as one of his Ultimate Rock Anthems on his last show on 24th November 2024.

Read Joe's quotes below and listen again via the link.

Past Appearances

Following Joe's appearance on the show in August 2018 was Phil Collen in May 2022 picking Mick Jagger as his Rock God.

The next band member to pick their Rock God was Vivian Campbell in March 2023 when he picked Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott.

Visit the Tour News section. For more news on future tour plans.

Visit the Album News section for more news on new music (based on band member quotes).

Def Leppard 2023.

The Rock Show with Shaun Keaveny 6th June 2025 - Joe Elliott Quotes - (Transcribed by dltourhistory)

Shaun Keaveny Intro

"As for our Rock God nominator, we turn to Sheffield, City of Steel, and the lead singer of a band currently getting a lot of love here on Radio 2."

"Not Jarvis Cocker — though his version of Let’s Get Rocked is great — I mean Joe Elliott from Def Leppard, who will be headlining on Sunday at this year's Radio 2 In The Park in Chelmsford. So that's all coming up."

"It’s Rock God time."

"Last week, Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz chose Dashboard Confessional lead singer Chris Carrabba."

"This week, to celebrate Def Leppard’s headline slot at Radio 2 In The Park in Chelmsford in September, their blonde bombshell singer Joe Elliott is going to choose his."

"Def Leppard — you know — they're the biggest thing to come out of Sheffield since forks, shifting well over 100 million records."

"1987’s Hysteria alone sold 25 million."

"So before we hear from Joe, here’s one of the best tracks on the album, which never really gets played."

Joe Elliott

"Hi, my name’s Joe Elliott from Def Leppard, and my Rock God is — who else? — Ian Hunter."

"Now, I first met Ian on the 4th of June, 1977, at the Doncaster Gaumont."

"Me and a couple of friends of mine had travelled from Sheffield to go watch the gig."

"We were 17 and 18 years old. It was the summer. It was a beautiful day."

"We spent the whole day wandering around Doncaster and then eventually got to the show — watched the Overnight Angels."

"Fantastic gig. Great album. Great gig."

"Snuck backstage afterwards — as you could in those days — and up the stairs, along the corridor..."

"Knocked on the door, and Earl Slick, his guitar player, opened the door and let us in."

"And we had photos taken, stood and chatted with him for about half an hour, and I finally got to meet my hero."

"Well, cut to three years later and I'm in a band, and I’ve made an album. It’s 1980."

"I’m in New York on a day off and Ian Hunter is playing The Ritz in New York."

"So our record company organised tickets and passes, and I met him again — but this time as a musician that he kind of heard of, if you like."

"And all the way through the 80s we kept bumping into each other."

"I would go to his gigs and eventually I started getting up and performing with him."

"I think I’ve done All The Young Dudes about 6,000 times with Ian."

"And he’s even been up on stage with Def Leppard and done it a couple of times."

"So there’s a bond there."

Shaun Keaveny Outro

"That was Mott the Hoople — All The Young Dudes."

"Frontman Ian Hunter was chosen by Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott as his Rock God."

"And sweetly, Ian and Joe, as you just heard, are now big mates and performed that track with David Bowie at the Freddie Mercury Tribute gig at Wembley back in 1992."

"And of course, Def Leppard are headlining Sunday night at Radio 2 In The Park in Chelmsford this September."

"Tickets are on sale now. I can't guarantee there are any left — I don't know."

The Rock Show with Shaun Keaveny - 6th June 2025 Show Quotes

"Shaun's got all the rock you need for a Friday night, including the Rock God choice of Joe Elliott, frontman for Def Leppard."

Listen to the show here with Joe's part starting after Run Riot.

Def Leppard 2024.