Def Leppard and Tom Morello Team Up On New Single “Just Like ’73”
Just one day after Tom Morello announced his “first” solo rock album with the upcoming debut single “Soldier in the Army of Love” due out on June 28, Def Leppard announced their newest single which features a guest appearance from none other than Tom Morello. The new track is called “Just Like ‘73” and delivers exactly what the title promises: a retro tribute to the early days of glam rock.
Def Leppard first teased the song in an appropriately retro way a few days ago with a post on Instagram with a picture of an old rotary phone and two hotline numbers—one for the UK and one for the US—where fans could call and hear a snippet of the song ahead of its release.
In a press release, Morello talked about how long he’s been a fan of the British arena rock powerhouse, saying:
“I played ‘Rock of Ages’ in my college cover band nearly 40 years ago.”
Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen then talked a little bit about his inspiration for the new track, 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.”
The song is a fun and catchy retro anthem with an infectious hook and a hard-stomping rhythm, but it does feel a little bit like Def Leppard brought in Tom Morello to play something that doesn’t sound like Tom Morello. Regardless, it definitely sounds like the band and Morello had a fun time making the track, and it’s a worthy addition to the Def Leppard song catalogue.
