Joe Elliott Says A Popstar Is Bigger Than The Beatles and Rolling Stones Combined
Joe Elliot for ET Canada - ET Canada / Youtube
Recently, Joe Elliott, the lead singer of Def Leppard, had a chat with Billboard about the band’s history and touched on their interaction with Taylor Swift. He brought up how, 16 years ago, they found themselves rehearsing parts of Swift’s ‘Love Story’ and expressed his awe for the artist she has become over the years.
Unprecedented Stardom: Elliott’s Take on Swift’s Rise
In his talk, Elliott did not hold back on praising Taylor Swift’s success in the music industry. He said,
“I think we’d all be lying if we said we knew she was going to become as big as she has because she’s actually become bigger than anything that’s ever been before. She’s probably bigger than The Beatles and The Stones combined, for her generation of fans. I’ll probably get lynched by some 75-year-old reading this, but it’s all relative.”
He went on to explain that success nowadays is often measured in streaming numbers and other modern metrics. In this new landscape of the music world, Elliott believes Swift has pushed the boundaries of what was thought possible.
“There’s been a lot of massively successful bands, but she’s taken success to a level that is unheard of. It’s absolutely mad. It’s success beyond anything that anybody could have ever dreamed of, probably her herself,” he stated.
Joe Elliott’s ties with Taylor Swift go beyond mere admiration; they share a history of performing together. When Swift was just 18, she and Elliott performed ‘Photograph’ on CMT’s ‘Crossroads.’ That performance sparked something more as Elliott recalled how even in her early career Swift was impressive. Elliott also revealed an interesting backstory involving Swift’s mom, Andrea, who was a fan of Def Leppard.
“So basically, in the womb, she was listening to ‘Pyro’ and ‘Hysteria,’ because her mom was a big fan,” he said. “She was born to Def Leppard, basically.”
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A Serendipitous Collaboration and the Continued Ascent of Taylor Swift
Their collaboration seemed destined, as Swift had once stated that Def Leppard was the only band she wanted to pair with for CMT’s ‘Crossroads.’ When the band learned of this, they were more than flattered and decided to reach out.
“We saw this article where she said, ‘There’s only one band I would do Crossroads with,’ and it was us,” Elliott recalled. “We were beyond flattered and management said, ‘We should get in touch with her management to see if she actually really means it.’ And she did.”
Taylor Swift’s influence and reach in music continue to grow with her latest album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department,’ shattering records. The album made history on Spotify with a record-breaking number of pre-saves and became the most streamed album in a single day in the year 2024.
Aside from her recording achievements, Swift has kept up her connection with fans through touring. She is set to bring her ‘Eras Tour’ to Paris, thrilling audiences on May 9th. Meanwhile, Def Leppard is also set to dazzle fans with a new set of shows starting in St. Louis, Missouri, on July 6th.
Elliott’s reflection on Taylor Swift’s success paints a picture of a modern music landscape where streaming reigns supreme. His comparison of her influence to that of legendary bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones speaks volumes about her impact on contemporary music and culture.
