Def Leppard Team Up With Tom Morello on New Song ‘Just Like ’73’

Def Leppard has released “Just Like ‘73,” a surprise collaboration with guitarist Tom Morello. You can listen to the new song below.

According to Morello, he’s a longtime fan of the Sheffield hard rock legends. “I played ‘Rock of Ages’ in my college cover band nearly 40 years ago,” he shared in a press release. The Rage Against the Machine guitarist takes the lead on the guitar solo, using his distinctive whammy bar to further enhance the vintage vibes of “Just Like ‘73.”

As the title suggests, Def Leppard had their own early days as music fans in mind as they were working on the new music. “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,” guitarist Phil Collen said. “‘Just Like ‘73’ represents that awakening.”

The band used a retro approach on social media to tease the arrival of “Just Like ‘73, announcing a “hotline” fans could call to hear a snippet of the new song. It marks their first new original music since 2022’s Diamond Star Halos. During a conversation earlier this year, Collen shared that they take their writing process very seriously. “It’s never been about [writing] 30 songs and [let’s] choose the best 10 or whatever,” he told UCR. “It was always, let’s write 10 great songs.”

Listen to Def Leppard’s “Just Like ’73” (Featuring Tom Morello)

READ MORE: 10 Rock + Metal Musicians Who Have Little Dogs

Will Fans Hear ‘Just Like ‘73’ Live?

Def Leppard is reportedly preparing to shake up the set list for their summer tour with Journey and Steve Miller Band. Bassist Rick Savage teased in an April Instagram post that fans can expect a “brand new song” and also, a “few more” tracks from Pyromania as they continue to belatedly celebrate its 40th anniversary. “In fact, for those who care, we’ll be rehearsing a song we’ve never played live before, to throw into the mix,” he added.

A video for “Just Like ‘73” featuring both Def Leppard and Morello will arrive next week. A special 7” vinyl single is now available for pre-order as well.