Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott Reveals His Favorite Paul McCartney Song

For over five decades, The Beatles’ music — and the solo work that followed — has influenced nearly every major rock musician in some way. From their early mop-top days to their psychedelic innovations, Paul McCartney and John Lennon redefined songwriting and reshaped the sound of Western culture.

Joe Elliott, the powerhouse vocalist of the legendary hard rock band Def Leppard, is one such musician deeply impacted by The Beatles’ legacy. For Elliott, discovering The Beatles in the 1960s was more than just a musical awakening — it was the spark that fueled his lifelong passion for rock.

Growing Up with The Beatles

Born in Sheffield, England, Elliott vividly remembers hearing The Beatles throughout his childhood. Like many in his generation, he grew up watching them transform from clean-cut pop idols into colorful counterculture icons. By the time he reached his teens in the 1970s, the Fab Four had split, but their music continued to resonate with him.

In fact, Elliott revealed that his admiration for Paul McCartney began as early as age three. Relatives recalled him standing on a stool with a plastic toy guitar, pretending to be McCartney and singing “Love Me Do” to anyone willing to listen. It was clear that the young Elliott was already enamored with The Beatles’ sound and stage presence.

Joe Elliott’s Favorite McCartney Song

In 2022, as part of Paul McCartney’s 80th birthday celebrations, Stereogum asked a range of famous musicians to select their favorite McCartney track. While many naturally gravitated toward iconic hits like “Live and Let Die,” “Band on the Run,” or “Jet,” Elliott surprised fans with his choice: “Little Lamb Dragonfly” from McCartney’s 1973 album Red Rose Speedway.

“With the greatest respect to everything he’s ever written … I’m going for ‘Little Lamb Dragonfly’ off Red Rose Speedway,” Elliott explained.

He recalled being just 13 or 14 when he first heard the track, describing its emotional pull:

“There was something very melancholic about it that just sucked me in. It sounded like someone doing poetic license on phrases, sat on a blanket at some country field having a picnic. It was just a guy, a gentle guitar part, really beautiful melodies.”

Elliott emphasized that it didn’t sound like the experimental Beatles hits such as “Strawberry Fields Forever” or “Helter Skelter.” Instead, it struck him as a quiet, heartfelt lament — a side of McCartney’s songwriting that still resonates with him decades later.

The Power of McCartney’s Music

Elliott admitted that as he entered his teenage years, his listening habits shifted toward glam rock icons like Marc Bolan and David Bowie. But McCartney never disappeared from his radar. He cited Band on the Run (1973) as his favorite McCartney album overall, praising its blend of rock energy and melodic craftsmanship.

He explained how McCartney’s albums still serve as mood pieces for him:

“If I want to rock out and listen to McCartney, I’ll be listening to Band on the Run. If I want to sit in the bath with the candles on, I’ll pick Red Rose Speedway. These are mood albums.”

From The Beatles to Def Leppard

Elliott’s lifelong admiration for McCartney and The Beatles helped shape his own career fronting Def Leppard. Known for hits like “Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Hysteria,” the band fused powerful rock with catchy pop hooks — a formula not unlike what McCartney perfected decades earlier.

By citing a deep cut like “Little Lamb Dragonfly” as his favorite McCartney track, Elliott showcased his appreciation not just for the obvious classics, but for the songwriter’s more intimate, overlooked gems.

A Lasting Legacy

For Joe Elliott, Paul McCartney remains a guiding influence — from a child mimicking Beatles songs to an adult reflecting on McCartney’s 1970s catalog with reverence. His choice of “Little Lamb Dragonfly” illustrates the quiet brilliance of McCartney’s solo work and how even beyond the Beatles’ era, his music continues to inspire generations of musicians.