Page 108 - Classic Rock - The Complete Story of Def Leppard 2019

Terry Giddings: Guns N’ Roses seemed to be
genuinely in awe of everyone else. They seemed to
me like humble, gentle people.

Mark Cox: There was a lot of controversy about
Guns N’ Roses, but they got a great reception. Axl
Rose wore a T-shirt that said ‘Kill Your Idols’. In the
circumstances that seemed a bit tasteless.

Terry Giddings: I was looking after Liz Taylor. Axl
came running off the stage with two huge minders,
and as he came into the holding room he ran into
Liz. I remember the shock of seeing them run
towards her, but then she smiled, and you could see
that despite the mutual embarrassment there was
respect.

Joe Elliott: Duff McKagan was FUBB. I stepped
over him when he was lying on some stairs
backstage. He was just a mess. That was after Guns
N’ Roses had finished their set. I watched it, and Duff
was flawless. He’s a brilliant bass player.

Mark Cox: I enjoyed all of the bands, even Spinal
Tap, but I couldn’t wait for Queen to come on. You
know – fucking-well get on with it! That’s what we
were here for. And they started with Tie Your Mother Brian May with George
Down, with Joe Elliott and Slash. Michael: “When he sang
REX FEATURES Somebody To Love it was
like Freddie was up there.”
Joe Elliott: Brian said: “I want you to do Tie Your
Mother Down, but you’re only on in the second verse
because I want it to start off with just the three of get my head around the words. I tried to learn them Wendy Laister: Anybody who imagined Axl
us.” I said: “Hey, it’s your gig!” on holiday in Morocco, but I ended up with a huge was homophobic obviously didn’t see him with
lyric sheet taped to the stage. his arm round Elton John during Bohemian
Slash: I was about to go up with Queen, and I had Rhapsody. I know for a fact that a few days later
my shirt off and something was wrong with my Harvey Goldsmith: Bowie delivered the Axl wrote a letter to Brian saying how proud he
pants, so I had my pants down to my ankles. And performance of the day. Even The Lord’s Prayer, I felt, had been to be part of it all.
I heard this voice, and someone was introducing me was right.
to Liz Taylor. I pulled my pants back up and just Mark Cox: Seeing everybody singing We Are The
went: “Er, nice to meet you.” Mark Cox: Seeing David Bowie was a big deal. But Champions was a great way to end the show. It was
when he dropped to his knees and starting reciting a great send-off. The fans were still singing Queen
Tony Iommi: I was really proud to play with Roger The Lord’s Prayer I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. songs when we were all queueing for the Tube.
Daltrey and, of course, Queen that night [on I Want It was meant to be an emotional moment, but a lot
It All]. It was a very raw experience. It had been of people around me were laughing. Elton John: People said: “You didn’t go on for We
building that way for weeks in rehearsals. Are The Champions,” but I felt that I didn’t want to
David Bowie: I felt as if I were being transported get involved in the bunfight. It was a very moving
Mark Cox: Robert Plant did a good version of Crazy by the situation. I was so scared as I was doing it. day, but I just felt kind of numbed by it. My
Little Thing Called Love. Innuendo wasn’t so good. A couple of my pals were sitting near Spinal Tap feelings were that I’d rather it was Freddie up there
and they were speechless with disbelief. than me.
Robert Plant: Freddie said they’d written it as a
tribute to Led Zeppelin, but I couldn’t Joe Elliott: Doing All The Young Dudes was the Joe Elliott: When we’d finished the We Are The
best three minutes of my life in front of an Champions bit, I was following Brian off and
audience – my favourite song in the world, I grabbed his sleeve and said: “Brian – turn round
ever, with Queen as the backing band, fronted and look at this, because you might not ever see
by Bowie, Hunter and Ronson. Phil [Collen, this again.” He stood there and had a long look.
Def Leppard guitarist] didn’t want to do it. I And then he said: “Thanks, Joe.” And he gave me
grabbed him by the ear like a headmaster, a big hug and then buggered off.
pulled him out on stage, and said: “You’re
doing this!” It was Ronson’s last ever Harvey Goldsmith: The party downstairs at the
performance on stage. Hard Rock afterwards was a strange feeling.
Elation and deflation at the same time.
Mark Cox: The best singer was George
Michael. The jacket he wore was terrible – he Joe Elliott: It was amazing. You’d be standing
looked like Don Johnson in Miami Vice. But there knocking back the free booze and Liz
when he sang Somebody To Love it was like Taylor would breeze past. People like that are
Freddie was up there. Elton was good too, beyond celebrity. She was wearing a diamond the
especially with Axl [on Bohemian Rhapsody]. size of a football.
Elton with the But George Michael was just incredible.
ever-controversial Tony Iommi: Immediately after the show was
Axl Rose. George Michael: It was me living out over, in private, it hit Brian very hard. Hit them all.

a childhood fantasy: to sing one of Freddie’s It was so, so sad. John was just in bits. It was a case
songs in front of 80,000 people. of: “Right, that’s it, over, final.”
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