Queen’s Brian May to induct Def Leppard into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

Def Leppard with Queen's Brian May in 2000 (Image credit: Robert Knight Archive/Redferns - Getty)

In December last year, it was announced that Def Leppard would be enshrined into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame as part of the Class Of 2019.

The ceremony will take place at the Barclays Center, Brooklyn, on March 29, with Def Leppard going into the Hall with Stevie Nicks, The Cure, Radiohead, Roxy Music, The Zombies and Janet Jackson.

It was first time Def Leppard had been nominated for the honour – and it’s now been confirmed that Queen guitarist Brian May will personally induct the Sheffield heroes into the Hall Of Fame.

The current Def Leppard lineup of Joe Elliott, Rick Allen, Vivian Campbell, Phil Collen and Rick Savage are listed, along with late guitarist Steve Clark and the band’s original guitarist Pete Willis.

Upon discovering they had made it in, Elliott said: “First of all, a massive thanks to all our fans and past inductees who voted for us. Congratulations to all our fellow inductees. We stand alongside some amazing artists, past and present. What an absolute honour.”

A list of the other special guests who’ll induct the other artists on the night has also been announced:

• Harry Styles will induct Stevie Nicks
• Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor will induct The Cure
• David Byrne will induct Radiohead
• Duran Duran’s John Taylor and Simon Le Bon will induct Roxy Music
• The Bangles' Susanna Hoffs will induct The Zombies
• Janelle Monáe will induct Janet Jackson

Def Leppard topped the annual fan vote and their inclusion means that every artist who has come top of the fan poll since it was introduced in 2013 has gone on to be inducted into the Rock Hall.

Artists

Scott has spent 37 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, highlights deals, and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 12 years, Scott has written more than 11,500 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from news and features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.