Def Leppard set for UK NFL showdown

Def Leppard will take to the field to perform at the first of this year’s NFL games at Wembley Stadium.

The Sheffield rockers will play the pre-game gig ahead of the American Football showdown between the Oakland Raiders and Miami Dolphins on September 28 – one of three regular season NFL games to be played at Wembley during the upcoming ²⁰¹⁴⁄₁₅ season.

And frontman Joe Elliott says he “can’t wait” to experience the atmosphere at the annual International Series.

He says: “Having recently visited Wembley in May to watch Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-final, I know what the atmosphere in the ground is like for ‘our’ football, so I’m really looking forward to performing before the NFL game – and soaking up the excitement of the match.”

Previous pre-game artists to play at the UK-based NFL games include Stereophonics, Goo-Goo Dolls and My Chemical Romance.

Def Leppard are currently on the road with Kiss in the US. The band will continue working on the follow-up to 2008’s Songs From The Sparkle Lounge following the tour’s conclusion.

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald newspapers, covering everything from daily news and weekly 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.