British Legends Bring Rock Anthems to Nashville’s Stage
In a stunning surprise for the trucking industry elite, legendary British rock band Def Leppard took the stage at the 2024 Daimler Truck Customer Appreciation Event. The performance unfolded at Nashville Municipal Auditorium, captivating an exclusive audience of over 1,000 on October 14.
Source: (Seth Cllevenger/Transport Topics)
Daimler Truck, the renowned manufacturer behind Freightliner and Western Star trucks as well as Detroit engines, orchestrated this private concert in conjunction with the American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference & Exhibition.
Formed in Sheffield, England, back in 1976, Def Leppard delivered a powerful 90-minute set featuring their groundbreaking albums Pyromania and Hysteria, along with a blend of classic tracks and recent releases.
Show-Stopping Performances Through the Years
The Daimler Truck Customer Appreciation Event concerts have been a tradition since 1976, showcasing a remarkable lineup of musical legends:
- 1976: Jazz greats Oscar Peterson and Charlie Byrd
- 1979: Johnny Cash
- 1995: Elton John
- 1999: Celine Dion
- 2014: Eagles
- 2015: Paul McCartney
- 2016: Rolling Stones
- 2017: Jason Aldean
- 2018: Carrie Underwood with Florida Georgia Line
- 2019: Luke Bryan with Maddie & Tae
- 2021: Bon Jovi
- 2022: Billy Joel
- 2023: Chris Stapleton with Sting
The setlist for the evening featured arena rock staples like “Foolin’,” “Love Bites,” “Rock of Ages,” “Photograph,” “Armageddon It,” concluding with an encore of “Hysteria” and “Pour Some Sugar on Me.”
The event’s entertainment lineup remained a secret until Daimler Truck North America CEO John O’Leary unveiled the band, flanked by David Carson, DTNA’s Senior VP of Sales and Marketing, and the retiring global chief, Martin Daum, who recently concluded his tenure as Daimler Truck’s CEO.
Before the concert, DTNA introduced the latest generation of its flagship Freightliner Cascadia model within the MCE exhibit hall at Music City Center.
Reflecting on nearly 50 years of tradition, Daimler Trucks highlighted the origins of their customer appreciation events, tracing back to 1976 when Freightliner Corp., then a subsidiary of Consolidated Freightways, invited ATA conference attendees to a jazz concert by Oscar Peterson and Charlie Byrd in Washington, D.C. Over the decades, these events have featured legendary performances across genres including rock, pop, country, and jazz, with memorable acts spanning from Johnny Cash to Elton John and Celine Dion.
Source: Transport Topics
