While gig season may be over and many bands have headed out to open-air festivals, there’s always an epic show waiting to happen no matter what time of year it is. On this occasion, it was Def Leppard, who are always a pleasure to watch and can be counted on to send audiences home tempted to see them every time they tour their home country. 

Extreme started things off as the sole support act and they’re every bit as reliable as Def Leppard when it comes to guaranteeing that seeing them live is worth every penny. Since reuniting as a full-time touring band in 2007 after almost 20 years apart, the Boston hard rock group haven’t slowed down at all, with frontman Gary Cherone proving that, at 64 years of age, he’s still got plenty of fuel left in the tank. He’s the heart and soul of the band by a country mile, boasting a stupendous stage presence that had every set of eyes fixed on him. Getting crowds to drown out any silence in small venues is hard enough, but the way he managed to achieve that in England’s largest indoor arena was remarkable. ‘More Than Words’, an all-time classic that fans of both younger and older generations will have heard countless times, didn’t require much effort on his part because the audience had already hit top gear by the first verse. Before long, more than twenty thousand people were singing in unison to the point where you’d struggle to hear yourself in the moment. 

Let’s not forget, though, the prominent figure of Nuno Bettencourt on guitar. Recognised as one of the top 250 guitarists of all time by Rolling Stone in 2023, he fully justified that ranking with a performance to remember. His versatility is among the very best in rock, seamlessly moving from hard-hitting rhythm playing, complex solos and pulsating riffs to stripped-back acoustic passages where only he and his instrument seemed to speak to one another. Alongside Gary, their onstage chemistry feels like family, and you can see just how much they enjoy performing together. Once again, ‘More Than Words’ was where that partnership shone at its very best. All that was left was to put our phones down and raise our lighters to embrace the nostalgia in a throwback to a time when friends who were outcasts because of their love of rock music gathered around the television to tune into MTV. 

Def Leppard don’t need any more of an introduction at this stage in their careers. Even for the most diehard fans who have seen them countless times before, each show still feels like the first. When that glowing triangle lit up, followed by a pre-recorded announcement, the whole place went berserk. Celebrating an incredible 50 years on the road, the blokes from Sheffield have been one of the driving forces behind the British rock scene and remain at the top of their game. Consistency has long been a hallmark of Def Leppard, and to sustain that level for so many decades is a rarity, even among the most accomplished veterans. The conviction and energy they continue to pour into their live shows make it clear they’re anything but on autopilot, and that’s nothing short of astonishing.

One of the highlights of the show was none other than drummer Rick Allen. After the horrendous accident that resulted in him losing his arm, he refused to give up on his dreams and returned to the stage with a custom-made kit and, most importantly, a smile. What would have made many people quit became his greatest strength instead, and it was all on full display on an exciting Monday night. The all-too-familiar slow to mid-paced grooves reminiscent of the ’80s, combined with crisp electronic effects, sounded as tidy and fresh as ever, while a few cheeky mini solos put the finishing touches on an inspiring performance.

When it comes to charisma and spreading his presence like wildfire, singer Joe Elliott is one of the best in the game. He’s always thinking one step ahead, where not only his movements keep fans glued to him, but also the choice of a shiny coat. He knows exactly how to steal the spotlight and keep it, making use of every square inch of the catwalk before even venturing into the seated section at one point. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. Crowd interaction almost 100% of the time is what makes or breaks a show, and he’s a master of it. Musically speaking, he’s preserved his voice well and isn’t afraid to switch between different textures, whether it be gravelly verses or dropping back into a cleaner, thinner chorus. 

Unlike other bands that as a set goes on, it starts to become a one or two-person show, something that makes Def Leppard special is that these guys work as a team, and everyone is given the opportunity to shine. The rest of the band—Phil Collen, Vivian Campbell and Rick Savage—all play their part in keeping the well-oiled machine running. Guitarists Phil and Vivian rolled back the years with a faultless display of professionalism, delivering infectious melodies that have stood the test of time and continue to inspire today’s youth. Meanwhile, Rick Savage kept his composure on bass and, just like Joe, owned the stage from start to finish in an effort to build a rock-solid rapport with the crowd.

Def Leppard didn’t just come to Manchester to say, “Hey guys, we’re still here.” If anything, they meant business and, like I said before about consistency, they always strive to go one step further every time they set foot on home soil. Judging by the way the crowd backed them throughout the night, it’s hard to argue otherwise.