Def Leppard review: ‘A high-energy celebration of classic arena rock’
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Def Leppard returned to Manchester for the first time in nearly a decade on Tuesday, July 6th, as they brought the UK leg of their 2026 tour to a close with a triumphant, career-spanning set at the Co-op Live.
The performance at Co-op Live marked the first time Def Leppard had graced the city since December 2018, when they performed their iconic ‘Hysteria’ album in full at AO Arena. However, for the 20,000+ packing out the Co-op Live on Tuesday night, the wait was well worth it as the five-piece added a fresh chapter in their legendary career with a high-energy celebration of classic arena rock.
Def Leppard have long since cemented their legacy as icons of British arena rock, thanks to an impeccable discography, and when it comes to touring, Def Leppard are a band who know how to evolve and keep their live performances fresh. That’s what makes each and every Def Leppard tour special – knowing you are going to get something different but with the same masterful musicianship that everyone has been appreciating since 1976.
As a collective, the five-piece are like a fine wine that continues to get better, and there are no signs of slowing down. The band opened the performance at the Co-op Live with a rendition of 'Rejoice' – the lead-off single from their upcoming 13th studio album, which the band expects to release in early 2027, showing the band can continue to deliver the high-voltage sound their devoted army of fans have come to love and appreciate, but with a modern punch.
The hard-rock grit of ‘Animal’ with Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell’s punchy guitars and Rick Allen’s tight drumming proved to be an instant crowd-pleaser, setting the tone for what was to come. “Are you ready for this? Do you want to get rocked?” Joe Elliott asked the Co-Op Live. The crowd certainly needed no encouragement as they belted the chorus of ‘Let’s Get Rocked’ back to the frontman, as Campbell and Collen soloed away, a regular but welcome occurrence in Manchester.
A cover of Depeche Mode’s ‘Personal Jesus’ benefitted from a muscular, guitar-heavy arrangement with Collen’s chugging guitar and Allen’s powerhouse drumming standing out on the gritty, driving arena-rock take of the classic song. For the five-piece, who’ve performed at iconic stadiums across the globe, including Wembley Stadium in 2023, Tuesday’s show marked their first-ever visit to the Co-op Live, and the venue left an impression on the band’s legendary frontman.
“Can’t believe how big this place is,” Elliott uttered. “About time the UK has a building this size,” he said before promising to go through “some old, some new and some borrowed. Let’s stay with the old,” he added before launching into the classic power ballad ‘Bringin’ On The Heartbreak' – a soaring, emotional, arena-rock track with Collen & Campbell’s dual guitar harmonies and Elliott’s flawless vocal delivery as notable standout elements.
‘Rock On' – the band’s take on David Essex’s classic track – saw Rick Savage shred a distorted bass solo as Elliott dashed to the stands to sing in the crowd. ‘White Lightning’ was delivered with an extended instrumental section from Campbell and Collen. ‘Slang’ delivered the fun Elliott promised as Nuno Bettencourt from Extreme, last night’s opener, returned to the stage to jam with the five-piece, providing Nuno with the opportunity to showcase his legendary shredding alongside Campbell and Collen while Elliott circled his way around the standing section to greet fans in attendance.
‘Rock of Ages’ and ‘Photograph’ are delivered with the high-energy, arena-rock perfection that leads perfectly into an encore of ‘When Love & Hate Collide' and the epic power-balladry of ‘Hysteria’ before an eruption of energy as the band finished the performance with an explosive rendition of ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’, signing off with a euphoric singalong. “This has been a helluva trip, and we are glad you came with us,” Joe Elliott said as he discussed the band’s longevity. Fortunately, for the 20,000+ in attendance, the journey is set to continue for years to come, and Def Leppard’s brand of high-energy arena rock is still as exciting as ever.
Def Leppard will continue their 2026 Tour with a date at Paris’ Accor Arena on Wednesday night. Tickets are available here.