So when someone says, “Would you want to go see Def Leppard?” the answer is “yes! Yes I would.” It doesn’t matter that the question was asked with only a day’s notice. Just say yes!
Def Leppard is a band that has eluded me forever. 25 years ago I had a 3rd row ticket to see them, but ended up having to go out of town for my grandfather’s funeral so I gave the ticket to a friend. Life happens. But for the next 25 years I just never saw them for whatever reason. Always a conflict, or maybe ticket prices out of reach. Who knows. But tonight that changed!
I headed to Mohegan Sun in CT with my buddy Bruce and we were pleasantly surprised with the seats. Third row from the floor, so no heads to block our view. Fantastic! There was no opening band tonight and we got into the arena just as they took the stage.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect. They’re not getting any younger and there have been many bands over the years that just should’ve called it quits. But damn. Def Leppard still has it!
Joe Elliott is still out there singing to the best of his ability and hitting most of the notes. With guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell as well as bassist Rick Savage all being great singers themselves, they can still capture that classic Def Leppard sound filled with the harmonies we’re all familiar with.
They played all the hits, starting with Rock! Rock! (Til You Drop) as the opener…followed by so many other hits. Just check out this setlist! To name a few favorites, Let’s Get Rocked, Foolin, Animal, Two Steps Behind (hey, it’s a solid ballad!), Bringin’ on the Heartbreak, Rock of Ages, and of course Pour Some Sugar On Me as their encore.
They have so many other great tunes I would’ve loved to have heard like Too Late For Love, Stagefright, Women, Billy’s Got a Gun, High N’ Dry (Saturday Night), and perhaps maybe my favorite Def Leppard song, Paper Sun off their Euphoria album…it’s a real banger! And while I don’t think anyone wants a night full of ballads, if they wanted to swap out Love Bites one night, Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad is a good one.
Their song This Guitar was played and really showcased how tight they are with vocals and harmonies. Plus we also got to see everyone play an instrument. They can all play and sing, and the band is still solid after all these years. There was some talking with the crowd, mostly when introducing band members. But they were having fun all night, moving around the stage, waving to the crowd, and just still enjoying performing.
They haven’t fallen into the “going through the motions” phase that many aging rockers do. It was a great show. I left impressed. If these dudes are this good in 2025, then I’m definitely sad I never saw them in 1985, 1995, or even 2005. If you have the chance, try to see them live, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
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