Def Leppard Brings Arena Rock Excitement to Toronto’s Rogers Centre.
The Def Leppard summer stadium tour arrived in Canada for a Friday night performance in the vibrant city of Toronto. Turning the Toronto Blue Jays’ home field into a rock concert venue, thousands of fans in band t-shirts made their way into the Rogers Centre for an unforgettable night of arena rock.
Def Leppard, joined by Cheap Trick and Journey, wrapped up the night as the ultimate arena rock icons. A countdown featuring Toronto-themed graphics illuminated the screen, ticking down the moments until the band would hit the stage.
When the countdown neared its end, the audience roared with excitement as the lights dimmed. Launching into the opening track from Pyromania (1983), “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop),” the Sheffield rockers had the crowd captivated almost instantly.
Founded nearly fifty years ago in 1976, Def Leppard still performs with an energy that feels as if it were 1987. Their music delights fans across generations, from those who once rocked acid wash and spandex to new rock enthusiasts, with both old and young concertgoers seen singing along and raising their horns throughout the stadium.
In celebration of their explosive 1983 album, the setlist featured fan favorites like “Photograph,” “Too Late For Love,” and “Foolin’,” along with B-side tracks “Billy’s Got A Gun” and “Die Hard The Hunter”—songs that haven’t been performed live on tour since the ’80s.
While rock music may not dominate the charts as it once did, Def Leppard consistently energizes the crowd during “Rock Of Ages,” with fans eagerly chanting “I want rock ‘n’ roll” in response to the question “What do you want?”—a track that reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983.
Venturing to the front of the catwalk with an acoustic guitar, Joe Elliott delivered a brief performance of the acoustic ballad “Two Steps Behind” before his bandmates joined him.
“It was Joe’s birthday yesterday,” Phil Collen announced into the mic. “Let’s sing for him.”
The audience responded with a spontaneous rendition of “Happy Birthday” for the frontman.
“I’ll never forget this,” Joe said with a smile as the band launched into a track from their latest studio album, This Guitar. They then maintained a mellow vibe with a performance of their 1981 hit “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak.”
Echoing the rendition from their In The Round tour in 1987/1988, Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell started the track on acoustic guitars, before switching to electric guitars for the solo as the rhythm section—Rick Savage on bass and Rick Allen on drums—joined in.
To pay tribute to the late Steve Clark, Def Leppard consistently features “Switch 625,” an instrumental guitar piece written by Clark, in nearly every show. This heartfelt tribute is delivered impeccably by Campbell and Collen, reflecting the band’s enduring remembrance of their fallen brother.
“There was another album,” Joe Elliott said before the melodic guitar riff of the power ballad “Hysteria” filled the stadium. With its infectious hooks and captivating guitar solo, “Hysteria” has always translated effortlessly to the live stage. It’s clear why this track has remained a staple in their set since its release in 1987.
“Animal,” “Love Bites,” and “Rocket”—all singles released alongside “Hysteria”—were also featured in the setlist. These tracks, from Def Leppard’s most successful album, were designed for grand performances, and the band consistently delivers them on a larger-than-life scale.
From backing vocals and guitar harmonies to compelling bass lines and powerful drum beats, Def Leppard continually demonstrates their mastery of their craft.
Closing with the immensely popular “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” the audience was electric, with no fan left quiet. This cheeky radio rock anthem catapulted Def Leppard to the top of the rock ‘n’ roll world in 1988, and its popularity has never waned.
“Pour Some Sugar On Me” embodies ’80s hard rock and serves as the perfect finale to an extraordinary night of rock ‘n’ roll.
