Def Leppard

DEF LEPPARD

EXTREME

Birmingham: BP Pulse Arena 04 July 2026

There’s only song left to play, and ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’ brings an amazing evening to a rousing close.

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The last time I saw Extreme live was in this very venue (when it was still simply known as the NEC Arena) back on the ‘III Sides To Every Story’ tour – I don’t want to think about how long ago that was. I’d sort of fallen out of love with the band until 2024’s ‘Six’ album reignited my interest, so I was looking forward to seeing them again and interested to see how the newer material fitted in with the old classics.

Kicking off with a rambunctious ‘Decadence Dance’ had the NEC crowd on-side immediately

Kicking off with a rambunctious ‘Decadence Dance’ had the NEC crowd on-side immediately (look, it’s still the NEC to me, OK?), which then led straight into ‘#Rebel’, and it seemed fairly obvious that the majority of the audience were familiar with the older “hits”, but not the newer, heavier songs. ‘Rest In Peace’ regained the momentum, before they launched into the frantic ‘Play With Me’ from their debut album, a song I’d never have thought they would still play live as the lyrics are, let’s face it, bloody naff when compared to their more recent, thought-provoking material, but admittedly it’s still a lot of fun.

At this point Nuno Bettencourt strapped on his acoustic guitar and drummer Kevin Figueiredo came to the front with a bass drum and tambourine to join bassist Pat Badger and vocalist Gary Cherone for the first real sing-along of the evening, ‘Hole Hearted’. At this point it became obvious to me that Extreme nowadays is the Nuno Bettencourt show; I’m not knocking the guy at all as he’s an immensely talented guitarist and excellent singer, but he also handles all the stage raps as well; this realisation is enforced when the other band members leave the stage for Nuno to perform his solo acoustic piece ‘Midnight Express’. Cherone returns for the mega-hit ‘More Than Words’ which, of course, everybody sings along with, but then Bettencourt performs another solo spot, this time electric with ‘Flight Of The Wounded Bumble Bee’; as brilliant as both solos are, I think one would have been more than enough for a support slot and I’d have preferred another song. ‘…Bumble Bee’ leads straight into the classic ‘Get The Funk Out’ which truly gets the crowd moving to the funky beat, and then they close the set with ‘Rise’ which, stunning guitar solo aside, doesn’t quite seem to be as well received as its predecessor; I think swapping the last two around and ending with ‘…Funk’ would have been a better move.

I know Extreme have been playing this Ozzy medley for a while now, but performing it in the legend’s home city made it just that bit more special

By way of an encore, Extreme perform their excellent Ozzy Osbourne tribute medley that includes ‘I Don’t Know’, ‘Bark At The Moon’ and ‘Crazy Train’; as Bettencourt reminds us, it is virtually a year to the day since the ‘Back To The Beginning’ concert just down the road at Villa Park that the guitarist performed at. I know Extreme have been playing this Ozzy medley for a while now, but performing it in the legend’s home city made it just that bit more special. Despite my set-list grumbles, Extreme were excellent.

With no new album to promote or special anniversary to celebrate, this tour is the perfect opportunity for Def Leppard to play around with their set list. Of course, there will always be a certain selection of songs they simply have to play, and rather annoyingly there is nothing chosen from the band’s last two releases, but this tour is all about having some fun – and they certainly do. Indeed, they open the show with their most recent single ‘Rejoice’ in a fairly laid-back way, with all band members lined up next to Rick Allen’s drum kit at the rear of the stage before making their way to the front at the song’s finale. Though seemingly a somewhat odd choice of opener, lyrically the song is a call to arms encouraging everybody to pray at the altar of Def Leppard, and therefore fits perfectly. However, it leads into the one-two of ‘Animal’ and ‘Let’s Get Rocked’ which instantly gets everybody on their feet. They then take another left-turn with their version of Depeche Mode’s ‘Personal Jesus’; I admit I wasn’t keen on the cover when it was first released, but the riff comes over menacingly in the live arena, and being accompanied by some dark images on the big screens makes it very enjoyable.

I’m so pleased this guitar showcase for Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell has now become a live staple again

Then the set goes the furthest back in time, all the way to 1981 for ‘Bringin’ On The Heartbreak’ which segues into the instrumental ‘Switch 625’; after so many years out of favour, I’m so pleased this guitar showcase for Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell has now become a live staple again as it’s an acknowledgment to the die-hard fans who aren’t just there for “the hits.” They then come all the way back up to date for the Glam Rock stomp of the single ‘Just Like ‘73’ before pulling out another classic in ‘Rocket’. Following this, Joe Elliott brings Rick Savage to stage-front to chat about how they met and formulated the initial idea of Def Leppard, some 49 years ago. Sav performs a bass solo which is the precursor to their cover of David Essex’s ‘Rock On’, which causes something of a stir as when Joe Elliott begins singing he’s not on stage, but up high on one side of the arena with audience all around him! See what I mean about having fun?

I’ve never known Def Leppard be so relaxed and playful with these diversions, but it’s so entertaining and refreshing to see.

Paradoxically, it’s followed by probably the most serious song of the evening, the stunning ‘White Lightning’ with an extended guitar intro – most likely to give Elliott time to get back to the stage – and it truly is a high point of the show. “Do you want to have some fun?” asks Elliott; the answer is obviously yes, and Nuno Bettencourt is invited up to jam on ‘Slang’, which includes an extended middle section that sees the vocalist leave the stage and walk around the entire perimeter of the arena floor section while singing James Brown’s ‘Get Up Offa That Thing’. I’ve never known Def Leppard be so relaxed and playful with these diversions, but it’s so entertaining and refreshing to see. However, one thing that will never be questioned is their professionalism and talent, and the stunning a cappella intro to ‘Promises’ just demonstrates how wonderful their vocal harmonies are.

From thereon in, it’s classics all the way; ‘Armageddon It’, ‘Love Bites’, ‘Rock Of Ages’ and ‘Photograph’ close the main set

From thereon in, it’s classics all the way; ‘Armageddon It’, ‘Love Bites’, ‘Rock Of Ages’ and ‘Photograph’ close the main set, before they return with ‘When Love & Hate Collide’ and a monumental ‘Hysteria’ with an extended call and answer vocal ending; always one of my favourite Leppard songs, I feel it has become one of their most important. There’s only song left to play, and ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’ brings an amazing evening to a rousing close. Stunning light show, consummate musicianship, varied and fun set-list, and a packed out NEC Arena; Joe Elliott, who has been in fine form throughout this evening, seems genuinely overwhelmed with the huge roar from the audience at the finale; “It just keeps getting better, and better, and better!” he exclaims, ramming his microphone into the floor with each “better” to truly emphasise the point. This late in their career, Def Leppard show no signs of slowing down and, after those years of seeing them performing in smaller venues in the noughties, truly deserve to be back on top as the UK’s kings of Arena Rock – “And there will be a next time!”

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Review: Ant Heeks

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Were you at the gig? Was it:

• 0%Loud & Proud
• 0%Live & Limp

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