The Mohegan Sun Area hosted Def Leppard and about 10,000 of their fans on July 3, 2025. The metal rock band gave them a night of great rock music and new memories of for some, their favorite band. They played for around an hour and a half with most of the crowd up on their feet during the entire concert.
Joe Elliott, lead singer, pulled out all the stops and did a great job getting the crowd up on their feet.
Def Leppard band was formed in Sheffield England in 1976 and after all these decades are still going strong. Of course over the years a few members have changed but the core band has been a mainstay for some time now.
They began the concert with Rock, Rock (Til you drop) which definitely got the audience going from the beginning. The night included several songs off the band’s 1983 Pyromania album — which sold 10 million copies in the U.S. including “Foolin’,” “Rock of Ages,” and “Photograph.”
Their run at rock began when they formed in 1976 and Def Leppard faithfully performs the hits of decades past but, that has not stopped them from staying current. They released an album called “Diamond Star Halos” in 2021.
For the song “Two Steps Behind” the entire guitar section went acoustic and moved to the front of the stage together. They pulled it off beautifully.
Def Leppard can still pack a house and with 15 million followers across its social media platforms the drive is still there for them to get out and tour. This show was part of a large North American tour this year.
This is the only band I know of that has a drummer with just one arm. Due to an auto accident early in the band’s history drummer, Rick Allen lost his arm. But, that didn’t stop the band. The other members encouraged him to go ahead and devise a kit that allowed him to continue the beat. They waited and welcomed him back and two years later they were back on tour with Rick Allen on drums and they haven’t missed a step since. They deserve great admiration for that. Not many bands would stay on hold like that when just starting out and putting out hits.
They gave each performer a chance to shine during the concert but the best was the Rick Allen solo and the audience showed their appreciation.
Many bands have begun to wind down this is not one of them. Def Leppard still sounds great, entertaining thousands each show. If you get the chance to see them don’t hesitate. You will probably know many of the songs they are still playing in concert.
Long live Rock n Roll by Joe Elliott, Phil Collen, Rick Savage, Vivian Campbell and Rick Allen who are known as Def Leppard. They have songs that are as recognizable by twenty somethings as sixty something boomers. That is staying power.
For more information about the band and upcoming tour dates see Def Leppard
Review by Donna Erichsen
Photos by George Bekris
SETLIST:
Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)
Rocket
Let’s Get Rocked
Play Video
Foolin’
Armageddon It (shortened ending version)
Animal
Love Bites
Just Like ’73
Let It Go
Die Hard the Hunter
(with no second verse/chorus)
This Guitar (acoustic/electric version)
Two Steps Behind (acoustic – full band)
Bringin’ On the Heartbreak
Switch 625
Rock of Ages
Photograph
Encore:
Hysteria
Pour Some Sugar on Me
Stand by Me
(Ben E. King song) (Def Leppard version)
