DEF LEPPARD ROCK OUT TO GLASGOW ON EXPLOSIVE HYDRO GIG

LIVE REVIEW | DEF LEPPARD w/ Extreme | OVO HYDRO, GLASGOW | 28th June 2026 by Courteney Pearson

Some bands simply perform concerts and leave. Not this band. Long after the house lights lift and the stewards begin ushering drunken bodies out the room, the moment lingers so deeply. You almost feel the guitar still ringing out in your ear, or the bass from the drum loitering in your chest.

At Glasgow’s OVO Hydro, Def Leppard certainly provided the latter, reaffirming exactly why, almost five decades into their career, they remain one of rocks most enduring forces.

But before the Sheffield icons took to stage to command the arena, Boston virtuosos Extreme reminded everyone in the room that opening a show is an art form in itself.

From the moment they walked on stage, Extreme possessed the confidence of an act more than worthy of supporting Def Leppard. Their opening number exploded into life with crushing guitar riffs, soaring melodies and an energy that never once relented. Frontman, Gary Cherone is a captivating presence, charging across the stage from end to end and never once looking like he might be even close to tired. His relentless enthusiasm and infectious charisma was impossible to ignore.

His performance alone was enough to draw a smile from me, a reminder to me that rock music is just as much about joy as it in technical precision.

However, that technical precision was certainly present courtesy of Nuno Bettencourt whose playing genuinely borders on unbelievable. His guitar doesn’t simply cut through the mix, it completely pierces it, every note ringing with astonishing clarity, watching him perform with such ease and effortlessness feels like watching a magician at work.

Then came a moment of pure euphoria. Def Leppard took the Hydro stage.

“Are you ready to have some fun?” Joe Elliot asks, and within seconds the question became entirely rhetorical.

Thousands in seats leapt to their feet, the fans filling the floor jump together in unison, the Hydro was vibrating, generations of fans new and old, united by one thing – decades of timeless rock anthems. There wasn’t an empty seat in the building and very few people chose to use the seats which they had paid for. The music of Def Leppard is built to be on your feet, fists raised, head banging.

Def Leppard have long since perfected the art of arena rock shows. They have spent decades forging a sound that transformed hard rock into something new, coupling thunderous guitar riffs with immaculate vocal harmonies that refuse to leave your head. Their catalogue is simultaneously muscular and elegant, with each chorus arriving like an eruption every single time. Years into this miraculous career, they show no signs of slowing down, quite the opposite actually.

Joe Elliot’s voice remains remarkably commanding, carrying that unmistakable warmth and character that allowed them to define a whole generation of rock music. Behind him Rick Allen once again demonstrates why he is one of musics most inspirational and exceptional drummers. His performance is endearing, powerful and deeply moving, every beat serving as a reminder that resilience becomes artistry.

Visually the production was spectacular. Glittering green and purple lasers bounce around, drenching the Hydro in sweeping colour. Combined with the enormous video screens and flawless staging the result is breathtaking, these aren’t a band of guys concerned about budget, they put on the show they want to, and its incredible. This is more than just another concert, it is total sensory immersion.

The band looks every bit as sharp as they sound, moving across the stage with the confidence that only comes from years of performing together, totally and completely in sync with every strum of the guitar. Their chemistry is effortless and every interaction with the crowd reinforces why they remain so beloved. The crowd don’t just watch the show, they become part of it with every lyric screamed out that echoes around the Hydros iconic walls.

Gallery

Extreme