Def Leppard – Diamond Star Heroes – Live In Sheffield Review

Spanning six decades since their late 1970s debut EP through to this 2025 live release, Def Leppard’s legacy stands as a testament to their enduring impact on rock music.

This Sheffield stadium homecoming performance served as a triumphant celebration following the release of their twelfth studio album ‘Diamond Star Halos’, which garnered both critical praise and commercial success. The record claimed the top spot on Apple, Amazon Music, and Billboard’s Hard Rock charts, while also securing a Top 10 position on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart—their eighth such achievement. Internationally, the album earned multiple Top 10 placements, including a Top 5 debut in the UK. Their momentum continued with 2023’s ‘Drastic Symphonies with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’, their 13th studio effort, which peaked at #4 in the UK (their strongest UK chart showing in over three decades) and dominated Billboard’s Current Classical chart at #1 for an impressive 15-week run. Quite an achievement for these Sheffield natives, who are now marking various 40th anniversaries with special reissues of their landmark albums.

Given the significance of this homecoming, the sold-out crowd was expected, and the 17-track release brilliantly captures the electric atmosphere, seamlessly blending audience energy with the band’s performance.

The 1980s and beyond truly belonged to Def Leppard, and this collection showcases the hits from ‘Pyromania’, ‘Hysteria’, ‘Adrenalize’, ‘Euphoria’, and beyond, interwoven with newer material that sits comfortably alongside the beloved classics.

Critics inevitably emerge—complaints about Joe’s vocals lacking their former quality, accusations of shouting over melody, and similar criticisms typically voiced by keyboard warriors who were never genuine supporters and simply seek opportunities to diminish success. Meanwhile, Def Leppard powers forward undeterred, excelling at what they do best: delivering electrifying performances on their forthcoming UK tour alongside Extreme, plus returning to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for their third Las Vegas residency. I feel fortunate to have experienced this era firsthand. Absolutely superb!