There are two bands in my life I never listen to enough. One is Metallica. The other is Def Leppard. Every time I dive back in, usually at three in the morning, I think: why don’t I do this all the time? Like any great love, you realise what you’ve missed – and you just have to be part of it again.
Last year, I reviewed Live At The Leadmill, a release meant to save one of Sheffield’s most iconic venues. The day after that gig, Leppard played Bramall Lane, home of Sheffield United – Joe Elliott’s club, and the team most of the band support. That hometown pride runs through every second of Diamond Star Heroes – Live In Sheffield.
It kicks off with the UK live debut of “Take What You Want” as an acoustic number before sliding into full arena mode with “Let’s Get Rocked”. And here’s the thing with Def Leppard: you simply cannot argue with their catalogue of thumping, arena-sized hits. “Animal”, “Foolin’”, “Armageddon It” – all here, all massive, all landing exactly as they should.
One of the albums that reignited my love for them was Diamond Star Halos, and its swaggering “Kick” is sublime here, before the tender, soaring “Love Bites” and “Promises” hit. There’s also a track from their self-titled album a few years back and the live debut of “This Guitar”, dedicated to Steve Clark – poignant because his mother was in the crowd, a reminder of how intertwined this band is with the city that raised them.
And then it’s just hit after hit. “When Love And Hate Collide”, “Rocket”, “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak”. They reach back to their early days with “Switch 625”, before cranking the youth-infused power of “Hysteria”, “Pour Some Sugar On Me”, “Rock Of Ages” and “Photograph” into overdrive.
But it isn’t just the songs. What this live album proves is how much this band has endured, stuck together, and given to people over four decades. They still don’t get the credit they deserve. For me, and for anyone who has ever seen them, they are arguably the greatest arena rock band this country has ever produced.
And on this night, at Bramall Lane, they reminded everyone why. It was, without question, the best show that stadium has seen since my lot went there in 2007 and beat them 3–0.
Rating 8.5/10
