Bringing back 1991, Def Leppard and Extreme joined forces for a huge jaunt across Europe this summer. Having already played Vivian Campbell's hometown of Belfast - where he joined former bandmates Sweet Savage for a song - they reached London's O2 Arena on Thursday night [2 July 2026] where Louise Phillips found them in top form.
Photo: Louise Phillips
When you step into the cavernous bowl of London’s O2 Arena, you expect a spectacle. But on Thursday night, Def Leppard and special guests Extreme didn’t just meet those expectations, they strapped them to a decibel-crushing warhead and obliterated them with sheer, earth-shattering force. In a performance that truly had to be seen to be believed, both bands proved that while the years may have passed, their brand of rock and roll is just as vital, urgent, and undeniably spectacular as ever.
Selling out the O2 is no mean feat, but the venue was absolutely packed to the rafters, and there wasn't an empty seat or an inch of spare standing room in the house, serving as a roaring, sweat-soaked testament to the enduring legacy of these rock titans. The electricity in the air crackled like a live wire; the crowd was starved for a stadium-sized rock show, and what they received was an absolute tour de force of unbridled rock and roll.
Extreme took the stage first, and from the explosive get-go, the verdict was undeniable: these bands defy their age, sounding better than ever. Far from merely warming up the crowd, Gary Cherone, Nuno Bettencourt, and the rest of the Boston outfit delivered a blistering, high-octane set that proved exactly why they remain one of the most ferocious live acts on the planet.
Diving right into the filthy, groove-laden brilliance of 'Get The Funk Out' and the razor-sharp riffs of 'Decadence Dance,' they seized the arena by the throat. Bettencourt’s staggering fretboard wizardry set a sky-high bar for the evening, ensuring the adrenaline was redlining before the headliners even plugged in.
Selling out the O2 is no mean feat, but the venue was absolutely packed to the rafters, and there wasn't an empty seat or an inch of spare standing room in the house, serving as a roaring, sweat-soaked testament to the enduring legacy of these rock titans. The electricity in the air crackled like a live wire; the crowd was starved for a stadium-sized rock show, and what they received was an absolute tour de force of unbridled rock and roll.
Extreme took the stage first, and from the explosive get-go, the verdict was undeniable: these bands defy their age, sounding better than ever. Far from merely warming up the crowd, Gary Cherone, Nuno Bettencourt, and the rest of the Boston outfit delivered a blistering, high-octane set that proved exactly why they remain one of the most ferocious live acts on the planet.
Diving right into the filthy, groove-laden brilliance of 'Get The Funk Out' and the razor-sharp riffs of 'Decadence Dance,' they seized the arena by the throat. Bettencourt’s staggering fretboard wizardry set a sky-high bar for the evening, ensuring the adrenaline was redlining before the headliners even plugged in.
Photo: Louise Phillips
Def Leppard however, has never been a band to flinch at a challenge. When the Sheffield legends finally stormed the stage, they put on a performance that had to be seen to be believed. The years may have passed, but they are just as vital as ever. Main man Joe Elliot’s voice may have evolved, but close your eyes and it doesn't seem to have aged for a second. Whether tearing through the stratospheric high notes on the classics, or delivering the gritty mid-tones of their newer material, Elliott sounded as pristine and fiercely powerful as he did during the height of their 'Hysteria' era.
Visually, the show was an unmitigated triumph. The lighting was absolutely breath taking and left the audience in absolute awe. A towering, brilliantly designed lighting rig, reminiscent of their iconic album artwork, bathed the screaming thousands in a kaleidoscope of sweeping lasers, bleeding-edge LEDs, and razor-sharp stadium beams. It was a sensory overload in the best possible way, elevating the music into a fully immersive, cinematic adrenaline rush that captured the grandiosity of 1980s arena rock while feeling entirely cutting-edge.
As for the music, the song choices from the night were pure fire on every level. Opening with a barrage of massive riffs, they wasted zero time before launching into the juggernaut that is 'Animal,' igniting a massive, venue-wide singalong that threatened to shake the O2 off its foundations. The flawless twin-guitar attack of Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell cut through the mix like a chainsaw on the timeless 'Bringin' On The Heartbreak' and the balls to the wall powerhouse "Love Bites."
The whole show from start to finish had to be seen to be believed. Def Leppard and Extreme didn’t just play a gig; they delivered a joyous, triumphant celebration of rock supremacy, proving they remain the undisputed, heavy-weight kings of the arena.
Check out our gallery from the show below. All photos by Louise Phillips.
Visually, the show was an unmitigated triumph. The lighting was absolutely breath taking and left the audience in absolute awe. A towering, brilliantly designed lighting rig, reminiscent of their iconic album artwork, bathed the screaming thousands in a kaleidoscope of sweeping lasers, bleeding-edge LEDs, and razor-sharp stadium beams. It was a sensory overload in the best possible way, elevating the music into a fully immersive, cinematic adrenaline rush that captured the grandiosity of 1980s arena rock while feeling entirely cutting-edge.
As for the music, the song choices from the night were pure fire on every level. Opening with a barrage of massive riffs, they wasted zero time before launching into the juggernaut that is 'Animal,' igniting a massive, venue-wide singalong that threatened to shake the O2 off its foundations. The flawless twin-guitar attack of Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell cut through the mix like a chainsaw on the timeless 'Bringin' On The Heartbreak' and the balls to the wall powerhouse "Love Bites."
The whole show from start to finish had to be seen to be believed. Def Leppard and Extreme didn’t just play a gig; they delivered a joyous, triumphant celebration of rock supremacy, proving they remain the undisputed, heavy-weight kings of the arena.
Check out our gallery from the show below. All photos by Louise Phillips.
