Def Leppard, Extreme – Co-op Live, Manchester: Live Review

By Mike Ainscoe on 8th July 2026 • ( Leave a comment )

Def Leppard, Extreme – Co-op Live, Manchester – 6th July 2026

DEF LEPPARD

Not long on from another Vegas residency, the Leps arrival for their first visit to the Co-op Live is signaled by the retention of a big American announcement as the boys step onto the drum riser platform to flank Rick Allen. Not quite the ‘rising from beneath’ spectacle they put on in Vegas but it’s still an impressive and well thought out show opening.

It’s a tension building and brilliant opener with the band static until they deliver a false ending before before the triangular Hysteria lighting rig rises and they step down to their stage places and allow Joe Elliott to head out on the walkway to greet Manchester and kick into the finale of Rejoice. Just one aspect of a major arena busting, no expense spared production. They certainly know how to put on a rock show. Even the short walkway into the front standing area is no barrier as Joe has taken to appearing in the crowd during Rock On on this tour.

STILL GLAM

The latter is just one of a couple of covers in the set – expected maybe, although Depeche’s Personal Jesus less so. Hysteria still weighs heavily and the home run is almost set in stone but the set is peppered with tweaks and touches that keep things interesting. Along with Rejoice, the newer creation Just Like ’73 shows their Glam roots and influences with the tribal thunder (just a warm up for Rocket maybe) cut with searing guitar and plenty of opportunities for “whay-oh“-ing.

Effortlessly cool, Viv Campbell might sneak the top spot on the podium on account of the fact that Rick Savage opts for a plain white suit in Manchester, forsaking the ornate Vegas-y decor. No wonder they name their backstage lair The Sparkle Lounge – the stage is just an extension, but with a twenty thousand guestlist come to the party.

However, it’s the midset sequence that has the eyebrows raised as the band ease into the ominous guitar fest of White Lightning. one that could be their Kashmir (a reminder of Zep’s epic on the PA just before showtime. A tribute to to the long lamented Steve Clarke and the boys do him justice. The fun gets turned down and parked for a few moments. A Leppard epic in itself with all the usual ingredients getting a dose of mood and as-dangerous-as-it-gets aura. The Collen/Campbell guitar trade off is possibly the show highlight.

FUNK IT UP

With the added presence of Extreme’s Nuno funking up Slang, references to Brown and Bowie lighten the mood a tad that includes the acapella opening of Promises – perhaps one that challenges any negative vibe merchant naysayers who might raise the ugly topic of lip syncing against our heroes. An area of Pop in which Def Leppard are right at home, it sits comfortably with the angsty big ballad portions where When Love And Hate Collide hits the bull – best paired with the current glitz rather than the jeans and jumpers of its original Grunge days.

And then there are the nods to the breakthrough era of Pyromania, where Rock Of Ages and Photograph remain in the prime spots to close the set, like the band, wearing their vintage well. Always fun though to check the original videos and mark those fresh faced young Sheffield lads. They’ve come a long way and parts of the road might have been rough, but in the days of rock stars going well into their seventies (the age, not the era) who wouldn’t bet against Def Leppard having plenty of tiger left in the tank.

EXTREME

Def Leppard have never shied away from bringing along great support bands. The days of being threatened (and even sabotaging – allegedly in some cases, treating them with even more disdain than gig photographers) by the support bands are long gone. There’s a sense of camaraderie with Extreme, to the extent that the show for most is a tremendous double bill.

Add the fact that Nuno Bettencourt gets an invite to join the Leps in their set, Extreme is afforded an hour’s set with a full production and lighting rig in almost full pelt and a backdrop that references assorted album references including the menacing Six gorilla.

Gary Cherone remains the animated frontman; the headband still in place not so much to control the locks these days but in more of a Springsteen Born In The USA look as he throws his shapes and moves with even a moment to take a lie down in the midst of Rest In Peace. Along with the guitar heroics and his first bit of getting the funk out from Nuno Bettencourt – he gets a little moment in the spotlight for some guitar gymnastics – they deliver a strong visual presence as Pornograffitti is well mined for the set to match the visuals.

WE WILL, WE WILL….

A snatch of We Will Rock You prefaces Play With Me and of course, the’ hit, More Than Words gets a mid set airing. It’s their big ballad, and not the first or only one of the night as Def Leppard has written the book. Surprisingly, or not, ousted from the obvious set closing spot by the Ozzy tribute medley, it’s a fair call. A note that Extreme is about more than that one song.