There was a buzz in the air at the Borgata Casino long before Def Leppard hit the stage on Saturday night. Slot machines jingled, blackjack tables hummed, and waves of vintage Def Leppard tour tees filled the casino floor. Everywhere you turned, there were fans in their 40s, 50s, and 60s ready to relive the soundtrack of their youth, mixing seamlessly with younger rock fans eager to see a band that defined an era.
The energy shifted noticeably as showtime approached. Groups left the gaming floor clutching beers and cocktails, weaving through the bright casino lights toward the Event Center, where the glow of neon signs gave way to the dim, anticipatory hum of a sold-out rock crowd. Conversations floated about first concerts in the ’80s, seeing Def Leppard on MTV, and the excitement of hearing “Photograph” live again.
When the lights finally dimmed, the opening riffs of “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)” cracked through the air, and the band launched into their signature, clean but heavy sound. Joe Elliott’s vocals rang clear, and the dual guitar attack from Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell immediately brought the crowd to its feet.
Following up with “Rocket” and “Let’s Get Rocked,” the band had the entire room singing and pumping fists, the bass pulsing under the lights of the Borgata’s chandeliers.
We weren’t able to stay past the third song “Let’s Get Rocked,” but even by that point, the night had already delivered what many came for: a reminder that live rock music still brings people together in a way few things can. Even seeing just 3 songs it was enough to capture the spirit of Def Leppard in 2025: a band that can still ignite a room, in a town built for nights like this.
Def Leppard
