Some shows you go to wondering if the band in question are going to be as good as or better than the last time you saw them.

Tuesday night was one such night as I headed up the M8 for the second time this week. This time I was ably chaperoned by Mr A (less chance of getting lost on the way home – long story for another time)

Twenty six years have passed since I had last seen this band play live. That show still ranks in my top ten of all time shows. Could this one match it?

We were heading to the SSE Hydro to see Def Leppard on their Hysteria tour. The Sheffield rockers are celebrating that classic album’s 30^th anniversary. (Lord, I suddenly feel old!) In actual fact, Joe Elliott advised the fans later that Hysteria is now 31 years old!

Again, the Rock Gods were smiling on us and we secured a wee rail spot, slightly to the left of the stage. Happy days!

There was only one support band on the bill – Cheap Trick. Words almost fail me here….. I’m not sure where to begin.

I’m unfamiliar with Cheap Trick’s music. They were never a band I chose to listen to so I suspect that I just don’t “get it”.

They opened their set with Hello There to an almost full room. Obviously, a lot of the crowd were fans who had perhaps come to see them rather than the headliners. There was a geeky nerdiness to the set, a slightly older than average geeky nerdiness. Guitarist Rick Nielson, who is just a few days shy of his 70^th birthday, was uber enthusiastic, particularly when it came to tossing out picks by the handful and at changing one bizarre guitar for another throughout their ten song set. (Not convinced how much he was actually contributing musically.)

Front man Robin Zander remains a flamboyant presence on stage under his large white wide brimmed hat.

Bassist Tom Petersson had apparently been warned that Glasgow in December is somewhat chilly as he was wrapped up in a large scarf all night.

Did I enjoy their set? Yes. Was I entertained by it? Yes, both in a semi-comedy and musical manner.

Highlight song for me was definitely I Want You To Want Me. Definite earworm material as several days later I’m still singing it periodically.

And as for the five necked guitar Rick Nielson produced latterly….WTF?

Cheap Trick ended their set to thunderous applause with Goodnight Now.

A large screen came down to obscure the view of the stage and also to provide a countdown for the arrival of the mighty Def Leppard.

The lights dimmed, the intro tape played, a huge Def Leppard logo lit up then Phil Collen stood in the spotlight, stripped to the waist, playing the instantly recognisable intro to Women. The laser light show began and Joe Elliott’s echoing vocal rang out.

Immediately I was mentally transported back in time to the late 1980’s/ early 1990’s.

Guitarist Vivian Campbell and bassist Rick Savage roamed the stage all smiles. It’s fair to say that Rick Savage has kept up the 1980’s hair metal pin up boy look but he carries it off expertly, much to the delight of a group of women of a certain age who were standing behind us screaming like teenagers. On his raised platform at the rear of the stage the awesome Rick Allen was reigning supreme on drums.

Def Leppard played through their Hysteria album track by track and went from strength to strength. My favourite track from the album proved also to be the highlight track live- Pour Some Sugar On Me. Awesome stuff!

Joe Elliott was making the most of the space and catwalk available to him as he strutted his stuff, twirled his scarf be-decked mic stand and had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand from the off.

For Hysteria highlights, Armageddon It came a close second. Brilliant song.

A few songs later we reached the title track Hysteria and things became more mellow for a few minutes. Beautiful timeless rock balled…..love it!

I don’t often comment on the lighting at shows but Def Leppard’s was well worth a mention. Spectacular doesn’t begin to cover it! Lasers pulsed in all colours creating a magical web of light above our heads.

I have to confess I personally found the video screens a distraction. Yes, it was great to see the old footage of the band that was shown. It was touching to see their tribute to the late great Steve Clark. A poignant memory. However, on the whole, I feel the video footage detracted a bit from the show going on in front of us. I didn’t come to the show to watch tv.

Love And Affection rounded off the Hysteria section of the set and judging by the screams of adoration from the large number of female fans and some of the male fans, there was plenty love and affection in the air for the band.

The encore was almost a mini set at five songs long and showcased the harder, heavier side of Def Leppard’s back catalogue that I prefer. Wasted was followed by When Love And Hate Collide then the Scottish fans rocked out to the closing trio of Let’s Get Rocked, Rock Of Ages and Photograph. Awesome stuff!

It’s difficult not to view this show with an air of nostalgia but as the band took their final bows and waved farewell to the fans with promises to return soon, the loudest and longest cheers went to Rick Allan. So much respect for this man.

I just hope it isn’t another twenty six years before I see these guys again.