Guitarist Phil Collen (whose sharp abs beneath a flapping leather vest hinted at a workout regime Elliott would be wise to emulate) ripped the first of countless pristine solos during вЂњFoolinвЂ™.вЂќ Incredible one-armed drummer Rick Allen was able to take centre stage during instrumental вЂњSwitch 625,вЂќ the giant screen revealing his fascinating and unique technique for the first time. Best stick to whatвЂ™s worked in the past.Д®ven though the front man was operating on autopilot, the band was still churning out razor sharp harmonies and hits, вЂњLoves Bites,вЂќ вЂњRocketвЂќ and the inevitable вЂњPour Some Sugar On MeвЂќ all sending the crowd into nostalgic rapture. This rote introduction to вЂњHighвЂ™nвЂ™Dry (Saturday Night),вЂќ perfectly summed up his uninspired approach to frontmanship. вЂњGood evening Vancouver!вЂќ bellowed Elliott, after a rousing вЂњAnimalвЂќ. As much for themselves as their audiences. Bereft of energy and enthusiasm, his scripted stage banter provided a prime example of why touring rock bands need to switch up their set list on a nightly basis. Much of the blame for an evening that delivered hits but few thrills has to sit with vocalist Joe Elliott, the once lithe front man whose stage persona is now reduced to ambling around, holding up his mic stand and pointing at fans.

But at the Vancouver leg of their trans-Canada jaunt at Rogers Arena last night, they also proved why a critical re-evaluation isnвЂ™t due any time soon.ДЇor a band whose songs are awash with the promise of imminent and limitless rocking (вЂњRock! Rock! Till You Drop,вЂќ вЂњRocket,вЂќ вЂњLetвЂ™s Get Rocked,вЂќ вЂњRock of AgesвЂќ and a cover of David EssexвЂ™s вЂњRock OnвЂќ were all unleashed last night), this was a concert that merely partied politely as it chugged along in third gear. YorkshireвЂ™s best-selling musical export have been shifting units and putting tushes on seats since the early 1980s. Despite their colossal commercial success, a recurring theme in seemingly every Def Leppard media interview is a complaint that theyвЂ™ve been critically overlooked throughout their lengthy career.

What is autopilot major mayhem 2