WINNIPEG -- Their glory days are well behind them, but Def Leppard didn't leave their fans high and dry last night.

The 26-year veteran British quintet showed a crowd of about 5,000 at the Winnipeg Arena they may have aged but they haven't changed their spots. They were still serious about putting on a true arena rock show, with an equal mixture of old and new songs that would satisfy fans of any era of the band -- from its heavy rockin' early days to the slick, radio-friendly material of the late 1980s and early '90s.

The group -- vocalist Joe Elliott, bassist Rick Savage, guitarist Vivian Campbell, guitarist Phil Collen and drummer Rick Allen -- started off by playing the entire first side of their 1981 debut album, High 'N' Dry, featuring their breakthrough hit, Bringin' on the Heartbreak.

The song was also notable for being the first of many last night to get the lighters out.

But there weren't as many Bics flicked as there were during the band's glory days. Perhaps not as many people smoke today as when Def Leppard were filling arenas.

Though initially plagued by a bad sound mix, the problems were worked out a few songs into the gig as the band settled down to deliver its surprisingly large number of hits from its 10 albums, along with an equal amount of up-tempo pop-rockers and ballads.

All seven of the singles from 1987's 15-million seller Hysteria were sprinkled throughout the almost two-hour set -- Hysteria, Women, Rocket, Animal, Armageddon It, Pour Some Sugar On Me and Love Bites -- along with the best of their material from Pyromania and Adrenalize, including Foolin', Photograph and Rock of Ages.

The band was one of the biggest-selling of the 1980s and other than a blinding light show, didn't rely on special effects or pyrotechnics to get the audience excited, preferring to let its greatest hits do the talking.

For the most part they did, but the show had a tendency to lose steam during sets of slower songs and it downright lagged during material from their new album, X, a bland, ballad-heavy, over-produced beer coaster, which gave many fans a chance for a bathroom break during Long Way to Go and Now, with Elliott taking a turn on acoustic guitar.

The vocalist was a true rock 'n' roll showman, strutting around the stage and getting people out of their seats. One-armed drummer Allen was equally impressive, playing what looked like a standard drum kit and pulling off a solo.

Opening act Ricky Warwick took the stage alone, with just an acoustic guitar to showcase songs off his forthcoming Elliott-produced debut album, Tattoos and Alibis.

There were no signs of the Belfast native's heavy metal past as leader of heavy metal band, The Almighty, during his half-hour set. He's switched gears to become an earnest, folk-inspired singer-songwriter and was a nice contrast to the show yet to come. (More on Def Leppard)

JAM! Rating: 3.5 out of 5