WINNIPEG - Just when you think Def Leppard are past their prime, they come prowling back with a roar.

The 28-year British vets have been rockin' for ages, but last night at the MTS Centre, they proved age hasn't altered their ability to shake up an arena like it's 1989.

And the 8,000 enthused fans who showed up gratefully consumed every bit of sugar the pop-metal outfit poured during their 75-minute plus set.

On a minimally decorated stage, The Sheffield, England group -- vocalist Joe Elliott, bassist Rick Savage, drummer Rick Allen and guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell -- started off with 1993 head-bopper, Action, and maintained the amped-up pace with singalong tune Let's Get Rocked.

"Let's get some hands in the air," a shaggy-haired Elliott yelled shortly into the show -- probably for the gazillionth since his big-haired glory days.

Just 15 minutes into the show, the crowd -- many 30-somethings and a surprising amount of teenagers -- were forced to pull out their Bics and cellphones (oh, how things have changed since the '80s) for 1983 power ballad, Foolin'.

Def Leppard played nothing but the hits, even if that included earlier hits from other artists, like Badfinger's 1970's bubble gum classic, No Matter What. The catchy pop tune is featured on both the band's latest double-disc, Rock of Ages, and their upcoming covers release, Yeah!.

While a massive screen projected larger-than-life animation of the band's favoured Union Jack, the set-up was simple, which left little to interfere with the good, clean rock.

The guys made appropriate use of the bare-bones stage, with Elliott bouncing among a blindingly white clad Savage and a shirtless Collen. Just one look at the one-armed Allen -- who lost the limb in a car crash on New Year's Eve in '84 -- pounding away on drums reminded you of just one of the obstacles the band has faced since their 1977 inception.

At press time, fans were singing along to 1993 love anthem, Two Steps Behind, and had already dished out five of 1987 bestseller Hysteria's seven singles. According to a setlist, they were still to play the album's other chart-toppers, Animal and Pour Some Sugar on Me.

Earlier in the night, Windsor, Ont., based trio The Tea Party warmed up the stage with 50-minutes of sleepy yet melodic alt-rock.

Led by sombre, Jim Morrison-lookalike Jeff Martin, the band tossed in several tracks from their latest release, Seven Circles, but mainly stuck to past radio hits like Heaven Coming Down, The Messenger and Temptation.

The Tea Party's dark, psychedelic tunes were politely accepted by Def Leppard fans, but near the end of the lengthy set, the MTS Centre kind of felt like a good place to take a nap.