Guitarist Vivian Campbell and Def Leppard rocked fans at the Molson Amphitheatre Tuesday night. (Mark O’Neill, QMI Agency)

TORONTO - With no truly hit rock album in ages, and recent records consisting of covers, anthologies and live releases, it was quite odd to see the hysteria Def Leppard occasionally created Tuesday night.

The longtime British rock group played to a sold-out Toronto's Molson Canadian Amphitheatre with little in the way of newness but plenty of hard rock warhorses from the late '80s. Led by singer Joe Elliott – who when he pushed himself vocally sounded far from ideal – the quintet were basically the supporting band for thousands on this night, many of who sported t-shirts from the band's heyday or Union Jack attire.

Unfortunately, the band decided to get the new material out of the way with the opener Undefeated as images of Muhammad Ali, Nelson Mandela and others who overcame obstacles (including Def Leppard) were shown on seven rectangular video screens.

Using a multi-level stage with steps leading to one-armed drummer Rick Allen, Def Leppard were all business after that. Whether it was on the strong instrumental Switch 625 or on Animal off their mega selling 1987 record Hysteria, the band looked much like they did 20 years ago.

However looking and sounding are two different things, and Elliott at times was stretching himself a bit thin on the power ballad Love Bites or Rocket, the latter oddly enough featuring images of rockets. When he didn't push himself on the softer material, particularly the two-song acoustic portion in Two Steps Behind and Bringin' On The Heartbreak, he sounded quite solid.

Thanking the fans for coming out on what would be the group's lone Canadian stop on their current Mirrorball tour, Elliott occasionally became conductor when not drowned out on Photograph and Let's Get Rocked. Meanwhile guitarists Vivian Campbell – the new guy with nearly two decades of service – and Phil Collen shone on several numbers, including a brief duelling section as Rocket concluded.

And while Rock On wasn't exactly spot on, the group redeemed themselves on Armageddon It and especially Pour Some Sugar On Me, proving you don't really need newbies when you have this many oldies.

Opening for Def Leppard and a very good complement was Heart. Led by the Wilson sisters in singer Ann and guitarist Nancy, the group ran through a 70-minute set that was equal parts sweet, dreamy ballads and harder, rambling rock numbers. Although These Dreams, Alone and What About Love certainly placated many, Ann Wilson's vocals were worth the price alone.

Recalling a bit of Joplin but with plenty of power and depth to belt out each lyric, the singer's pristine pipes got their workout on a two Led Zeppelin covers in Rock And Roll and The Battle Of Evermore. But she saved the best for last with a stellar rendition of The Who's Love, Reign O'er Me, a spine-tingling nugget definitely in her wheelhouse.