Def Leppard Is Re-Recording ‘Brand New, Same Versions’ Of Their Catalog
By Laura Aguirre
Def Leppard is at odds with their ex-label Universal Music Group. The hard rockers believe that they’re not being being fairly compensated for digital download sales and have decided to re-record “brand new, exact same versions” of their existing catalog to get their career back.
Def Leppard recently re-recorded and re-released new versions of “Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Rock of Ages” because of the ongoing dispute with the label. But now they’re going for the shebang.
Frontman Joe Elliot told Billboard that the band has not been fairly compensated for digital download sales. In return, they refuse to deal with Universal until “some kind of arrangement” is reached.
Elliot also said that their contract “is such that [Universal] can’t do anything with [their] music without [their] permission, not a thing.”
Recording their old songs allows the band to receive fair pay for their work. Elliot mentioned that it was a challenge to make his voice sound like a 22-year-old man (he’s 52), but that he was able to do it. All of the band members studied their songs hard enough to make complete forgeries of them.
But if you’re not to enthusiastic about listening to old re-recorded Def Leppard songs, Elliot did mention that new material is underway.
What the “Rocket” video:
What do you think? Should their talents be spent on old hits? Or should they move on to fresh material?
