Def Leppard to re-record hits for business purposes

[Don]

http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news ... l_job=3064

Def Leppard are aiming to re-record all their hit singles after failing to reach an agreement to release the original tracks.

They recently rolled out new versions of Pour Some Sugar on Me and Rock of Ages, but singer Joe Elliott says that’s just the start.

He calls the move is a “sensible business decision” – but admits trying to make accurate reproductions is hard work.

Elliott tells MTV Hive: “How can I put this politely? We were having a major disagreement with out ex record label about the digital rights for our back catalogue. We couldn’t come to a mutual understanding that seemed fair for both sides.

“So we finally decided to re-record all our hits. We started with Sugar and Rock of Ages and I think we did a pretty good job – but it’s hard work trying to recreate something you did 30 years ago.

Def Lep’s aim is to create “100% forgeries” of their originals, and the singer insists it would be a mistake to try changing any aspect of the tracks.

“It’s not like a live version where everything a bit looser and you’ve got the ad libs, the longer guitar solos and the crowd in the background. We were very conscious of the fact that when people download our songs from iTunes they want it to sound like they remember it.

“There’s nothing worse than being let down by an artist you love. There’s a guy called Andrew Gold – back in the seventies he had a song called Lonely Boy that’s just wonderful. When we were on tour it popped into my head, so I went to download what I thought was the original. I ended up getting a re-recording. It was like a crappy karaoke version.”

Elliott maintains it would be “pretty sad” to try reshooting videos to go with the new tracks. He says: “It’s easy to reproduce the sound and get it to match – but we can’t go in a time machine and get rid of the wrinkles. We are what we are. I’m 52; I’ll be 53 in a few months. It would be ridiculous.”

[The Sushi Hunter]

My wife loves Def Kitty, perhaps it's a Japanese thing, I don't know. We went to their concert a few years ago, during the tour that they ended up cutting short. I don't think the singer sounded too good during that show. I think they cut the tour short a show or two later because of vocal troubles or something like that.

Well I'm confused about that article. He states that they are changing up the tunes, yet he also indicates that it's a let down when tunes are changed up by other artists. Did I get that right or not? Either way, I won't purchase an album with re-recorded tunes from any band unless of course there are some tunes in the album that are new that I like.

[Don]

My wife loves Def Kitty, perhaps it's a Japanese thing, I don't know. We went to their concert a few years ago, during the tour that they ended up cutting short. I don't think the singer sounded too good during that show. I think they cut the tour short a show or two later because of vocal troubles or something like that.

Well I'm confused about that article. He states that they are changing up the tunes, yet he also indicates that it's a let down when tunes are changed up by other artists. Did I get that right or not? Either way, I won't purchase an album with re-recorded tunes from any band unless of course there are some tunes in the album that are new that I like.

No, he is saying they trying to record them to sound exactly like the originals. That way when you go to download them from iTunes, you will hear the new version and think it is the original. Purchasing the re-record will cut out the record company which means more money for the band, at least that is what the plan is. Also any new licensing agreements can use the new material vs the old and again cut out the old record company. Not sure if that will work though as Journey had the same intentions with their re-records but everyone opted for the originals anyway.

[The Sushi Hunter]

I see. So how's he sounding live these days? It's going to be a challenge for him perhaps sound like he did 30 years ago, but then alot of "stuff" can go on in the studio to make it sound like it did before.

[AR]

I could care less if Elliot sounds like he's gargling with razor blades these days if they would just rock the fuck out like the first 3 albums and stop trying to be Mott The Hoople meets Duran Duran.

[No Surprize]

I could care less if Elliot sounds like he's gargling with razor blades these days if they would just rock the fuck out like the first 3 albums and stop trying to be Mott The Hoople meets Duran Duran.

It will never happen. Mutt lange to them from HND to Pyro, from there to Hysteria and changed them forever. By the way this marks the 25th anniversary of "Hysteria". Guitar World magazine, for those who get it has a great feature article on it. Def Leppard are planning a special concert to celebrate the most expensive record ever made.

[The Sushi Hunter]

Wow, 25th anniversary. Can't believe how fast that quarter of a century flew by.... That album was one of my favorites from the band, probably because of the age I was and where I was at in my life when it came out.

[mrsromek]

Damn-25 years?!? I can still remember my late (and a hell of a woman) grandmother buying me the cassette at Phar-Mor for like $5.99 back in the day. Played the crap out of that thing.

Def Lep needs to tour and play that sucker all the way through. Don't they play at least half of it every night anyway?

[No Surprize]

Damn-25 years?!? I can still remember my late (and a hell of a woman) grandmother buying me the cassette at Phar-Mor for like $5.99 back in the day. Played the crap out of that thing.

Def Lep needs to tour and play that sucker all the way through. Don't they play at least half of it every night anyway?

Man, if they played only "Don't shoot shotgun", "Run Riot" and "Gods of War" it would make me feel a lot better.

[Yoda]

I haven't purchased the full tracks yet, but I did listen to the soundbytes, pre-release of the re-records, and they sound surprisingly close to the originals! I didn't think ol' J.E. still had the voice to do it, but apparently he still does.

[AR]

I haven't purchased the full tracks yet, but I did listen to the soundbytes, pre-release of the re-records, and they sound surprisingly close to the originals! I didn't think ol' J.E. still had the voice to do it, but apparently he still does.

Joe Elliott meet Autotune. Autotune meet Joe Elliott

[Don]

I haven't purchased the full tracks yet, but I did listen to the soundbytes, pre-release of the re-records, and they sound surprisingly close to the originals! I didn't think ol' J.E. still had the voice to do it, but apparently he still does.

Joe Elliott meet Autotune. Autotune meet Joe Elliott

I wouldn't be surprised at all that they would go with as much studio magic as possible. This isn't about being artistic or doing it for the fans, it's all about the benjamins as they want to put something out there to replace the originals without anyone noticing so they can cut their old record label out of the picture.

[Yoda]

I haven't purchased the full tracks yet, but I did listen to the soundbytes, pre-release of the re-records, and they sound surprisingly close to the originals! I didn't think ol' J.E. still had the voice to do it, but apparently he still does.

Joe Elliott meet Autotune. Autotune meet Joe Elliott

More than likely! But hey, if it does wind up sounding almost identical to the originals then I guess it serves its purpose.

[StevePerryHair]

I thought it was interesting that when I saw the broadway musical "Rock of Ages" over a year ago, they have a voice over before the play starts, which is David Coverdale himself, giving people theater rules. He then mentions that people should not "sing or play any def leppard songs at any time during the musical, as they were not given the rights for any of their music for the production" said in a funny way, having the audience laughing. So the record label said NO!

Now the "Hollywood" movie version comes out, and guess what! 3 Def Lep songs IN the movie, and an record album as a prop. Interesting the record label was all in for it when big names in Hollywood were behind it!

Things like this make the band look bad. I can see why they have issues and are trying something radical to send a message.

[No Surprize]

I thought it was interesting that when I saw the broadway musical "Rock of Ages" over a year ago, they have a voice over before the play starts, which is David Coverdale himself, giving people theater rules. He then mentions that people should not "sing or play any def leppard songs at any time during the musical, as they were not given the rights for any of their music for the production" said in a funny way, having the audience laughing. So the record label said NO!

Now the "Hollywood" movie version comes out, and guess what! 3 Def Lep songs IN the movie, and an record album as a prop. Interesting the record label was all in for it when big names in Hollywood were behind it!

Things like this make the band look bad. I can see why they have issues and are trying something radical to send a message.

I agree. They are no longer under contract so who are these fuckers and how long can they do this for after your contract is up?