Do We Need New Versions of 'Pour Some Sugar On Me' and 'Rock of Ages?'

Def Leppard is re-releasing "Pour Some Sugar On Me" and "Rock of Ages" as re-recorded singles. The band is doing this to capitalize off the film Rock of Ages which hits theaters June 15. The re-recorded songs hit digital outlets June 4. Personally, I think this is completely unnecessary.

Obviously the band wants digital options of the songs so people can download after catching the movie. But why not just allow the real songs -- the ones we've loved for decades now -- to go up on iTunes? I don't get why the guys in Def Leppard won't release their catalog on iTunes, but so be it. (Ok, I know the reason: it is money. It has to be). I would think a couple of singles is better than none... and surely better than a re-recorded version, right?

Def Leppard will hit the road with Poison and Lita Ford on the Rock of Ages 2012 tour, which kicks off starting June 20 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Comments

[Ace Steele]

It's very simple. The original masters are retained by Polygram, a label Def Leppard no longer is affiliated with. They own their songs, but Polygram owns those recordings.

[florentine]

very silly of them..

[M.]

So why doesn't Polygram release them? Are they actively pro-piracy? Because that is, after all, the inevitable consequence.

[Jay]

Cash grab, nothing more

[scott whitt]

I guess they think that young people may buy the singles. However that is the demo that is more prone to download, so who knows.

[longhairedrocker]

The reason for the re-recording is licensing issues. Those songs are heavily played in "Rock Of Ages" and the licensing became a problem with the former band label ( Basically they wanted more money to release the music for use in the movie ). So if the band re recorded them then that takes the ball into the bands court to able to let the music be used in the movie for less money. It also allows the band to recoup royalties from the movie rather than have their former label recoup most of the money.

[Metalboy!]

Great points all. It is amazing to see the brilliant knowledgeable of the Music Biz I consistently learn in the Comments on this incredible site.

But how many more millions do they need? The re-recordings still aren't worth listening to. It's the classic Mutt Lange produced gems are what endure multiple listenings forever.

They define Pop Metal Perfection.

The original recording of "Photograph", probably the second most iconic Hair Metal recording of all time after RATT's "Round And Round", cannot be topped.

What a sham all the way around.

[longhairedrocker]

Financially it's a good decision. What you hear in the final product...not so much. Then again most people aren't audiophiles and could care less on the "quality" of their music. When is the last time you someone buying high end stereo equipment? Most people are listening to music via cell phone or ipod and the quality of an Mp3 is basically non existent. So, it's a growing trend on both sides of the music world. Bands are going to spend less to record music and fans are going to pay less to hear it.

[bryon]

longhairedrocker: you're absolutely right that most people don't care about the quality of their recorded music, but keep in mind that the quality today is, on average, far better than it used to be. I don't know about you guys, but I grew up listening to music on cassette tapes played on my ghetto blaster, or on the crappy speakers in my mom's car. Or I watched videos that I recorded on VHS tape, or I listened to radio. Very occasionally I would sit down and relax with a vinyl LP, but even then, I just had average equipment.

Even low quality, 128-bit MP3s sound better than my worn out Hysteria tape!

The audiophile market will always be around as a niche, and smart bands & labels will continue to produce extremely high quality music for them.

As for Def Leppard, more power to them if they want to be the ones making money off of their song. It's always fair to ask "how many millions is enough", but if it were me, I would want the money for my songs coming to me, instead of from my old record label.

[Ward]

I'm looking forward to hearing what the new recordings sound like with Vivian Campbell in the lineup. I think Viv's a better guitarist than Phil Collen, but he doesn't get to play nearly as many leads as Phil does.

[Metalboy!]

Listen to "Photograph" on a $50,000 stereo. I've got a 12" British Picture Sleeve vinyl copy and cranked it up on my old boss' stereo way back in 1998. Frickin' amazing!

Forget the money. This is an example of Mutt's genius that cannot be duplicated.