DEF LEPPARD last year joined the long list of rockers who have re-recorded their biggest hits in note-perfect renditions. The "2012" versions of "Pour Some Sugar On Me" and "Rock Of Ages" are now available at various digital retailers and last month the band cut five acoustic songs performed during their "Rock Of Ages" tour for a medley released to iTunes. 

DEF LEPPARD front man Joe Elliott tells Classic Rock magazine: "We're trying to wrestle back our career and ownership of these songs. They [Universal] own the originals; we're at loggerheads with them over the digital rights. And as long as they're playing silly buggers, we'll just keep recording them again."

The singer continued: "Until we can come to some kind of humane conclusion to this ridiculous stand-off, we're going to say, 'F*** you!' We were offered a great deal two years ago and shook hands on it. And then some other t*** at the label put a stop to it. It's our life and our music and we're not going to let them exploit us to the extent that they're trying to."

Elliott tells Classic Rock that Universal wouldn't be the major player it is today without the help of LEPPARD's multi-million-selling releases.

"Between us and BON JOVI, we f****** built that company," he insisted. "We built their penthouse sushi bar, wherever it may be, and they just treated us like s***. We can either roll over like little dandelions or we can stand up and punch them in the bollocks. And that's exactly what we're doing."

 Geez! Watch your mouth, Guv'nor!