Newsbites: Mutt Lange approves of Def Leppard ‘forgeries’

Thumbs up: Joe Elliott

Def Leppard‘s “forgery” tracks have received producer Mutt Lange’s seal of approval. The band recorded new versions of Pour Some Sugar on Me and Rock of Ages after failing to make a deal with their former record label over releasing the originals. They plan to continue the process with more of their 80s hits. Lange produced the classic recordings but didn’t contribute to the new versions. However, singer Joe Elliott reports the deskman gave them “a total thumbs-up.” He explains: “Phil Collen sees Mutt a lot, and he played him the re-records. Mutt couldn’t believe how brilliant they were. He was like, ‘Wow, guys, incredible job!’ Phil was raving about how much Mutt was raving about them.” [Billboard]

Sean ‘Clown’ Crahan of Slipknot says he’ll end his career when the band splits. “Since the beginning, every show we’re told ourselves that this could be the last,” he reports. “My kids know that if I die on stage, that’s where I should have gone. I don’t want to, though – I want to live for a very long time. I’d like to retire and leave on a good note. Whenever Slipknot calls it a day I ain’t coming back. I’m in Tahiti with my wife, wearing stupid briefs on a beach with a Corona in my hand, while she’s walking around topless.” [LA Weekly]

Queensryche will make their first appearance with new singer Todd La Torre at the end of the month. They’ll headline the last day of the Halfway Jam in Minnesota, which also features Lynch Mob, Stryper, Bang Tango, Blackfoot and Enuff Z’nuff. The prog metal band confirmed they’d sacked Geoff Tate on June 20.

Aerosmith have cancelled a planned show in Virginia tonight after singer Steven Tyler was ordered to rest his voice. The event has been rescheduled for August 12.

Tom Morello has led a resident march through the Chinatown area of Los Angeles to protest against Walmart’s treatment of the community. The Rage Against the Machine guitarist says: “We don’t want Walmart to destroy Chinatown and unique neighbourhoods across the United States just to make a few executives in the Walton family richer.”