Def Leppard have found themselves involved in song controversy with One Direction after talk that the title track to the boy band’s album, “Midnight Memories”, bears a sonic resemblance to the UK rockers’ 1987 smash, “Pour Some Sugar On Me.”
A report in UK tabloid The Mirror claimed that Def Leppard’s team were consulting with lawyers over the issue, but guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell have confirmed to US music industry magazine Billboard that they are not pursuing legal action, with Collen calling the songs "very similar in structure" but nothing more.
"The chords are one-four-five," says Campbell. "Those are the blues. You don’t get more basic than that. I think what’s more reminiscent of the Leppard thing is the production, the sound, the vocals, the reverb and the way it’s asssembled. That is very flattering that all of a sudden these kids think it’s a cool sound. I think a lot of people of their generation aren’t going to connect their music to ours."
It’s the second time this year that One Direction have faced accusations of mimicking classic rock tracks; their “Best Song Ever” featured elements similar to the 1971 Who classic, “Baba O’Riley.”
But as with Def Leppard, Who frontman Pete Townsend wouldn't have any talk of legal action, noting in a statement in August that "the chords I used and the chords they used are the same three chords we’ve all been using in basic pop music since Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran and Chuck Berry made it clear that fancy chords don’t mean great music -- not always."
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