Def Leppard bassist Rick Savage has heaped praise on Tom Cruise after the superstar tackled the band's Pour Some Sugar On Me in new movie Rock Of Ages.

The Hollywood actor takes on the lead role of rock star Stacee Jaxx in the big screen adaptation of the popular stage musical, which features a number of classic hits including the British band's classic.

The rockers paid the star a visit as he geared up to perform the track on location in a nightclub, and were left impressed by the clean-cut actor's knack for rock 'n' roll.

Savage tells the Associated Press, "We were fortune enough to check his filming out of that particular performance because we were both in Florida at the same time.

"We just had to get there as he was shooting some of the scenes. That was special in itself, just getting to meet the man. His voice was good."

Frontman Joe Elliott adds, "It was pretty surreal, actually. We just walked into this little seedy club in Ft. Lauderdale, and there up on stage is Stacee Jaxx doing Sugar. It's like, 'What is this?' It's nuts."