I have a couple locals that still piss me off. There was in Portland a band called the Ponys (Now Phantom Buffalo). They met the Chicago Ponys at SXSW. The Chicago Ponys got their suits to sue the Ponys for the name. (If they were really rock n’ roll, they would have had a rock off, but some bands go corporate early.) The Chicago Ponys as far as I know have never played Portland,ME. My guess is that they know what the turn out would be.
There was also The Memphis Mafia (now King Memphis) who was sued by the actual Memphis Mafia (Elvis’s crew) who were getting ready to put out some commemorative coffee table book, and decided to copyright the name.
All the bands which added “UK” to their name such as Charlatans “UK”?
And poor, poor Al Jardine: The Beach Boys Family and Friends to The Endless Summer Band.
The stupidest one was when ‘Handsome Dick’ Manitoba of the Dictators sued Dan Snaith for using the name Manitoba for his recording identity (it’s not exactly a band). Snaith now goes by Caribou.
Do any of these ‘suits’ actually end up in court? Usually one party gives in rather than fight.
I knew a cover band called the Firm in Omaha in the mid ’80s who got some money from Jimmy page and Co to give up the use of their name. They took the money and changed their name to the Front. I’m not sure how much money. I can’t imagine that it was more than just a little hush money but still…
From the Close But Not Exactly The Same Thread desk — Dolby Laboratories sued Thomas Dolby (born Thomas Robertson) but the case was settled out of court, and the musician got to keep using the name.
There was an entire drama that played out when the New Bohemians met another band named the same. So they became the New New Bohemians. Then a band in England, it turns out, had that name, so then the American New Bohemians became the Old Bohemians, and the English New Bohemians became the Original Bohemians which allowed the New New Bohemians to go back to just the New Bohemians. Wild.
GBH played here in town last night. I just happened to see this in a preview for the gig:
“GBH originally formed in 1979 in Birmingham, England, initially known as “Charged GBH”, to avoid confusion with a band similarly named, later dropping the prefix after it was discovered no other band existed.”
Huh? Can I still be Last Man Standing if the band that forced the name change never existed and so they changed back?
Friends of mine had a band called Cornelius. They got signed to Sony 550, but while that was happening, Matador put out an album by the Japanese guy named Cornelius. They had first usage, and got a payday out of it, but Matador proceeded to badmouth the band and the forced name change turned into one of many blows to the band that eventually ended the way most band stories end – ie, revolving door of members, overly produced and expensive album, fucked by record label, etc, etc, etc.
Mac, do you live in or around Portland? Funny you mention King Memphis because the drummer of that band is a former Philly guy, and very rare poster to RTH. I hadn’t heard that they were copyrighted out of their first name.
Yep. Weedy Massachusetts singer/songwriter and UK acid jazz organist dude. I think the latter always bills himself as James Taylor Quartet to avoid confusion, but I don’t know if he’s been enjoined.
We can’t forget the thoroughly awesome case of “Cher UK.”
Thank you for the welcome! I’ve been lurking for a bit now. Very cool site!
Yes, that is the same band. We saw them quite often back in the day. “I remember romance” was a darn good pop/new wave song. If your on emusic their stuff is on it. They were very hit and miss but had a handful of good songs. They also put out an album a year or two ago that’s actually pretty solid.
Wait, I misread the thread descriptions rules. There was no band called Red Cross, they had to change the spelling due to the actually Red Cross organization. So…Weren’t The Bangles called The Bangs at first befroe discovering another group shared the moniker.
The Satellites became Georgia Satellites and Hughie Lewis & The American Express became Huey Lewis & The News (Am Ex Sued) There is a rap group called The Firm (not sure why Jimmy Page was Ok with that)
Love, who started out as The Grass Roots, but had to change because of the “Let’s Live For Today” band.
The Originals, who had to change their name to the New Originals, and eventually became Spinal Tap
Creed Bratton strikes again!
Suede had to become London Suede here in the States, to avoid litigation from a folk singer.
I have a couple locals that still piss me off. There was in Portland a band called the Ponys (Now Phantom Buffalo). They met the Chicago Ponys at SXSW. The Chicago Ponys got their suits to sue the Ponys for the name. (If they were really rock n’ roll, they would have had a rock off, but some bands go corporate early.) The Chicago Ponys as far as I know have never played Portland,ME. My guess is that they know what the turn out would be.
There was also The Memphis Mafia (now King Memphis) who was sued by the actual Memphis Mafia (Elvis’s crew) who were getting ready to put out some commemorative coffee table book, and decided to copyright the name.
All the bands which added “UK” to their name such as Charlatans “UK”?
And poor, poor Al Jardine: The Beach Boys Family and Friends to The Endless Summer Band.
David Bowie
There were two bands named The Beat, and then one became The English Beat and the L.A. one became Paul Collins’ Beat.
The stupidest one was when ‘Handsome Dick’ Manitoba of the Dictators sued Dan Snaith for using the name Manitoba for his recording identity (it’s not exactly a band). Snaith now goes by Caribou.
Do any of these ‘suits’ actually end up in court? Usually one party gives in rather than fight.
This isn’t a band that had to change its name, but has one of the most brilliantly awesome and funny band name rip-offs:
Duran, Duran, Duran
And
John Cougar Concentration Camp was pretty great as well.
I knew a cover band called the Firm in Omaha in the mid ’80s who got some money from Jimmy page and Co to give up the use of their name. They took the money and changed their name to the Front. I’m not sure how much money. I can’t imagine that it was more than just a little hush money but still…
Comsat Angels > CS Angels
REO Speed Dealer
Squeeze had to become UK Squeeze on their first album.
And The Charlatans had to become The Charlatans UK.
From the Close But Not Exactly The Same Thread desk — Dolby Laboratories sued Thomas Dolby (born Thomas Robertson) but the case was settled out of court, and the musician got to keep using the name.
English Beat.
I win.
There was an entire drama that played out when the New Bohemians met another band named the same. So they became the New New Bohemians. Then a band in England, it turns out, had that name, so then the American New Bohemians became the Old Bohemians, and the English New Bohemians became the Original Bohemians which allowed the New New Bohemians to go back to just the New Bohemians. Wild.
GBH played here in town last night. I just happened to see this in a preview for the gig:
“GBH originally formed in 1979 in Birmingham, England, initially known as “Charged GBH”, to avoid confusion with a band similarly named, later dropping the prefix after it was discovered no other band existed.”
Huh? Can I still be Last Man Standing if the band that forced the name change never existed and so they changed back?
Zeitgeist -> The Reivers
Friends of mine had a band called Cornelius. They got signed to Sony 550, but while that was happening, Matador put out an album by the Japanese guy named Cornelius. They had first usage, and got a payday out of it, but Matador proceeded to badmouth the band and the forced name change turned into one of many blows to the band that eventually ended the way most band stories end – ie, revolving door of members, overly produced and expensive album, fucked by record label, etc, etc, etc.
Aren’t there two James Taylors?
Mac, do you live in or around Portland? Funny you mention King Memphis because the drummer of that band is a former Philly guy, and very rare poster to RTH. I hadn’t heard that they were copyrighted out of their first name.
I am from Portland and am familiar with the Philly transplanted “Drummer, Plumber, and total Bummer” you speak of: Good ol’ Raggers.
In Mpls in the early 80’s Flamingo changed their name to The Flamin’ Oh’s (of all things) per the name was already taken.
Hey underthefloat. Welcome. I vaguely remember a Flamin’ Oh’s video for something like “Remember Romance”…
Heavy eye make-up, plenty of b&w checkers and a Rock ‘n Roll Highschool kinda production quality.
Am I thinking of the same band?
Yep. Weedy Massachusetts singer/songwriter and UK acid jazz organist dude. I think the latter always bills himself as James Taylor Quartet to avoid confusion, but I don’t know if he’s been enjoined.
We can’t forget the thoroughly awesome case of “Cher UK.”
Hey Sammy,
Thank you for the welcome! I’ve been lurking for a bit now. Very cool site!
Yes, that is the same band. We saw them quite often back in the day. “I remember romance” was a darn good pop/new wave song. If your on emusic their stuff is on it. They were very hit and miss but had a handful of good songs. They also put out an album a year or two ago that’s actually pretty solid.
Who knew Dave Ragsdale was on this list?
http://www.davidragsdale.com/main.html
Was there a Hot Heat band? That would seem most lame if there wasn’t.
Red Cross became Redd Kross
Wait, I misread the thread descriptions rules. There was no band called Red Cross, they had to change the spelling due to the actually Red Cross organization. So…Weren’t The Bangles called The Bangs at first befroe discovering another group shared the moniker.
I would have thought the Warlocks to Grateful Dead change would have been on here already.
The Satellites became Georgia Satellites and Hughie Lewis & The American Express became Huey Lewis & The News (Am Ex Sued) There is a rap group called The Firm (not sure why Jimmy Page was Ok with that)