Marc Bolin’s son sued the producers and studio the made the film ‘Baby Driver’ in 2017, reminding us that we live in a litigious world. Also, we know that the group Spirit and long departed Randy California estate sued Zeppelin for the tune ‘Stairway,’ which was settled this past year. How about more legal stuff?
Robin Thicke and Pharrell wrote a chart topper called “Blurred Lines.” The problem is it sounded very much like Marvin Gaye’s “Got To Give It Up,” which a jury in LA agreed.
Tom Petty’s “American Girl” seemed to sound too much like the band ‘Strokes’ “Last Night,” causing legal action. As it turned out, the Strokes actually took Tom’s open riffs, but Tom let it go without incident.
Huey Lewis and the News was sued by Ray Parker Jr. “I Want a New Drug” vs. “Ghostbusters,’ while David Bowie and Queen got all over Vanilla Ice for his obvious theft in “Under Pressure,” vs. Ice Ice Baby.”
Finally, it was Tom Petty again for his “I Won’t Back Down” vs. Sam Smith “Stay With Me” battle – way too close to be a coincidence, Sam!
—
Photo credit: steve white photos / Shutterstock.com