Cover Band Didn't Have Rights To Songs, Restaurant Owner Sued

[McLean]

I think it is bad news for club owners, and that sucks super bad something like that can happen. But what about the band???? Those are the bastards preforming the song. Screw them!!! This poor guy is going to loose his business because these jerks don't know how to write their own song. I would like all cover bands to know about this. Hopefully it would kick some of these cover kids to do something original for once in their life. Jeez.. Do I sound bitter or what?

[Whoopysnorp]

Oh, surely you can't begrudge people an occasional obscure cover, right? My band has a number of songs that we cover regularly and really enjoy playing. We sort of make them our own. Nothing as well-known as Hendrix or Stevie Wonder, though. I can kind of see your point there--if you're going to cover something, cover something that everybody hasn't already heard a million times.

Plus, most bands don't have the talent to write good songs of their own. I don't include myself in that assessment, mind you!

[dagosto]

bunch of BS, all of it.

[smopo24]

Originally Posted by McLean

I think it is bad news for club owners, and that sucks super bad something like that can happen. But what about the band???? Those are the bastards preforming the song. Screw them!!! This poor guy is going to loose his business because these jerks don't know how to write their own song. I would like all cover bands to know about this. Hopefully it would kick some of these cover kids to do something original for once in their life. Jeez.. Do I sound bitter or what?

it doesn't matter to me, i just won't go see those bands. i don't want to be in a cover band, but if someone does....who cares? besides, someone needs to play weddings; if only to prevent djs from putting on "the chicken dance." oh, and you only sound slightly bitter.

[cthetranspire]

In the end, what's the point of suing this restaurant owner?

I once played a gig in St. Clair, MO. The owner said we could not play our set, which had three covers in it. Citing a story exactly like above.

At the time it was an ensemble gig, but what about the fact that I dj now? Output is output, shouldn't matter who is playing it.

Hooray for rediculous rules that make both the music and restaurant world more difficult.