# Musicians that couldn't make music because of bitter band breakups and lawsuits.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-couldnt-make-music-because-of-bitter-band-breakups-and-lawsuits/725155
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [July 14, 2015, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-couldnt-make-music-because-of-bitter-band-breakups-and-lawsuits/725155 "2015-07-14T17:16:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2015, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-couldnt-make-music-because-of-bitter-band-breakups-and-lawsuits/725155/1 "2015-07-14T17:16:30Z")
John Fogerty just filed a new lawsuit against Doug Clfford and Stu Cook. I’ve lost count of how many times these ex bandmates and their label have exchanged lawsuits. Fogerty didn’t even drop his grudge against older brother Tom when he was dying of AIDS related TB. Now that’s a hardcore grudge.
I’ve often wondered how many great songs Fogerty might have written. The stuff he writes always sounds like CCR and he gets sued. It happened in 1985 with his album Centerfield. Fogerty has rarely recorded since. There’s little point since it’s just another lawsuit waiting to happen.
What other musicians have had their careers shut down by bitter band breakups and lawsuits? A situation where it’s just not worth their time to write music and record anymore?
40 years later and these guys are still suing each other. :rolleyes:
> **[John Fogerty files suit against former Creedence bandmates](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-john-fogerty-files-suit-against-former-creedence-bandmates-20150713-story.html)**
>
> Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member John Fogerty filed a countersuit alleging that his former bandmates in Creedence Clearwater Revival have breached their contract in which he allowed them to use the name Creedence Clearwater Revisited while touring...
> [@](#):
>
> Fogerty’s action, filed in Los Angeles on Friday, claims that Creedence bassist Stu Cook and drummer Doug Clifford have not paid him in more than three years under terms of the agreement they set up more than a decade ago. It does not state how much money he is seeking.
>
> It also says a provision of the agreement requiring that the Creedence Clearwater Revisited name be used only with performances at which both Cook and Clifford take part has been breached,
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### Author:  [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2015, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-couldnt-make-music-because-of-bitter-band-breakups-and-lawsuits/725155/2 "2015-07-14T17:30:25Z")
Fogerty’s… got issues. Frankly, so does Sting. It colors my appreciation for them as artists a little. The idea that artist-geniuses walk alone and get to shit on anyone they disagree with, because art, is pretty much BS. Any artist who disses influences and co-creative help, and gets to their little pedestal on the backs of those they’ve worked with, gets an asterisk.
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### Author:  [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-couldnt-make-music-because-of-bitter-band-breakups-and-lawsuits/725155/3 "2015-07-14T17:35:04Z")
Boston has had some serious legal issues too.
RIP Bradley Delp.
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-couldnt-make-music-because-of-bitter-band-breakups-and-lawsuits/725155/4 "2015-07-14T17:38:38Z")
I have to give the Beatles credit. They had a very bitter breakup, but AFAIK didn’t sue each other. For example Paul McCartney started Wings and wasn’t sued because some of his music might have a few Beatles licks in it.
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### Author:  [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2015, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-couldnt-make-music-because-of-bitter-band-breakups-and-lawsuits/725155/5 "2015-07-14T17:43:33Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#):
>
> Boston has had some serious legal issues too.
>
> **RIP Bradley Delp.**
That man’s voice was indescribable. So sad what happened to him.
/derail
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### Author:  [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-couldnt-make-music-because-of-bitter-band-breakups-and-lawsuits/725155/6 "2015-07-14T17:46:05Z")
> [@aceplace57](#):
>
> I have to give the Beatles credit. They had a very bitter breakup, but AFAIK didn’t sue each other.
Yes, actually, they did. [George Harrison wrote a song about it.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sue_Me,_Sue_You_Blues)
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### Author:  [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-couldnt-make-music-because-of-bitter-band-breakups-and-lawsuits/725155/7 "2015-07-14T18:41:56Z")
I’m not sure I agree with the premise that anyone (certainly not Fogerty) can’t make music because of lawsuits. I think what we’re really looking at are musicians who won’t set their ego aside and who won’t accept a few limitations.
Is there anyone who had a contract so bad that they couldn’t perform for anyone, in any capacity, ever?
Maybe they can’t make the exact song or style they like. Maybe they can’t use the name they want. But if they’d suck it up and move on, they’d be making music in some way under some name, even if it’s as the artist formerly known as Fogerty.
Anyway, in terms of examples:
Prince, obviously, hence the time that he used an unpronounceable character as his name.
Queesryche is going through a bitter dispute over who owns what. Their latest album, by the one member who took all the rights, has it right on the cover: [F U](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency_Unknown), and nobody believes that really stands for “Frequency Unknown”.
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### Author:  [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2015, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-couldnt-make-music-because-of-bitter-band-breakups-and-lawsuits/725155/8 "2015-07-14T19:08:50Z")
> [@aceplace57](#):
>
> I have to give the Beatles credit. They had a very bitter breakup, but AFAIK didn’t sue each other. For example Paul McCartney started Wings and wasn’t sued because some of his music might have a few Beatles licks in it.
Wow where have you been? They sued the crap out of each other. Granted it was the lawyers going to town, and they all remained friends. At that level of business the lawsuits create themselves. McCartney would have got sued if he was a plagiarist but he wasn’t at all. George got sued though for My Sweet Lord.
You know who deserves credit for not suing?: Cynthia (and Julian) Lennon. That was a hit and run by our favorite love avatar.
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### Author:  [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2015, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-couldnt-make-music-because-of-bitter-band-breakups-and-lawsuits/725155/9 "2015-07-14T19:15:03Z")
> [@Miller](#):
>
> Yes, actually, they did. [George Harrison wrote a song about it.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sue_Me,_Sue_You_Blues)
Which reminds me of another lawsuit over music:
> **[Apple Corps v Apple Computer](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Corps_v_Apple_Computer)**
>
> Between 1978 and 2007 there were a number of legal disputes between Apple Corps (owned by The Beatles) and the computer manufacturer Apple Computer (now Apple Inc.) over competing trademark rights, specifically over the use of the name "Apple" and their respective logos which consist of a profile of an apple. Apple Inc. paid Apple Corps. over three settlements: $80,000 in 1978, $26.5 million in 1991, and $500 million in 2007, when Apple Inc. acquired all the trademarks related to "Apple."
> The ...
The Beatles had owned the trademark to “Apple Corps” and had a label “Apple Records” and in 1978 sued Apple Computer and the settled agreeing that the Beatles wouldn’t enter the computer business (don’t see much of a problem there) and that Apple wouldn’t enter the music business (umm - at the time it probably made sense).
The Beatles ended up losing (I’m not 100% sure why as I don’t totally understand the agreement or the judges decision), but a settlement was reached - some claim Apple computer ended up paying half a billion for the rights.
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### Author:  [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2015, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-couldnt-make-music-because-of-bitter-band-breakups-and-lawsuits/725155/10 "2015-07-14T19:29:40Z")
Guns and Roses probably would have made more albums to begin with and probably would have gotten back together for some reunion tours if not for Axl’s douchebaggery.
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### Author:  [@Brad\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brad_the_Impaler)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2015, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-couldnt-make-music-because-of-bitter-band-breakups-and-lawsuits/725155/11 "2015-07-14T19:32:18Z")
> [@dracoi](#):
>
> Queesryche is going through a bitter dispute over who owns what. Their latest album, by the one member who took all the rights, has it right on the cover: [F U](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency_Unknown), and nobody believes that really stands for “Frequency Unknown”.
Singer Geoff Tate, who released the album, actually lost the lawsuit in regards to the Queensryche name, after the album was released. His band now goes by the name Operation:Mindcrime. Tate kept the rights to play Operation:Mindcrime 1 & 2 in their entirety, while the other members retained the QR brand and the rights to play songs off those albums, just not the albums in their entirety.
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### Author:  [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-couldnt-make-music-because-of-bitter-band-breakups-and-lawsuits/725155/12 "2015-07-14T19:41:34Z")
> [@dracoi](#):
>
> I’m not sure I agree with the premise that anyone (certainly not Fogerty) can’t make music because of lawsuits. I think what we’re really looking at are musicians who won’t set their ego aside and who won’t accept a few limitations.
>
> Is there anyone who had a contract so bad that they couldn’t perform for anyone, in any capacity, ever?
Actually, John Fogerty may be the only man ever sued for plagiarizing himself (he did not own the rights to the CCR songs).
> [@](#):
>
> Saul Zaentz, owner of Fantasy Records claimed that “The Old Man Down The Road” shared the same chorus as “Run Through the Jungle”, a song from Fogerty’s days with Creedence Clearwater Revival years before. (Fogerty had relinquished copy and publishing rights of his Creedence songs to Zaentz and Fantasy, in exchange for release from his contractual obligations to same.) Zaentz sued (Fantasy, Inc. v. Fogerty) but the defendant Fogerty ultimately prevailed when he showed that the two songs were whole, separate and distinct compositions. Bringing his guitar to the witness stand, he played excerpts from both songs, demonstrating that many songwriters (himself included) have distinctive styles that can make different compositions sound similar to less discerning ears.
Fogery was in a long running dispute with his label, Fantasy. Under the deal he had, he owed them more records but he didn’t want to deliver.
> [@](#):
>
> In 1973, Fogerty began his solo career with The Blue Ridge Rangers, his one-man band collection of country and gospel songs. Under his old CCR contract, however, Fogerty owed Fantasy eight more records. In the end, he refused to work for the label. The impasse was resolved only when Asylum Records’ David Geffen bought Fogerty’s contract for $1,000,000. His next major hit was Centerfield, a chart-topping success in 1985.
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### Author:  [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2015, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-couldnt-make-music-because-of-bitter-band-breakups-and-lawsuits/725155/13 "2015-07-14T20:33:01Z")
> [@Brad\_the\_Impaler](#):
>
> Singer Geoff Tate, who released the album, actually lost the lawsuit in regards to the Queensryche name, after the album was released. His band now goes by the name Operation:Mindcrime. Tate kept the rights to play Operation:Mindcrime 1 & 2 in their entirety, while the other members retained the QR brand and the rights to play songs off those albums, just not the albums in their entirety.
I got left out of the loop on that update. It sounds like about the most reasonable outcome you’re going to get out of such an epic meltdown.
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### Author:  [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-couldnt-make-music-because-of-bitter-band-breakups-and-lawsuits/725155/14 "2015-07-14T20:34:06Z")
In the midst of a contract dispute with Warner Music, Badfinger recorded the album _Head First_. Warner wouldn’t accept the music due to the ongoing lawsuit, and it wasn’t officially released for 25 years. At the same time, the band was unable to even book live performances because its manager had managed to alienate every major booking agent in the UK.
A few months later, Peter Ham committed suicide. They band broke up, although there were a couple of attempts at reforming it years later.
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### Author:  [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2015, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-couldnt-make-music-because-of-bitter-band-breakups-and-lawsuits/725155/15 "2015-07-14T20:48:23Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#):
>
> Actually, John Fogerty may be the only man ever sued for plagiarizing himself (he did not own the rights to the CCR songs).
>
> Fogery was in a long running dispute with his label, Fantasy. Under the deal he had, he owed them more records but he didn’t want to deliver.
What you say and what I remember seems to fit my original point: Fogerty could have delivered on his obligation (thereby continuing to make music), he just didn’t want to. Since he was eventually bought out of the bad contract, we know that there was a third option all along. When he did start writing songs, who’s fault was it that he produced something similar enough to his previous work to trigger a law suit?
I say this without necessarily judging who is right or wrong in the case. Still, had his only priority been making music, nothing here would have prevented him from doing it.
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### Author:  [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2015, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-couldnt-make-music-because-of-bitter-band-breakups-and-lawsuits/725155/16 "2015-07-14T21:36:43Z")
After Milli Vanilli were exposed, all their music immediately became out of print, permanently deleted from the record company’s catalog. Rob and Fab did put out an album they actually performed on, but it sold something like 2,000 copies even though they performed on IIRC the Arsenio Hall Show.
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2015, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-couldnt-make-music-because-of-bitter-band-breakups-and-lawsuits/725155/17 "2015-07-14T23:02:17Z")
Doesn’t really matter what the reason. It’s unfortunate when business or legal stuff gets in the way of an artist making music.
But real life often intrudes on the creative process. I guess there’s not much that can be done.
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### Author:  [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2015, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-couldnt-make-music-because-of-bitter-band-breakups-and-lawsuits/725155/18 "2015-07-15T00:03:43Z")
> [@kunilou](#):
>
> In the midst of a contract dispute with Warner Music, Badfinger recorded the album _Head First_. Warner wouldn’t accept the music due to the ongoing lawsuit, and it wasn’t officially released for 25 years. At the same time, the band was unable to even book live performances because its manager had managed to alienate every major booking agent in the UK.
>
> A few months later, Peter Ham committed suicide. They band broke up, although there were a couple of attempts at reforming it years later.
then Tom Evans committed suicide. Awful situation.
**Stone Roses** - it took years for their second album to come out after some legal disputes…