Don't worry Maryland concertgoers...

[fearfaoin]

So, apparently the Maryland State Legislature decided it needed to stop
bands from pretending to be other bands… Has this been a big problem?
Anyway, be careful what your band calls itself if you play in MD… Don’t
pretend to be Gaelic Storm, I guess.

@The Baltimore Sun

Other laws going on the books today include:
…
Creating a “Truth in Music Advertising Law” that establishes a $15,000
penalty for musical acts that lure concertgoers by fraudulently copying
the names and songs of famous performers.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.laws01oct01,0,3035599.story

[djm]

There was a band that for several years was imitating Steppenwolf, using the band’s name, playing their tunes, etc. but the quality was terrible, which made it difficult for the real group to get bookings.

djm

[fearfaoin]

@djm

There was a band that for several years was imitating Steppenwolf, using the band’s name, playing their tunes, etc. but the quality was terrible, which made it difficult for the real group to get bookings

Wow. Usually cover bands use a different name…
Unless it’s a band where all the members have retired, but the recording
label owns the name, like The Village People. The Village People still tour,
but it’s not any of the same people… Maybe this law combats that practice?

[Nanohedron]

@fearfaoin

@djm

There was a band that for several years was imitating Steppenwolf, using the band’s name, playing their tunes, etc. but the quality was terrible, which made it difficult for the real group to get bookings

Wow. Usually cover bands use a different name…
Unless it’s a band where all the members have retired, but the recording
label owns the name, like The Village People. The Village People still tour,
but it’s not any of the same people… Maybe this law combats that practice?

There’s a difference between identity theft and franchise (if that’s the word). I don’t actually know, myself, but I expect that successful and in-demand theme shows like TVP would be the latter, like Blue Man Group. Nowadays Blue Man Group are not one ensemble, but 3 or 4 if I recall correctly.

[Joseph_E_Smith]

Well, there goes my tour plans performing as Elton John in Maryland… sigh…

[djm]

Can I have the glasses?

djm

[Joseph_E_Smith]

@djm

Can I have the glasses?

djm

Why not.

[chas]

@fearfaoin

@djm

There was a band that for several years was imitating Steppenwolf, using the band’s name, playing their tunes, etc. but the quality was terrible, which made it difficult for the real group to get bookings

Wow. Usually cover bands use a different name…
Unless it’s a band where all the members have retired, but the recording
label owns the name, like The Village People. The Village People still tour,
but it’s not any of the same people… Maybe this law combats that practice?

It wasn’t exactly a cover band. I had the displeasure of seeing this version – two of them had been long-time members, one from 67-74, the other for 3 years or so, including pretty close to their founding. They had co-written some of the Wolf’s better music. Problem was, there was no John Kay (the lead singer), and they picked some nobody with a wimpy voice to replace him. John and Jerry Edmonton (drummer) sued, and they reached a settlement – The bogus group could continue to tour as Steppenwolf in exchange for giving up their artist royalties, that is, royalties the musicians get for record sales. Little did they know that within five years of the settlement, CDs would become standard, and folks like me would buy CD copies of all their old scratched-up Steppenwolf records.

I saw the real Steppenwolf in 1974, and it was the best show I’ve ever seen.