Friday (10/15) on the New York Daily News online, Scott Shifrel writes, “In a collision of classical music and classic rock, the New York Philharmonic is suing Cheap Trick. The 1970s power pop group had the temerity to list the illustrious orchestra on the liner notes of its Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band 40th Anniversary recording, a suit filed in Manhattan Federal Court says. Cheap Trick ‘falsely suggested to the public that the New York Philharmonic, or members thereof, performed on or otherwise participated in defendants’ record album,’ the suit says. ‘Despite repeated efforts to obtain a resolution of this matter, defendants have not corrected this misrepresentation or made any offer to compensate plaintiff for the misappropriation of its name.’ The suit cites the Philharmonic’s illustrious 168-year history, which includes Gustav Mahler, Igor Stravinsky and Leonard Bernstein as conductors. And it suggests the rockers behind hits like ‘The Flame’ and ‘I Want You to Want Me’ got the New York Philharmonic confused with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The suit, which seeks unspecified damages, asks for Cheap Trick to cease and desist.”
Posted October 19, 2010
