VR Settles Plagiarism Claim Out Of Court, Awards UK Songwriter Share Of Hit

[FunkyMonkey]

VELVET REVOLVER Settles Plagiarism Claim Out Of Court, Awards UK Songwriter Share Of Hit - Aug. 20, 2008

Tony Newton, the bass player and chief songwriter of UK rock band VOODOO SIX, has been awarded a share of VELVET REVOLVER's song "Dirty Little Thing", which appeared on VR's debut album "Contraband". Following a claim brought by Newton's publishers Universal Music, VELVET REVOLVER has now signed over 20% of all royalties on the record since its release on the album in 2004 and as a U.S. single in 2005. The claim alleged that the melody and core guitar riff from the VELVET REVOLVER track was an unmistakable copy of Newton's track "Cyber Babe", which was released in 1999 on the album "Real World" by Newton's former band DIRTY DEEDS. The agreement between the parties covers all commercial uses of the record including live performances and video plays as well as digital and physical album and single sales worldwide.

DIRTY DEEDS - "Cyber Babe": Audio
VELVET REVOLVER - "Dirty Little Thing": Audio

"It was all a bit surreal, really," stated Tony Newton. "A couple of years back, a mate of mine in L.A. called me to say he'd heard what he thought was my song on the radio, and that he had been a bit shocked when he realized it was VELVET REVOLVER. When I checked it out myself, I genuinely couldn't believe it, because it wasn't as if it was close... it was basically the same riff. Anyway, I called my publishers to check whether they knew anything ? which, of course, they didn't ? and then basically left it with them. I never really expected to hear any more about it and was as surprised as anyone when I heard that Universal had settled with VELVET REVOLVER."

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=103190

[Smoking Guns]

I am having a hard time hearing the audio of Dirty Deeds song Cyber Baby.  From the posts it sounds nothing like Dirty Lil Thing.

[IzzyDutch]

That riff sounds similar, same as the drum stop-and-go stuff after it. But I doubt it's been intentional.. there are tons of songs out there similar.

DLT also has credits by Keith Nelson from Buckcherry, while Crazy Bitch has been worked on by the guys from VR when they were all jamming together in 2002.

[jarmo]

And "Do It For The Kids" apparently was Izzy's idea....



/jarmo

[LunsJail]

And "Do It For The Kids" apparently was Izzy's idea....



/jarmo

Where did you hear that?

[jarmo]

http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/board/index.php?topic=51267.msg1065665#msg1065665




/jarmo

[IzzyDutch]

Izzy brought a riff/song to the Project when jamming with them in 2002, they used it for Do It For The Kids (which at first according to Slash was slower and had a middle eastern vibe) and then Izzy brought the same to his own band and it became 'Bomb' on Like A Dog.  But this sitation is a bit different then with Dirty Little Thing.

I just downloaded the full mp3 version of Cyberbabe, it sounds less the same then I originally thought after hearing the Amazone sample. The riff is lightly different and everything else in the song besides the riff is completely different. Maybe one of the guys heard it back then '99 and subconsiously remembered this piece? The riff is not 100% the same but the drum arrangement is the same also after the riff, I don't think this is merely a coincident, but I don't think it's intentional either.

[LunsJail]

http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/board/index.php?topic=51267.msg1065665#msg1065665




/jarmo

Wow, wonder what Izzy thought of that.

[IzzyDutch]

http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/board/index.php?topic=51267.msg1065665#msg1065665

/jarmo

Wow, wonder what Izzy thought of that.

Are you serieus? Izzy doesn't give a shit about that.. they are his friends.

[Grouse]

That Toney Newton character must've been running low on money or something, just pathetic really.

[Jim Bob]

I KNEW slash was a plager! 

[chineseblues]

That Toney Newton character must've been running low on money or something, just pathetic really.

Pathetic that he didn't want to let someone away with ripping off something he wrote? Yeah thats really pathetic 

[FunkyMonkey]

From Rolling Stone...

Velvet Revolver Settle Plagiarism Case, Pay Another Band?s Bassist Lead Singer-Worthy Money

8/20/08

We don?t know who the next singer of Velvet Revolver will be, but he or she may want to avoid putting the Contraband song ?Pretty Little Thing? on future set lists. The band has reportedly settled a plagiarism case with U.K. rocker Tony Newton, bassist of the band Voodoo Six, that alleged VR stole the riff and melody of ?Dirty Little Thing? from Newton?s own ?Cyber Babe,? which he wrote for his previous band Dirty Deeds.

?A couple of years back, a mate of mine in L.A. called me to say he?d heard what he thought was my song on the radio, and that he had been a bit shocked when he realized it was Velvet Revolver,? says Newton. ?When I checked it out myself, I genuinely couldn?t believe it, because it wasn?t as if it was close? it was basically the same riff. Anyway, I called my publishers to check whether they knew anything ? which, of course, they didn?t ? and then basically left it with them. I never really expected to hear any more about it and was as surprised as anyone when I heard that Universal had settled with Velvet Revolver.?

And what a settlement it was: Newton will receive 20 percent of all royalties from Contraband and the single dating back to 2004, plus all future royalties on the song from commercial uses, live performances, digital sales, etc. He?s essentially being paid like he?s a member of the band, even though he never picked up an instrument for them.

[Smoking Guns]

Can someone post the link?  its a pretty basic riff any of us could have played many times by accident.

[AdZ]

Can someone post the link?  its a pretty basic riff any of us could have played many times by accident.

Hey! Don't feel bad!


Slash loves stealing!


Didn't you read his book?

[Jizzo]

20 percent of the whole album? that can't be right.

its only 1 of 13 songs

[Jim Bob]

20 percent of the whole album? that can't be right.

its only 1 of 13 songs

thats the price of  cheating.

[FunkyMonkey]

I wonder if they will make any kind of statement...although I don't know what they would say.  Some are starting to have a little fun with this...

From musicradar.com

For Newton, it's a pretty sweet settlement: He will receive 20 percent of all royalties from the first Velvet Revolver album, Contraband, and the single dating back to 2004, plus all future royalties on the song from commercial uses, live performances, digital sales, etc.

With this in mind, the staff of MusicRadar has a compilation of tunes it wishes to send Velvet Revolver. Who knows? There might be something on it they might like.

[Jizzo]

20 percent of the whole album? that can't be right.

its only 1 of 13 songs

thats the price of  cheating.

its gotta be a mistake.

20 percent of royalties on the song, maybe

[*Timothy*]

well they got their hand caught in the cookie jar. they should pay. I don't know about the whole 20 %for the album that seem a little high to me.