Coldplay Might Get Served More Than Drinks at Grammys
- Posted on Feb 4th 2009 12:00PM by Marc Schneider
- Comments (17)
When Chris Martin and his Coldplay mates show up at the Grammys this weekend, they'll have fiercer predators to contend with than the normal cadre of paparazzi: process servers.Back in December, guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the British hitmakers, claiming they lifted a melody line from one of his songs for their Grammy-nominated hit 'Viva La Vida.' Satriani's attorney Howard King tells Fox News that the band has so far dodged getting served the legal papers, and that a big awards show like the Grammys seems like a perfect place to corner Martin and Co.
The 52-year-old 'Surfing With the Alien' shredder is reportedly seeking damages and "any and all profits" from the group for allegedly plagiarizing his 2004 instrumental 'If I Could Fly.' Coldplay has denied stealing the riff, calling the similarities in the songs "entirely coincidental." They have been adamant, but also polite, about their stand on the issue. "Joe Satriani is a great musician, but he did not write the song 'Viva La Vida,'" they said in a statement in December.
Satriani's lawyer even promises to have camera crews at the event on Sunday to videotape the transaction. Coldplay are up for seven nominations at this year's show, including the coveted Record of the Year for, you guessed it, 'Viva La Vida.' To top it off, they're also scheduled to perform live. The 51st Grammy Awards air February 8th on CBS.





Reader Comments(1 of 1)
thomasat 2-04-2009
Robbery is robbery... I hope Satriani gets everything and more from these thieves.
Robertat 2-04-2009
Hmmm, I don't even like the song.
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toeat 2-04-2009
Satriani's case is ridiculous. Tons of songs use this melody, some that are decades older. You can hear several examples here:
http://theopenend.com/2009/01/31/coldplay-vs-joe-satriani-who-owns-the-descending-melody/
janisat 2-04-2009
....by all means, consider them quilty first.
Hope you are never in their place.
dsmith8463at 2-04-2009
Go Get 'em Joe!
Hodat 2-04-2009
Wow.... I used to have Respect for Joe Satriani. Now I see that he is a crybaby. Screw him ! He shouldn't worry because if you listen to cold play you are gay.
sfkendollat 2-04-2009
Just another example of gays having great taste!
savgmouseat 2-04-2009
So much drama over something so terrible. This is a pretty crappy song in the first place, Coldplay sucks so hard I wouldn't have believed it possible. Coldplay is just a group that people who don't have their own taste or opinion say they like because they want others to think they are 'hip' or something.
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parkergal268at 2-04-2009
I happen to like Coldplay, and hope that Satriani dies for doing this.
Coldplay didn't do anything wrong! Many people steal songs all of the time, and this time isn't one of them. I don't believe that the two even sound the same. Satriani is just a big crybaby because no one gives a crap about him and his sucky music
GO COLDPLAY!!!
Richieat 6-08-2009
coldplay sounds like a bunch of whiny brit posers love,no wonder you'd defend them! Plagiarism is plagiarism! And ripping off a REAL musician to cater to you idiots is what bands like coldplay do. Get over it,and support MUSICIANS who have real talent for a change.I hope he gets them for everything they've 'earned'!
HELLO PATat 2-05-2009
I have listened to both songs.Can you hear how they sould alike?I sure can.Do i think Coldplay stole the song(not a coldplay fan,enjoy joes screaming ars guitars though)No.If anybody should sue them, it should be U2, cause they sound like a second rate version of them.
angelsandpixiesat 2-05-2009
What? Why would this guy serve papers on Coldplay at the grammies?
To exploit his own cause. Coldplay is fabulous, their music is excellent and Chris Martin is a genius. So, some riff is similar, is this reason to
sue? If they really did take this guys riff and make a song from it, I guess give him some money and settle it once and for all. One of my favorite all time songs is Coldplays CLOCKS. Timeless alt rock. I love Coldplay. Great band.
fursealclubberat 2-05-2009
Coldplay is extremely bland, very generic sounding. Satriani is a wiz on the guitar, but it's all fast, repetitive scales, very little feeling.
If I were a judge, I'd ban both parties from the airwaves, and have them learn how to write music with
feeling.
The comparison of Satriani's work to Coldplay is very evident, but there are also tunes from a couple decades ago that have the same melody. It's almost as if Satriani's work is like 12 bar blues, all bands use it. I don't think Coldplay should get off without paying a hefty fine.
kelleyat 2-05-2009
If its true, I hope Joe is successful. I think COLDPLAY is the most boring band ever. Chris Martin is a legend in his own mind! Boring middle of the road lullabies. Do people really listen to this crap? And they're up for awards? Give me a break...
kelleyat 2-05-2009
Boring & drab..Terrible lyrics and melodies. These days, I guess mainstream music is what sells. I know Walmart and Kmart sell alot of this drivel.