’50s and ’60s Bands Aim to Stop Copycats (Yahoo!)
Comments(0) The Hall of Fame is working with numerous states to pass “Truth in Music” legislation. It would allow state attorneys general to stop an impostor band performance with an injunction and seek civil penalties of up to $15,000 against impostor bands and those who promote them.
Earlier this week, Pennsylvania’s governor signed a bill into law. South Carolina and North Dakota now have comparable laws on the books. Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois, California, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Nevada and Missouri are debating the issue or are expected to take it up soon.
To be considered bona fide under the legislation, a band must include at least one member of the original recording group. Tribute bands would not be affected.
[I remember seeing The Diamonds and Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone live back home in Wisconsin a few years ago. I loved getting them to autograph CDs that are now proudly kept in my awesome library of ’50s-’60s music. I believe that the Diamonds have one or two of its original members still in the group and Herman’s Hermits is still all original. Although Napster’s original format for downloading music was illegal, I never imagined bad cover bands would steal music AND perform badly, which I think is a worse crime. BK]
category: Popular Culture