Pearl Jam shuts down tribute act Pearl Jamm

[uk_lefty 1,377]

https://loudwire.com/pearl-jam-cease-and-desist-tribute-band-pearl-jamm/

Interesting article. Odd timing too. 

Got to admit though, they could have had a better tribute act name. Like "the Jeremy's", "Pearl Marmalade" or something. Me and my mates used to laugh at the shoddy tribute band names that were basically crude enough to be things like: "Not Queen" etc, but I don't think they got cease and desist letters! 

Edited January 19 by uk_lefty

[Lozz196 5,452]

I think the letter from them to Pearl Jam was a very classy act, no moaning whinging or insults at all.

[Jus Lukin 3,130]

But also ignores that their band name is indistinguishable in spoken word from Pearl Jam's registered trademark. It also suggests that rather than damage Pearl Jam, Pearl Jamm has done the exact opposite- insinuating that Pearl Jam are better off thanks to Pearl Jamm.

I don't doubt that Pearl Jamm and countless other tributes originate in a truly heartfelt love of the original artist, but these guys seem a touch clueless, and don't understand that they are right on the fine line between imitation being the greatest form of flattery, and counterfeiting being a crime.

Pearl Jam may or may not be a lovely bunch of guys, but they are a global brand, and for Pearl Jamm to suggest that a matey phone call would have been the appropriate way to deal with the matter is pretty arrogant, even if they did word it softly.

Call it whatever you like, but they were basically trading playing Pearl Jam's songs, under Pearl Jam's name. You can't sail that close to the wind without consequence.

Edited January 19 by Jus Lukin

[Steve Browning 1,756]

I have to say I thought it was akin to a fly complaining to the hippo when the hippo waggled its ear to dislodge it.

[EBS_freak 4,927]

Is this down to Pearl Jam though? Or the surrounding suits?

EDIT: looking at this tribute band, they had it coming I'm afraid (imho and all that), they've pretty much infringed everything.

Edited January 19 by EBS_freak

[charlietuna 12]

Looks like they got Pearl Necklaced.

[chris_b 4,340]

I guess it'll be the suits throwing the legal paper around, but if you lack the brain power to come up with a unique name and instead chose a name that is the exactly same as the original when spoken, you deserve all the trouble you get.

[EBS_freak 4,927]

Their T-Shirt is pretty blatant too.

[Monkey Steve 1,475]

yeah, that's not subtle

[Jus Lukin 3,130]

4 minutes ago, EBS_freak said:

Their T-Shirt is pretty blatant too.

Ah, there's the context. That is not a tribute...

[EBS_freak 4,927]

1 hour ago, Lozz196 said:

I think the letter from them to Pearl Jam was a very classy act, no moaning whinging or insults at all.

In retrospect and doing some further reading and checking out their website and social media, I disagree.

They should be gearing up to get sued.

[Nail Soup 1,438]

Then there is this band:

[NickD 935]

That T-Shirt is just straight up counterfeit.

[EBS_freak 4,927]

3 minutes ago, Nail Soup said:

Then there is this band:

I don't think they exist any more, not since John Southorn's passing 

[mr4stringz 221]

No sympathy for them tbh and pleading innocence/for clemency but knocking out the merch that they are etc doesn’t fly.

I was going to write a comment full of bad PJ puns in order to say the above but decided I’m a better man than that...

[EBS_freak 4,927]

10 minutes ago, mr4stringz said:

but decided I’m a better man than that...

And there it is, off he goes.

[EBS_freak 4,927]

Looks like somebody (Pearl Jem) may have had a similar letter but didn't cry to the media about it. Doesn't look like they ripped off on the merch front either.

https://www.facebook.com/239070523876/posts/10158124729938877/

[Lozz196 5,452]

Thing is, I wonder how many sales Pearl Jam have made due to Pearl Jamm? As in, stray punters who see said Pearl Jamm, realise they like the music so go and buy Pearl Jams CDs & tee shirts etc. Not enough to make them significantly richer of course, but I can’t see people who truly like the real band only buying the tribute stuff.

[Cat Burrito 1,566]

I play in a Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute (more a bunch of mates having a laugh) called Creedence Clearwater Revival Revival. Bring it on!

[EBS_freak 4,927]

On 19/01/2021 at 15:36, Lozz196 said:

Thing is, I wonder how many sales Pearl Jam have made due to Pearl Jamm? As in, stray punters who see said Pearl Jamm, realise they like the music so go and buy Pearl Jams CDs & tee shirts etc. Not enough to make them significantly richer of course, but I can’t see people who truly like the real band only buying the tribute stuff.

Now ask Pearl Jamm how much money that they have made off the back of Pearl Jam's music, image, logos, copyright infringement... I would wager it's relatively (very much) a one way street.

Edited January 20 by EBS_freak

[Ricky Rioli 433]

I cant remember when or where I read this, so I might well be spouting utter balls, but I think if you don't bother to defend your trademarks etc from being used by one person then it's open season on them.

Edited January 19 by Ricky Rioli

[cetera 1,599]

In my 25 years as a founding member/bassist in KISS tribute 'Dressed To Kill' we were more than aware of the issues here.

It was a mutual respect arrangement. We paid tribute to KISS, appeared at KISS product launches and helped promote the band when their UK/European record & PR companies were doing sod all, kept their name alive and spread the word....

We wore the outfits, played the iconic instruments and had the famous lit logo, drumhead logos, pyro, blood spitting, fire breathing etc.... BUT.... our name was sufficiently different (an 'album name' and a play on our 'look') and we NEVER sold any merchandise with the KISS logo or make-up prominently displayed. We ALWAYS made it clear that we were a KISS tribute.... and always supplied our set lists to PRS for the original artist to get fair payment for our live performances.

As a result, they treated us fairly, always recognised us at gigs/events and even went as far as to keep a 'secret eye' on anything we were doing song/arrangement-wise. Really.....!! We had it on good authority that they copied a breakdown I wrote into the live version of 'God Gave Rock n Roll To You'.... and their Manager Doc McGhee also asked my direct opinion on adding Beth back into the live set....based on the perceived popularity of the song in our shows....

 

[hiram.k.hackenbacker 3,967]

6 minutes ago, cetera said:

In my 25 years as a founding member/bassist in KISS tribute 'Dressed To Kill' we were more than aware of the issues here.

It was a mutual respect arrangement. We paid tribute to KISS, appeared at KISS product launches and helped promote the band when their UK/European record & PR companies were doing sod all, kept their name alive and spread the word....

We wore the outfits, played the iconic instruments and had the famous lit logo, drumhead logos, pyro, blood spitting, fire breathing etc.... BUT.... our name was sufficiently different (an 'album name' and a play on our 'look') and we NEVER sold any merchandise with the KISS logo or make-up prominently displayed. We ALWAYS made it clear that we were a KISS tribute.... and always supplied our set lists to PRS for the original artist to get fair payment for our live performances.

As a result, they treated us fairly, always recognised us at gigs/events and even went as far as to keep a 'secret eye' on anything we were doing song/arrangement-wise. Really.....!! We had it on good authority that they copied a breakdown I wrote into the live version of 'God Gave Rock n Roll To You'.... and their Manager Doc McGhee also asked my direct opinion on adding Beth back into the live set....based on the perceived popularity of the song in our shows....

Indeed, that's the way to do it. We've not sold a penny's worth of merchandise and don't intend to either. Probably slightly different for us and our original artist is dead, but you still have to be sensible.

[Cato 2,857]

Pearl Jam don't like their fans getting ripped off.

Their one band war against Ticket Master in the 90s started over a 1$ admin fee that Ticket Master wanted to charge people for tickets for a free concert that Pearl Jam were putting on and rapidly escalated to Pearl Jam boycotting every Ticket Master associated venue in the US and testifying before congress over Ticket Master's monopoly.

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/pearl-jam-ticketmaster-1995-boycott-booking-fees-gigs-ticket-prices-a8989516.html

Edited January 19 by Cato

[EBS_freak 4,927]

15 minutes ago, cetera said:

In my 25 years as a founding member/bassist in KISS tribute 'Dressed To Kill' we were more than aware of the issues here.

It was a mutual respect arrangement. We paid tribute to KISS, appeared at KISS product launches and helped promote the band when their UK/European record & PR companies were doing sod all, kept their name alive and spread the word....

We wore the outfits, played the iconic instruments and had the famous lit logo, drumhead logos, pyro, blood spitting, fire breathing etc.... BUT.... our name was sufficiently different (an 'album name' and a play on our 'look') and we NEVER sold any merchandise with the KISS logo or make-up prominently displayed. We ALWAYS made it clear that we were a KISS tribute.... and always supplied our set lists to PRS for the original artist to get fair payment for our live performances.

As a result, they treated us fairly, always recognised us at gigs/events and even went as far as to keep a 'secret eye' on anything we were doing song/arrangement-wise. Really.....!! We had it on good authority that they copied a breakdown I wrote into the live version of 'God Gave Rock n Roll To You'.... and their Manager Doc McGhee also asked my direct opinion on adding Beth back into the live set....based on the perceived popularity of the song in our shows....

 

Indeed. It's about being decent.