Black Crowes in Staredown w/Gretchen Wilson

Warning: parts of this news item weren’t just plagiarized, they were copied verbatim!

By Fred Mills

Ever diligent about how they are portrayed in the press (you all remember the big flap over the journalist faking the CD review, right?), the Black Crowes, currently on tour promoting their album Warpaint, have now turned their gaze at a fellow artist. Apparently the band and their legal counsel have issued notices of copyright infringement against country artist Gretchen Wilson, Turner Network Television (TNT), Wilson's record label Sony BMG and Wilson's publisher, J Money Music.

According to the Crowes’ handlers, in a press released titled “Jealous (and used) Again”:

The copyright infringement notices allege that Gretchen Wilson and her songwriters have  wrongfully exploited Chris and Rich Robinson's original composition of their hit song "Jealous Again" for her song entitled "Work Hard Play Harder". TNT has further exploited the use of the composition by using Wilson's song in video advertisement and promotion for the show "Saving Grace". "Jealous Again" was the lead single released in 1991 on The Black Crowes multi platinum debut album "Shake Your Money Maker". 

Cutting through the legalese, “wrongfully exploited” translates as “plagiarized,” “lifted parts of it” or simply “ripped it off like a dirty, thieving bitch.”

In a statement, band manager Pete Angelus observed, "We find the musical verses of Wilson's song to be such an obvious example of copyright infringement that I expect all parties to reach a relatively quick resolution to avoid litigation."

Hey, anything to keep the lawyers happy!

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