Legal

Poison accused of infringement in 1980s songs

By | Published on Monday 24 October 2011

Bret Michaels

Bret Michaels, his band Poison and their most common label partner EMI have all been sued over allegations the glam metallers stole some of the songs that appeared on their debut album ‘Look What The Cat Dragged In’, released way back in 1986.

Billy McCarthy and James Stonich, of an early 80s US band called Kid Rocker, are actually claiming that some of their songs were incorporated into tracks on the multi-platinum selling album. Their lawsuit, filed at an Illinois court last week, claims that Poison’s guitarist CC DeVille auditioned for their band in 1984 and was given a number of Kid Rocker’s studio tapes. When DeVille subsequently joined Poison, they claim, sections of their songs were lifted.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the plaintiffs are looking for the profits from the songs in question, which include ‘Talk Dirty To Me’ and ‘I Won’t Forget You’, statutory damages and an injunction stopping Michaels and Poison from performing the songs in the future. What isn’t clear is how the band will justify waiting 25 years to pursue this action.

Team Poison are yet to respond.



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