| qz08927 03.09.2012 22:15 |
One member of Super tramp is in a legal dispute after the other three members worked with eagle rock to release a long awaited never seen before Super tramp concert form 1979 in Paris behind his back AND DIDN'T GIVE HIM ANY CREDITS EVEN THOUGH HE WROTE SONGS. This reminded me of Queen, thank goodness they all share the pie and creative control, or you could imagine the same thing happening. Note: Since posting this review Roger Hodgson has issued the following statement: "Dear friends and fans, Many of you have asked me about the status of the Paris DVD, so I wanted to write to you directly with the latest news. Unfortunately many laws, both legal and moral, were broken and the Paris DVD is now about to be put out using illegal and unethical methods. It is now in the hands of attorneys to resolve the legal dispute between the publishing company and the labels. I don't know which side will win, yet what I've learned in the music business, it's usually whichever attorneys have the most funding, not necessarily the ones who are in the right. What Eagle Rock and John, Bob and Dougie (who are calling themselves "the Supertramp Partnership") are trying to do is to take away our songwriters rights. Legally, a label needs songwriters' and publisher's approval to put this type of product out and instead they are twisting some kind of legal loophole trying to say they don't need the required licenses. Songwriters are given legal rights and yet in the industry, they are getting ripped off in all kinds of ways and if this goes through, it is going to make things even more difficult for songwriters. What they are trying to do in claiming they can take away the songwriters and publishing rights could make it possible for other labels to do this to other songwriters in the future. An attorney friend of mine who has been in the music industry 40 years who is also a publisher and has worked a lot with the Beatles catalog said he has never heard of anyone doing this in the music business - for a label to try to put out a DVD without the publishing company and songwriter's approval. This whole issue is much bigger than this one DVD. They are not only trying to take away rights from Rick and myself as songwriters, they are affecting the rights of songwriters all over the world with what they are trying to do. Back in the spring and summer of 2011, I was working with the band and Eagle in a spirit of cooperation to release the Paris DVD. I spent many, many hours reviewing and giving artistic feedback and edits - and this was only at the very beginning of putting together the DVD. There were many things I compromised on, yet we told them I would give my songwriters approval and other rights that I have as a founding member of Supertramp as long as they incorporated the minimal things I asked for - and that they agreed to in writing and then I heard nothing else about it. Last summer we were told that the DVD was shelved because of whatever quality issues Rick had with it, he did not approve of the release. And we were told Eagle would not release the DVD until they got approval from the publishing company, who represent the songwriters - so I thought the project was dead. Then a few weeks ago I found out the band guys had been working on the DVD all this time secretly behind my back, completely violating the spirit of cooperation I had been in with them up until then. The only reason I even received a copy was because a fan let me know it was coming out and I asked Eagle to send me one, which I received just a few days ago - after it has already been shipped to distributors. I was shocked receiving the DVD completely manufactured and shrink wrapped before I'd even seen it! There is a whole montage of pictures, bonus materials and liner notes which I have never seen and have never been given the opportunity to comment on. They are putting out a product that is supposed to be representing all five of us, and it's not. It is only representing the three of them. Bob, John and Dougie are representing themselves to Eagle as the 'Supertramp partnership' and the contract is just between the three of them and Eagle. Whether you are a Rick fan or a Roger fan or both, I feel all fans would agree that it's not right for the three non-songwriters to control the Supertramp catalog, claiming I have no artistic voice, no input, no say at all in the creation of any Supertramp products, and yet they want to use my performances, my image and likeness and my songs. To have received this DVD all packaged at the very last minute feels very out of integrity. They have not kept their agreements and have not honored my artistic, creative, technical or editorial inputs at all. For example, I wanted the songs to have correct writer's credit and for it to be delineated who wrote which songs. And instead they have gone so far as to completely bury who the songwriters are from the public. There is no credit being given to the songwriters or the publishers on the packaging or the film yet credit is being given to the merchandisers, the trucking company and who dressed up in a monkey suit. They don't list the songwriters at all, giving the illusion to the public that Supertramp wrote the songs, which is not true at all. And they know how important it has been to me as a songwriter to have my songs delineated. That is the only thing that I had to help me continue on with my career beyond Supertramp. I know the three of them are going to say they are doing it for the fans, but that is not what is really going on. If they were really thinking about the fans, they would know that fans would want me to have input on the DVD. This isn't about the fans or about the music. This DVD is about a power play, it's about money, control, envy and underhanded music business tactics and I want nothing to do with it. For me I truly was getting involved because so many of you have said you wanted a DVD from one of the concerts when I was with the band. And I hope you can understand that while I always wanted something like this out there, I cannot approve of a product that is created with this kind of manipulation and deceit because I believe that the energy and where you come from when you create something is very important. The other reason I wanted to work on the DVD was to ensure that all five members could share their experiences from that tour, and I wanted to make sure it would be the best quality product possible. Unfortunately, I also cannot endorse the DVD because of its technical shortcomings, editorial inaccuracies and poor quality. So I don't want any fans out there to be fooled, and for anyone who decides to buy the DVD, I wanted you to know this DVD was created out of very questionable legal maneuvering. The band that you see playing on the DVD has not existed for 30 years. Now it's all about business and the business part of music can be ruthless and backstabbing, just as any other business can be. That is one of the reasons I left LA and wanted to get out of the music business all those years ago. It's not how I want to live my life and it's not why I do music. This is one of the reasons that I'm happier now than I ever have been touring the way I'm touring - not caught up in the music industry and all the ugly parts of the business. No record label owns me, no publisher owns me, no managers own me, no agents own me. I can stay true to myself and tour when I want, how I want. I can play to 3000 or 85,000 or anywhere in between - I'm ok not playing huge arenas anymore, it's about playing music to help make people happy, it doesn't matter what size the audience is. I became a musician when I was 12. It's what I love to do and it's what I'm good at. And I will continue for as long as I can travelling around the world doing concerts. For me, one of the most important things as an artist is to play music for the art, for the magic that's possible with musi |
| Saint Jiub 03.09.2012 22:45 |
I wish someone could sneak behind Brian's back and release archive material before I die. |
| Micrówave 04.09.2012 10:56 |
The response from Eagle Rock & Supertramp Partnership:
To whom it may concern, The Supertramp Partnership owns the film of their 1979 Paris concert. It has entered into a contract with Eagle Rock Entertainment to release the dvd and blu ray of the concert. Eagle has been granted the appropriate licence from MCPS* to release this product. At this time there are no plans to release in USA and Canada, nor for a theatrical release as we have not received an approved synch licence from the two songwriters. Roger Hodgson has been aware of the contract with Eagle. He has been sent the edits and sound mixes of the film throughout the editing and mixing process up to and including the final edit. At no time has he expressed any grievances with the edit or the sound mix. He has seen and approved the front cover artwork. If there are issues regarding the Supertramp approved photos or text he should specify where the problems lie and Eagle and the Supertramp partnership will address them. The Supertramp partnership and Eagle are proud to present this film of the band at the height of their career. The only sad thing is that it is not the full concert and doesn't include more of Rick Davies as there is no visual recording of five of the songs, four of which are Rick's and one of Roger's. We have tried to compensate for this by including them as bonus material supported by visual images. We have a great film here with superb sound. It's Supertramp live in 1979, no more no less. The Supertramp Partnership and Eagle Rock Entertainment. |
| qz08927 06.09.2012 01:39 |
If there are issues regarding the Supertramp approved photos or text he should specify where the problems lie and Eagle and the Supertramp partnership will address them. HE HAS THERE IS NO SONG WRITING CREDITS |