Guitarist Satriani sues Coldplay

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Grammy nominees Coldplay have been sued by rock guitarist Joe Satriani, who claims the band's song Viva La Vida uses one of his riffs.

In court papers filed in Los Angeles on Thursday, he said the song used "substantial original portions" of his 2004 instrumental If I Could Fly.

Satriani, 52, wants a jury trial and is seeking damages and "any and all profits" for the alleged plagiarism.

Coldplay are shortlisted for seven Grammys, including song of the year.

Viva La Vida is credited to the band's four members - singer Chris Martin, bass player Guy Berryman, guitarist Johnny Buckland and drummer Will Champion.

The song's title was inspired by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.

It appeared on the album Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends - which was released in June and went to number one in 36 countries - and was also one of their hit singles.

Satriani's track appears on his album Is There Love in Space?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7766683.stm

So does he have a case? You decide ...

 
I listened to the two samples a couple of times, im trying to find a defence for Coldplay...but i cant.
surely sombody would have noticed this in the 10 months the track was knocking around in its various demo forms.
Sometimes you are bound to be messing around and think "yeah this sounds great" only to be reminded "thats a hendrix riff". maybe its an honest mistake and two people made up the same shit riff.
 
RedDevil#26655 said:
Satriani is a god.
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and do you think he has a case against Coldplay?

I was also suprised at how similar the two sound - often these type of cases are bought by unknown musicians who might just be after a bit of publicity but Satriani doesnt really need to do that.

I guess some people would argue that a lot of modern guitar based music is ripped off from something in the past - after all there are only so many different string combinations that can be used for riffs - but the question is where do you draw the line between blatant plagarism and innocent influences?
 
Rip off merchants. Quite amusing that, never did like that Chris Martin. He won't talk about Gwenyth Paltrow to anyone, he won't allow Gwenyth to speak to anyone about him. fecking ridiculous that is, imagine the scene:

Reporter: So Chris, great album but let's learn more about you.
Chris: Not much to tell really i just love making music to die to.
Reporter: Well you are married to one of the most glamarous women in Hollywood.
Chris: No comment.
Reporter: Pardon?
Chris: I'm not dicussing my personal life.
Reporter: But you just sold three hundred photos of your trip to Pontins to Who Gives A Shit magazine.
Chris: No i didn't.
Reporter: Look i've got the magazine here, you've even spoken to them about how great the Blue Coats were.
Chris: I'm not at liberty to discuss my personal life with you.
Reporter: Oh come on Chris, we all know you're married to Gwenyth just let me ask a few questions about how your life is different now than it was when you started.
Chris: I don't like this interview, i've had enough of this. Why can't we just accept that i'm a medium of music and that my personal life won't be spoken about unless you're going to pay me a ridiculous amount of money and take photos of us and our amazing house. *rips off mike and storms off in girly hissy fit*
Reporter: Tosser.
 
roodboy said:
and do you think he has a case against Coldplay?

I was also suprised at how similar the two sound - often these type of cases are bought by unknown musicians who might just be after a bit of publicity but Satriani doesnt really need to do that.

I guess some people would argue that a lot of modern guitar based music is ripped off from something in the past - after all there are only so many different string combinations that can be used for riffs - but the question is where do you draw the line between blatant plagarism and innocent influences?
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He's probably pissed off that his music is being associated with an average band like Coldplay.
 
roodboy said:
and do you think he has a case against Coldplay?

I was also suprised at how similar the two sound - often these type of cases are bought by unknown musicians who might just be after a bit of publicity but Satriani doesnt really need to do that.

I guess some people would argue that a lot of modern guitar based music is ripped off from something in the past - after all there are only so many different string combinations that can be used for riffs - but the question is where do you draw the line between blatant plagarism and innocent influences?
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Of course he has a case, though I think it was an honest coincidence....I don't see Coldplay as Joe Satriani listeners tbh.
 
Confirmed:

Coldplay are knock-off nigels!
 
Really like both satriani and Coldplay. Yeah there are similarities, but I'm sure that this is just a coincidence. it is not as if Coldplay aren't talented muscians. They really do not need to rip off someone else's riff.
 
Whilst we're on the subject of Satriani, any Steve Vai listeners here? fecking awesome guitarist, he was taught by Satriani aswell I think.
 
George the Giraffe said:
Really like both satriani and Coldplay. Yeah there are similarities, but I'm sure that this is just a coincidence. it is not as if Coldplay aren't talented muscians. They really do not need to rip off someone else's riff.
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Im not sure how exactly these musical legal cases work to be honest - does a judge actually listen to both pieces and decide? Although I suppose most are probably settled out of court anyway

I doubt anyone thinks Chris Martin was sat around one day listening to Satriani and thought to himself 'that's fecking good that, Im going to copy it' but at the same time, there are blatant similarities so Satriani is probably entitled to royalties or something
 
Stevie Vai was taught by Satriani? I never knew that, fecking awesome.

Speaking of great guitarists, G3 are awesome. Satriani, Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen. Take a bow.
 
There has to be a certain percentage of the chord progression and melody to be judged as a theft. Don't know how many, some where above 90% I think.
 
Xander45 said:
Stevie Vai was taught by Satriani? I never knew that, fecking awesome.

Speaking of great guitarists, G3 are awesome. Satriani, Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen. Take a bow.
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Yup, from wiki:

"In 1974, Vai took guitar lessons from guitarist Joe Satriani, and played in numerous local bands such as a band named "The Steve Vais"."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Vai
 
mehro said:
He's probably pissed off that his music is being associated with an average band like Coldplay.
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I wouldnt be surprised if that was the case
It would be the only reason I would do the same thing satriani is doing
and if that is the reason I hope coldplay get fecked in the ass by the lawsuit because they are a shit overrated barely average band
 
IBleedRed said:
I wouldnt be surprised if that was the case
It would be the only reason I would do the same thing satriani is doing
and if that is the reason I hope coldplay get fecked in the ass by the lawsuit because they are a shit overrated barely average band
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Just because you don't like them you cant say they are shit. I don't like Boyzone but I can appreciate that they sing very good pop songs and Barlow is a very talented writer.
 
George the Giraffe said:
Really like both satriani and Coldplay. Yeah there are similarities, but I'm sure that this is just a coincidence. it is not as if Coldplay aren't talented muscians. They really do not need to rip off someone else's riff.
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Well, they've done it before. "Talk" features a riff lifted wholesale from "Computer Love". Although I believe they got permission from Kraftwerk to do so.
 
Can't see Satriani winning the case...it's not exactly an unusual chord progression. Probably won't go to court.
 
MikeUpNorth said:
Can't see Satriani winning the case...it's not exactly an unusual chord progression. Probably won't go to court.
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Hmm I think he does have a case, plus we all know Coldplay is a rip off and I believe their video of violet hill was a rip off of some Radiohead video but I can't confirm that since I can't remember which video it was or song.

It's a pity since I liked the concept of the new album until I found that shit about them ripping off master Satriani, they can feck off.
 
Dr. Dwayne said:
:lol:

exactly. go satch, feck off coldgay.
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I like coldplay but Satriani is god. Well a guitar god, but I worship at his altar so to speak.

Coldplay = rip of merchants eh....never thought I'd see that.

Innocent until proven guilty.
 
George the Giraffe said:
You're an idiot. Their last album went *x platinum selling over 2.5 million copies. Anyone with a brain can see that they do good pop songs.
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Popular does not equal good.

150px-Crazy_Frog_-_Crazy_Frog_Presents_Crazy_Hits_CD_cover.jpg
 
George the Giraffe said:
There is a slight difference between Crazy frog and Take that. And 2.5 million sales and 100,000 sales.
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So what you're saying is basically that if you were given an unreleased track by some band, you would be completely unable to form an opinion on its quality until you had studied its performance in the charts or asked a representative sample of the population whether they would've bought the single if it were available?

(And also that Barlow would have been a shit songwriter if he had lived three hundred years ago and published the same songs to no acclaim whatsoever?)
 
It's very similar, but it is NOT the same, he has no case, yet will probably get a couple hondo k in an out of court settlement
 
That chord sequence is very generic and basic. Could easily both have come up with it having never heard each other's song.
 
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