Stolen riffs - acts that should have sued.

[Aural Scripture]

In a recent court ruling, Australian band Men at work were deemed to have copied a flute melody from an old Girl guides song and used it in their worldwide hit 'Down Under.' The group can now expect to fork out a substantial amount of cash in unpaid royalties.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8499973.stm

They're not the first band to be accused of plagiarism and certainly won't be the last. With that in mind, any acts over the years in your opinion who would've had a case for taking legal action regarding riffs which sounded similar to their own?

[wanderlust]

The men at work case is very petty to say the least. There are far more acts who are guilty at ripping off other peoples melodies and songs Oasis being the biggest villains.

[theraven1979]

What's the song Nuclear Device rips on the intro? Old Aussie standard.

Jim

[Aural Scripture]

What's the song Nuclear Device rips on the intro? Old Aussie standard.

Jim

Good point, Jim - forgot about that Waltzing Matilda intro.

[newyorkjohnny]

New York Dolls - Puss In Boots > Sex Pistols - Liar

The Jam - In The City > Sex Pistols - Holidays In The Sun

The Stranglers - No More Heroes > Elastica - Waking Up

Wire - I Am The Fly > Elastica - Line Up

Killing Joke - Eighties > Nirvana - Come As You Are

All pretty blatant IMO.

[mickinblack]

If memory serves me correct...
The stranglers golden brown is very alike a song from the 60s..
Carnt remember by who off hand but it was played to Hugh in a interview one time..
And Hugh was taken aback how much alike it was...
Carnt remember the band or the song ...

[theraven1979]

It's a jazz song - My memory is as bad as yours - I think the track is called "Take 5" or something

Jim

If memory serves me correct...
The stranglers golden brown is very alike a song from the 60s..
Carnt remember by who off hand but it was played to Hugh in a interview one time..
And Hugh was taken aback how much alike it was...
Carnt remember the band or the song ...

[Freddie Laker]

This is the one, I think...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwNrmYRiX_o

[steam_rigs]

personally i think "Come as you are" Nirvana sounds more like the Damneds "Life goes on" off strawberries

[APOLLO79]

So Stranglers fans/supporters....what's the song that Hugh admits is a 'lift' from a Cliff 'b' side that was the debut single 'GRIP'?'

[parasiteinblack]

So Stranglers fans/supporters....what's the song that Hugh admits is a 'lift' from a Cliff 'b' side that was the debut single 'GRIP'?'

"Dynamite" wasn't it?
Cliff rocks!.....

[droopsnoot]

There's another track that's quite similar to the Golden Brown melody. I thought it was a Doors track, but I'm not so sure. It was used as backing music towards the end of the recent BBC Heavy Metal documentary but I can't find it on iPlayer to post a link to see if anyone else hears it. I remember it being on the Anne Nightingale programme when she was on after the Top 40.