Lemonheads' Evan Dando Sues GM For Stealing Song

LOS ANGELES — Lemonheads founder Evan Dando (DAN'-doh) is suing General Motors, saying the auto giant copied one of his songs for an ad.

Dando sued GM and advertising and licensing firms in federal court Thursday, claiming the automaker violated his copyright on The Lemonheads song "It's a Shame About Ray." The complaint alleges the song was re-recorded and included in a 2008 TV campaign for Chevrolets and Buicks.

Dando seeks damages and a portion of profits from the campaign.

GM, which sought federal bankruptcy protection this week, and the licensing firm Asche & Spencer Music, Inc. did not immediately respond to calls Friday.

The Lemonheads had several hits in the 1990s, including "Into Your Arms" and a remake of "Mrs. Robinson."

Comments

[JLRoberson]

He's still alive?

[plaidlemur]

'Shame About Ray'? I would've thought GM would use 'Rudderless'.

[cnobody]

If I was a rubber check would you let me bounce
Up and down inside your bank account?
Would ya trust me, not to break you?
Im just tryin really hard to make you,
Notice me being around.

[owlsocks]

Super LOL!

[10SNE1]

Get in line with other creditors.­...good song though.

[davidwayneosedach]

It would be rich if he won and they coudln't pay because they were bankrupt.

[TheWanderer]

Do we really need to be told how to pronounce "Dando?"

[JohnDewey]

Excellent comment.

[MalMNN]

watch the GM commercials and decide -

http://www.musicnewsnet.com/2009/06/lemonheads-leader-sues-gm-.html

[countfloyd]

Congratulations Evan you are now the proud owner of GM! Good luck with that.

[brandnewstuff]

Ad agencies that STEAL_ $

[Mattie]

The remake of Mrs Robinson is fantastic, it's on my I Pod.

[owlsocks]

I love the Lemonheads­...only their earlier stuff like Mallo Cup and Sad Girl.

[OgenB]

They will NEVER win this lawsuit, if you listen to the song in the commercial and the song "It's a Shame About Ray" there is a similarity, but it is too slight for it to be won against a monster like GM.

[deckard70]

Yep, it sounds like the first few notes, but then it goes in a different direction. I'm a Lemonheads fan but it wasn't enough of a copy for me to notice the similarity until now, with this article asking people to notice.

The producers that rewrite popular music for ads know exactly how many notes they can borrow without being liable, and chances are they're well on the safe side of liability on this one.

[TheBaffler]

Horrible musician. Almost as a big a poseur as Trent Reznor and Thom Yorke.

[Pseudocide]

What've you got against Trent? he's probably one of, if not the most honest, decent, and talented people in the music industry alive today.

[TheBaffler]

He's an untalented narcissist.

[leftbehind2000]

Everyone is entitled to their preferences, no matter how ignorant yours are.

[argyle]

Lemonheads rock your lame ...

[yellowdoggie]

Maybe you can get a Pontiac out of it.

[gifu]

Great timing!