Coldplay call Satriani lawsuit "ridiculous"

Drummer Champion hits back on Grammys eve

Joe Bosso, Wed 4 Feb 2009, 3:41 pm UTC

Coldplay call Satriani lawsuit 'ridiculous'

Coldplay slam Satch's claims

On the eve of the Grammy Awards, things are heating up in the battle between Joe Satriani and Coldplay. After staying relatively mum on the subject, the band is now hitting back hard, calling the plagiariam lawsuit Satriani has filed against them "ridiculous" and "totally unfounded."

Guitarist Joe Satriani has claimed that the UK superstars copied "substantial, original portions" of his 2004 song If I Could Fly in their 2008 hit Viva La Vida. The latter song is the title track of Coldplay's most recent album. The band, song and album are nominated for multiple Grammys.

Drummer Champion pounds lawsuit

"It's so far-fetched and ridiculous...and annoying" Coldplay drummer Will Champion on the Satriani lawsuit

Coldplay's drummer Will Champion has gone on record with what are the most forceful and direct comments from the band regarding the lawsuit, calling it "a crazy thing."

Elaborating, Champion said, "It's so far-fetched and ridiculous, but that's about all we can say at the moment. We're waiting to see what's happening but it's frustrating and annoying...and totally unfounded."

Champion's assertions were made during an interview with the Australian site Confidential. Thus far, he's the only member of Coldplay to offer anything other than the official statement the band released late last year in which they claimed that any similarities between the two songs were "entirely coincidental."

What next?

Whether Champion has been advised to come out swinging or if Coldplay's legal team now puts a gag on him remains to be seen. But one thing's for sure: Sunday's Grammy Awards are bound to be most interesting.

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User comments (1)

JS1000

Thu 5 Feb 2009, 7:00 pm UTC

Satriani's Balad melodies to me are very eerie, bizarre, sad, weird. But I do buy EVERY satriani album. "If I could fly" is a Satriani song with a catchy melody, that you don't forget and I hate this d**m song. That is why when I heard on the radio this song playing (with words !), I recognized it and that it is coldplay playing. Immediately "If I could fly" would start playing in my head. And due to the subtle differences in the songs, the coldplay version was bothering me also. Both are eerie. I ALWAYS shut the radio off or switched the channel. I did not even bother to find out what the name of the coldplay song is. Now I see there is a lawsuit and I saw the name of the song. Went online and played it. It played on the radio so much, for a while I had thought they must have partnered with Satriani or this is a tribute or something. Because to me it is the same tune. And I just dislike it. Check out other Satriani balads that will depress you. "Ten words" (has a great catchy solo though), and imho most of Professor Satchafunkilus is also sad and eerie and similar in mood to the above. Coldplay may have just accidentally made this song. But the songs are just TOO SIMILAR. Whether Coldplay Plagarised this song or not. Whether it can be proven or not. It is a Satriani song. Some people talk about a Cat Stevens version. I have heard most of Steven's songs but have not come across one similar to the above as yet. Anyone, please, what is the Stevens song similar to the above? It's about time Satriani stood up for his music rights. His music has been copied a lot and used for TV stations and Radios for different programs from the USA to Timbuktu. Years ago similar issues were raised and Satriani downplayed the whole thing that He likes to focus on the Here and now and not what he has done in the past. Hopefully this can be sorted out quickly.

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