Pizza Hut, Home Depot deny ripping off The Black Keys' music in ads

By Joe Bosso
published

Band is suing both companies for illegal use of elements of Lonely Boy, Gold On The Ceiling

Black Keys members Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach are none too pleased with Pizza Hut and The Home Depot
Black Keys members Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach are none too pleased with Pizza Hut and The Home Depot (Image credit: Toni Francois/The Hell Gate/Corbis)

Last June, The Black Keys filed suit against Pizza Hut and The Home Depot, claiming that the companies used elements of the band's music in commercials to sell Cheesy Bites and power tools, respectively.

Attorneys for both companies fired back this week, denying the band's allegations in court documents filed in Los Angeles. In addition, each company is asking that The Black Keys pay their attorneys' fees should they win the case.

At issue are The Black Keys songs Gold On The Ceiling, which the band alleges Pizza Hut used elements of in their ad (compare videos above and below), and Lonely Guy, which the group says The Home Depot used elements of for their Ryobi One Plus System ad (that TV spot on YouTube is listed as private).

So while we can't present you with the Lonely Guy/Home Depot comparison, what do you think of the Gold On The Ceiling/Pizza Hut connection? Do The Black Keys have a case?

Joe Bosso
Joe Bosso

Joe is a freelance journalist who has, over the past few decades, interviewed hundreds of guitarists for Guitar World, Guitar Player, MusicRadar and Classic Rock. He is also a former editor of Guitar World, contributing writer for Guitar Aficionado and VP of A&R for Island Records. He’s an enthusiastic guitarist, but he’s nowhere near the likes of the people he interviews. Surprisingly, his skills are more suited to the drums. If you need a drummer for your Beatles tribute band, look him up.