Why are Joan Jett and Cherie Currie suing Main Man records over a Runaways tribute album slated for release later this month? According to Main Man’s site, portions of the proceeds of Take It or Leave It, which includes 2 cds full of prominent rockers covering Runaways classics, are going to the American Institute for Cancer Research in memory of Sandy West, former Runaways drummer, who lost her fight with cancer in 2006.
The suit, allegedly being filed by Joan’s longtime manager Kenny Laguna, seems strange, considering that Cheri actually sings on one of the tracks, and many of the pair’s friends play songs on the album, like Kathleen Hanna, Wild Flag, David Johansen, etc.
So what gives? I don’t know much about legal issues when it comes to song royalties, but since this is going to charity, it seems like folks ought to talk it out and reach an agreement. According to the Hollywood Reporter’s Esquire column in cases like these, “Typically, when cover songs are recorded, mechanical license royalty rates apply. No permission is required. However, in this unusual situation, Jett and Currie are claiming that the project is a violation of their likenesses, and that the record label is using their famous names to market the album.”
Likenesses? Huh? I don’t see any faces on this cover, so I’m calling bullshit on this lawsuit.
Below is a list of all the songs and performers, I hope this tribute album gets to see the light of day, looks awesome, doesn’t it?
Disc One:
THE DONNAS – Queens Of Noise
SHONEN KNIFE – Black Leather
THE BINGES – I Love Playin’ With Fire
BEBE BUELL BAND – Heartbeat
DEENA & THE LAUGHING BOYS – Lovers
FRANKENSTEIN 3000 – California Paradise
DELIRIUM TREMENS – Wasted
RICHIE SCARLET – Wild Thing
BLUE FOX – Neon Angels On The Road To Ruin
THE EASY OUTS featuring GAR FRANCIS – Is It Day Or Night
LAURA WARSHAUER – Little Lost Girls
WHITE FLAG – C’mon
CALI GIRAFFES – You’re Too Possessive
TARA ELLIOTT & THE RED VELVETS – You Drive Me Wild
PLANET SORROW – Thunder
ROBBIE RIST – Yesterday’s Kids
SERPENTEENS – Little Sister
ADOLESCENTS – School Days
BLUE FOX featuring SANDY WEST – Dirty Magazines
Disc Two:
THE DANDY WARHOLS – Cherry Bomb
RICHARD BARONE – Hollywood
CARE BEARS ON FIRE with EARL SLICK – Saturday Night Special
DERWOOD ANDREWS – Gotta Get Out Tonight
DAVID JOHANSEN – Blackmail
THE RIBEYE BROTHERS – Trash Can Murders
DIGGER PHELPS – Rock & Roll
TOILET BOYS – Born To Be Bad
THE SWALES – Midnight Music
FRANKENSTEIN 3000 featuring CHERIE CURRIE – American Nights
F-13 – I Wanna Be Where The Boys Are
THE STAY AT HOMES – Gettin’ Hot
KITTIE – Fantasies
STARZ – Waitin’ For The Night
JACK BRAG – Secrets
CLINICAL TRIALS – Don’t Go Away
KATHLEEN HANNA & PEACHES – Dead End Justice (produced by Ad Rock)
