Velvet Revolver pay Voodoo Six in plagiarism claim

Tony Newton, the bass player and chief songwriter in UK rock band Voodoo Six, has been awarded a share of Rock Titans Velvet Revolver¹s song ŒDirty Little Thing¹, which appeared on the band¹s debut album ŒContraband¹.

Following a claim brought by Newton¹s publishers Universal Music, Velvet Revolver have now signed over 20% of all royalties on the record since its release on the album in 2004 and as a US single in 2005. The claim alleged that the melody and core guitar riff from the Velvet Revolver track was an unmistakable copy of Newton¹s track ŒCyber Babe¹, which was released in 1999 on the album ŒReal World¹ by Newton¹s former band Dirty Deeds. The agreement between the parties covers all commercial uses of the record including live performances and video plays as well as digital and physical album and single sales worldwide.

³It was all a bit surreal really. A couple of years back a mate of mine in LA called me to say he¹d heard what he thought was my song on the radio, and that he had been a bit shocked when he realised it was Velvet Revolver. When I checked it out myself, I genuinely couldn¹t believe it, because it wasn¹t as if it was close... it was basically the same riff. Anyway, I called my publishers to check whether they knew anything - which of course they didn¹t
- and then basically left it with them. I never really expected to hear any more about it and was as surprised as anyone when I heard that Universal had settled with Velvet Revolver.² Commented Tony Newton.

Following the success of the band¹s debut album ŒFirst Hit For Free¹, which was released in March 2008, the band are gearing up to take their now legendary live show around the UK in support of digital single release ŒFeed My Soul¹ on 29 September 2008 on White Knuckle Records through Pinnacle. The tour is in association with Live Nation and is partnered by Planet Rock radio.

The full details are as follows:

SEPTEMBER:
Thurs 4 Limelight Crewe
Fri 5 Roadhouse Manchester
Sat 6 Junktion 7 Nottingham
Sun 7 Queens Hall Nuneaton
Thurs 11 Yardbirds Grimsby
Fri 12 Trillians Newcastle
Sun 14 Cathouse Glasgow
Thurs 18 Sawyers Kettering
Fri 19 Twist Colchester
Sat 20 Little Civic Wolverhampton
Sun 21 White Rabbit Plymouth
Mon 22 Barfly London
Wed 24 Junction York
Thurs 25 The Park Peterborough
Fri 26 The Rigger Stoke
Sat 27 Marlboro Club Ilfracombe
Mon 29 Freebutt Brighton

OCTOBER:
Wed 1 Joiners Southampton

For details of where to purchase tickets please visit www.voodoosix.com and www.livenation.co.uk.