.

Coldplay Respond to Satriani Plagiarism Suit: "Just As Surprising To Us"

By 
December 9, 2008 3:03 PM ET

Coldplay have responded to guitarist Joe Satriani's copyright infringement lawsuit that claims the band stole the melody from his "If I Could Fly" for their own "Viva La Vida." "With the greatest possible respect to Joe Satriani, we have now unfortunately found it necessary to respond publicly to his allegations," the band posted on their official website, "If there are any similarities between our two pieces of music, they are entirely coincidental, and just as surprising to us as to him. Joe Satriani is a great musician, but he did not write the song Viva La Vida. We respectfully ask him to accept our assurances of this and wish him well with all future endeavours." No word whether Satriani will rescind his lawsuit, which asked for "any and all profits" the band earned off their Grammy-nominated song.

Related Stories:
• Joe Satriani Says Coldplay "Figured This Little Guitar Player Guy Will Leave Them Alone"
• Joe Satriani Sues Coldplay For “Viva La Vida” Plagiarism
• Lil Wayne, Coldplay Lead Nominations for 51st Annual Grammy Awards

 

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

prev
Death Cab For Cutie, Snoop Dogg, Ryan Adams Lead 2009 Langerado Festival Lineup
Music Main Next
Portraits of Kurt Cobain, John Lennon, Sex Pistols: "Live Forever: Elizabeth Peyton"

Picks From Around the Web


blog comments powered by Disqus
Daily Newsletter

Get the latest RS news in your inbox.

Sign up to receive the Rolling Stone newsletter and special offers from RS and its
marketing partners.

X

We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Rolling Stone and its partners. For more information please read our Privacy Policy.

Most Popular

Photos & Videos

Go To Content

Random Notes: Hottest Rock Pictures

Go To Content Play Video

Video: Dave Grohl Sits in With the Rolling Stones

Go To Content

Gallery: 'Born Sinner' Series by J. Cole

Best Ever Lists
500 Greatest Songs of All Time

Other Lists

Song Stories

“(We're Not) The Jet Set”

George Jones and Tammy Wynette | 1973

George Jones and Tammy Wynette were still married when they recorded the tongue-in-cheek "(We're Not) The Jet Set." The lyrics, written by Nashville songwriter Bobby Braddock, who also penned Wynette's "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" and Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today," make fun of the good life by declaring, "We're not the Jet Set/We're the old Chevrolet set." Braddock recalled that while writing the song, he needed the name of a city that evened out the rhyme he had with "Riviera" and "Missourah." “I got out a Rand McNally atlas," he said. "In the first part are the maps. The last part is an alphabetical listing of cities. I wanted a rustic, small-time sound. I went to the listing for Missouri. And I found 'Festus.' I loved the sound of it."

More Song Stories entries »