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The Romantics Sue “Guitar Hero,” INXS Pay Tribute To Singer, Lynyrd Skynyrd Drummer Arrested and More

11/21/07, 2:48 pm EST

One-hit-wonders the Romantics, proud performers of the sports-arena classic “What I Like About You,” are suing Activision, the company behind Guitar Hero. The band claims that the sound-alike recording of “What I Like About You” used in the “Rocks the 80s” version of the game sounds “virtually indistinguishable from the authentic version.” The Romantics are seeking compensatory and punitive damages, and in a move that might have death threats thrown their way from angry parents, the band also requested that the game stop being sold in stores.
Check out the Killers’ video for their version of Joy Division’s “Shadowplay.” The video is shot in a style similar to the Ian Curtis biopic Control, except the video is both more more avant-garde and more boring.
To commemorate the tenth anniversary of the death of Michael Hutchence, his former INXS bandmates have created a new Web site with photos, videos and memories of the late singer.
Two trustees in charge of James Brown’s estate have quit their posts after allegations that roughly $7 million of the late icon’s money may have been misappropriated. “I certainly did not violate the trust of James Brown ever in my life,” said Buddy Dallas, who resigned yesterday. “And to the contrary [I] did everything I could do to promote the name and legacy status.”
Artimus Pyle, a former drummer for Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd, was arrested in Florida after failing to properly register as a sex offender. Pyle served eight years in prison on a conviction charge of attempted capital sexual battery on a victim under the age of twelve in 1993. We can’t top TMZ’s headline of “Lynyrd Skynyrd Drummer Not a Free Bird,” so we won’t even try.

Daniel Kreps

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Comments

kylie | 11/21/2007, 4:35 pm EST

Ouch. Who wrote this? “Talking In Your Sleep” was a hit for the romantics too. They’re not a one-hit wonder. You’d think ROLLING FREAKIN’ STONE would know that.

Leanie | 11/21/2007, 5:43 pm EST

The Killers Shadowplay video is terrific. It goes perfectly with the song and the Control biopic.
Well done!

Mike/Houston,TX. | 11/21/2007, 7:30 pm EST

The ROMANTICS scored a number 49 Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1980 with WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU. Followup singles, WHEN I LOOK IN YOUR EYES; TELL IT TO CARRIE & SHE’S GOT EVERYTHING recieved tremendous airplay, from their debut, ‘THE ROMANTICS’ and qualified as ‘radio play hits’ at the time. ‘NATIONAL BREAKOUT’, their 1981 second Lp was another great album almost equal to the debut, not yielding any hits, but scoring airplay too. Their 3rd Lp, ‘Strictly Personal’[1982] went nowhere and the band lost momentum…but came back huge in 1984 with the Top 10 Hit, TALKING IN YOUR SLEEP(#3 Hot 100 singles)& the followup, ONE IN A MILLION(#37 chart)from their ‘IN HEAT’ Lp. There were more albums, but, they never recaptured the success of the above. Melodic hook filled music featuring the bands highly energetic brand of music with jangly and jagged, razor sharp guitars. First two albums are highly recommended!

Supersonic | 11/21/2007, 11:32 pm EST

I actually have a Romantics’ story. I was in O’Hare airport in ‘87 on a food line with my friend. Me and my friend saw this guy with this really goofy haircut he was really acting like he owned the airport. He flashed us a really filthy look, so I said, “nice hair” and my friend and I were cracking up. After paying, he flashed us another dirty look and stormed off.

The guy behind the counter said, “hey don’t you know who that was?” We shook our heads.
“That was the lead singer from the Romantics?”
We shrugged our shoulders and said,”So?” And then we started laughing even harder. True story. If he’s still like that I hope he doesn’t get a dime.

I actually liked “Talkiing In Your Sleep”, until I met that guy!

Philbin | 11/22/2007, 3:02 am EST

Aren’t these guys getting a percentage on each video game sold? Give me a break about this “authentic” version stuff. It’s a three chord jam that a studio musician can do in his or her sleep. The song is supposed to sound as close to hoyle as possible.

I guess getting a percentage of 5 million units isn’t enough! Fuck them.

anAngel4sure | 11/22/2007, 11:22 am EST

I just caught the debut of Shadowplay. I love it! Great song/great video. The Killers rock!

Noodle | 11/23/2007, 11:18 pm EST

The Romantics were also screwed out of royalties on their songs for almost 15 years. They only won the rights to their catalog back in 1995.

Thomas | 11/24/2007, 1:25 pm EST

Ok…first of all…Does anybody really hear “What I Like About You” and feel deeply moved? The song is simply a stupid, fun, arena rock song. In other words, it’s the perfect song for guitar hero. Secondly, who even gives a shit about the Romantics? These guys are obviously trying to re-live whatever relative fame may have brought some misconstrued sense of meaning to their lives. Asking the game to stop being sold in stores? Are you kidding me? It’s one of the best-selling and most popular games of all time! This is not just a case of whiny rock stars – it’s the case of whiny EX-stars (if you can even call them that) trying to spoil everyone else’s good time. Maybe they are just so pissed that 90% of people who know the song can’t name the band that created it that they’re trying to get the game off the shelves. Oh, and keep in mind that the song is only being released in a format exclusive to Playstation 2, so it’s not even a major release, as far as Guitar Hero releases go. In fact, their being featured on the game might actually help people recognize who created this ultimately insignificant track.

All I am saying is that most musicians would be honored to think that someone cared enough about their music to feature it in such a way. They are a tired band from a tired age when being a rock star was a huge deal.

Kristen | 11/25/2007, 5:51 pm EST

I guess everyone will know who The Romantics are now! Win or lose, I think they still win here! Percentages? Yeah right. Don’t think that’s how it works there Philbin.
I know a lot about having ones image used and not seeing a dime, so I say, “More power to them!” I hope they win and I hope more bands decide to jump on that bandwagon!
If Activision wanted something so close to the original, then they should have just paid for the original like they are doing in the latest versions.
I also agree with Kylie. You would think Rolling Stone would know about music after this long! What I Like About You, Talking In Your Sleep, One in a Million, When I Look in Your Eyes, just to name a few. Not only that, but if listen to Little Steven’s Underground Garage station you will hear a lot more from The Romantics!

MARSHALL PYLE | 11/26/2007, 1:06 pm EST

MY FATHER IS THE VICTIM OF LIES!!!HE IS INNOCENT AND WE WILL DO EVERYTHING TO EXONERATE HIS NAME!!!THE MEDIA IS SO DESPERATE TO JUMP ON A STORY EVEN WHEN IT IS FALSE!!!

Media guy | 11/28/2007, 10:47 pm EST

Rolling Stone had Justin Timberlake on the cover the week Joe Strummer died. All you need to know.

Jivenot | 3/24/2008, 7:00 pm EST

Oh to be as blissfully ignorant as you, (I guess one can dream). Listen up you little snot, you haven’t a shred of a clue as to the time, labor and resources it takes to create a song and recording that eventually gets played on radio and becomes a “hit.” Sure a band or artist would be “honored” to be includied in a product like this. But all their hard work is then supposed to be available to use for free? buy a huge,
profit making company? What brand of glue you sniffin’ boy? Play Station has enough money to pay for the license required to include original music in their games. They just choose to instead try and get what they want without paying what it is worth. Anyone with some skill can copy art or music or whatever.

Just another case of musicians gettin’ paid last, after evryone else gets they cut. Same old tired shite.

shay | 11/18/2008, 11:08 am EST

candra is obsessed with david