Archive for November 11th, 2012

Twisted Sister’s Jay Jay French Says Trademark Law Doesn’t Offer Choice on What to Defend

Ethan Miller, Getty Images Twisted Sister made headlines last month with talk that they were planning to take legal action against the owner of a Minneapolis food truck over usage of their band name, but guitarist and a manager Jay Jay French says there really wasn’t much of a choice in taking action. The band sent a cease-and-desist letter to the owner of the Twisted Sister House of Hunger food truck, and owner Wesley Kaake told local station WCCO-TV that in researching the matter, he discovered that there were at least six other businesses who also received similar letters from the band. In response to the backlash, French told Blabbermouth , “I get how stories like these appear like David vs. Goliath. I also get how easy it is to take cheap shots at my band because of our former image and the ’80s-era iconography. [But] the fact of the matter is that trademark law doesn’t give me a choice on who and what to defend. The law is very clear: either defend your trademark or lose rights to it.” The guitarist says over the years he’s had to take action against major companies like Six Flags, Urban Decay, and Harley-Davidson as well as some of the “mom and pop companies.” He adds, “The defense is almost always the same. They first claim that they never heard of the band and then they say that no one would confuse the two anyway. I have won every case. The unique juxtaposition of the words ‘Twisted’ and ‘Sister’ have never ever appeared in print prior to my band’s use of it. This was established in the Six Flags case.” French concludes, “The name is so unique, like Led Zeppelin, that any use would confuse the marketplace as either the product or service is owned or endorsed by us. Also, if I let one go, that just emboldens someone else with the rationale that ‘you didn’t bother them, so why go after me.’ I have heard this many times before.” The guitarist also states that he’s not opposed to the food truck using the name for their business so long as they legally license it from the band. He adds, “One hundred percent of the licensing money will go to the OUIF (Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation.” [button href=”http://loudwire.com/twisted-sister-pee-wees-big-adventure-cameo/” title=”Next: Twisted Sister – Musician Movie Cameos” align=”center”]

The Used Headline 2013 Take Action Tour + Announce ‘Vulnerable II’ Re-Release

Matthew Simmons, Getty Images The Used will head up the 2013 Take Action Tour, and they’ll be squeezing a little extra life out of their ‘Vulnerable’ album by re-releasing it as a two-disc effort titled ‘Vulnerable II’ that coincides with the run. The Used will welcome We Came As Romans , Crown the Empire, and Mindflow for the tour, which launches Jan. 11 at the Las Vegas House of Blues. Like past Take Action treks, the tour has a charitable association. This year, proceeds from the trek will be directed to the It Gets Better Project, created to provide youths in the LGBT community with a positive outlook by showing the potential of what can happen by surviving the often difficult teen years. Ten percent of each ticket sold will be donated to It Gets Better and the annual charitable sponsor, Sub City. Tickets are on sale at the Take Action website . The Used’s Bert McCracken and Jeph Howard have created an “It Gets Better” video to help support the cause. The promo can be seen below. “It’s our privilege to work with such a lovely charity that does so much good in this confusing world,” says McCracken. “Pease check out itgetsbetter.org and we’ll see you at the Take Action Tour.” In addition, Hopeless Records will partner with Sub City to offer the ‘Take Action Compilation, Vol. 11,” which features tracks from The Used, Bad Religion, AWOLNATION, Falling in Reverse , Whitechapel and more. As with the tour, a portion of the proceeds from sale of the two-disc set will go to It Gets Better. As for The Used’s ‘Vulnerable II’ re-release, the album has now expanded to a two-disc set, with the second disc offering multiple remixes and acoustic versions of tracks from the original effort. It’s due in stores Jan. 22, and can be pre-ordered here . Watch The Used’s Bert McCracken and Jeph Howard’s “It Gets Better” Spot 2013 Take Action Tour Dates: 1/11 — Las Vegas, Nev. — House of Blues 1/12 — Salt Lake City, Utah — In The Venue 1/14 — Denver, Colo. — Summit 1/16 — Kansas City, Mo. — The Beaumont 1/17 — Minneapolis, Minn. — First Avenue 1/19 — Milwaukee, Wis. — The Rave 1/20 — Indianapolis, Ind. — Egyptian Room 1/22 — St. Louis, Mo. — The Pageant 1/23 — Chicago, Ill. — House of Blues 1/25 — Pittsburgh, Pa. — Stage AE 1/26 — Rochester, N.Y. — Water Street Music Hall 1/28 — Washington, D.C. — 9:30 Club 1/29 — Boston, Mass. — House of Blues 1/30 — Sayreville, N.J. — Starland Ballroom 2/1 — Hartford, Ct. — Webster Theatre 2/2 — Atlantic City, N.J. — House of Blues 2/4 — Atlanta, Ga. — Tabernacle 2/5 — Tampa, Fla. — Ritz Ybor 2/7 — Asheville, N.C. — Orange Peel 2/8 — Cincinnati, Ohio — Bogart’s 2/10 — Detroit, Mich. — Fillmore 2/11 — Cleveland, Ohio — House of Blues 2/13 — Tulsa, Okla. — Cain’s Ballroom 2/14 — Houston, Texas — House of Blues 2/16 — Austin, Texas — Emo’s East 2/17 — Dallas, Texas — House of Blues 2/19 — San Antonio, Texas — Backstage Live 2/20 — El Paso, Texas — Tricky Falls 2/22 — Albuquerque, N.M. — Sunshine Theatre 2/24 — Phoenix, Ariz. — Marquee Theatre 2/26 — San Francisco, Calif. — The Fillmore 2/27 — San Diego, Calif. — House of Blues 3/1 — Los Angeles, Calif. — The Wiltern The Used ‘Vulnerable II’ Track Listing Disc One 1. ‘Come Alive’ 2. ‘This Fire’ 3. ‘Hands and Faces’ 4. ‘Put Me Out’ 5. ‘Shine’ 6. ‘Now That You’re Dead’ 7. ‘Give Me Love’ 8. ‘Moving On’ 9. ‘Getting Over You’ 10. ‘Kiss It Goodbye’ / ‘Kinda Hectic’ (Interlude) 11. ‘Hurt No One’ 12. ‘Together Burning Bright’ Disc Two 1. ‘Surrender’ 2. ‘The Lonely’ 3. ‘Machine’ 4. ‘Disaster’ 5. ‘I Come Alive (Revolvr and Danny Mihai Remix) 6. ‘Hands and Faces’ (Bobby Alt Remix) 7. ‘Put Me Out’ (Kraddy Remix) 8. ‘I Come Alive’ (acoustic) 9. ‘Put Me Out’ (acoustic) 10. ‘Together Burning Bright’ (acoustic) [button href=”http://loudwire.com/the-used-discuss-new-album-vulnerable-intense-encounter-with-super-fan-more/” title=”Next: The Used Discuss ‘Vulnerable’ Album” align=”center”]

Pearl Jam Launch ‘Instant Classic’ Bootleg Series With Missoula Show

PearlJam.com Pearl Jam are one of the leaders when it comes to providing their fans with bootleg performances of their shows, but they intend on making the turnaround a little quicker and offering some special deals in the future. As such, they’ve launched what they’re calling the “Instant Classic” bootleg series. In late September, the group played one of their few shows this year in Missoula, Mont. as a show of support for Montana Senator Jon Tester’s re-election campaign. The Adams Center performance was the first time in seven years the group had played in Missoula, and it turned out to be such a high energy show that the band declared it “an instant classic.” As a result, they put a rush on making the performance available to their fans for a limited time at a special price. The period is currently underway and continues through Tuesday (Nov. 13) with fans being able to purchase the bootleg in MP3 format for $4.99. Most bootlegs retail for $9.99 at the group’s website . During this sale period, proceeds will be donated to the Poverello Center in Missoula. After Nov. 13, all formats (MP3, FLAC, FLAC-HD, and CD) of the show performance will be available at regular prices. Visit www.pearljam.com/goods to place your order. Pearl Jam are in the process of working on new music, though bassist Jeff Ament recently admitted that they are taking it at their own pace and that he doesn’t expect they’ll continue work on the disc until sometime early next year. He added that even though there are seven or eight songs recorded, “It’s still sort of a blank slate and that’s exciting.” No timetable has been set for delivery of the next album. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-grunge-bands/” title=”Next: 10 Best Grunge Bands” align=”center”]

Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea Shows Support for Suspended UCLA Basketball Star

Stephen Dunn, Getty Images There’s no doubt that Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea is definitely an avid basketball fan, and that his loyalties lie with his Los Angeles home teams. On Friday night, he won over numerous UCLA fans while donning a homemade t-shirt in support of suspended basketball star Shabazz Muhammad as he performed the national anthem. Donning a baby blue t-shirt that read “Free Shabazz Muhammad” written in black marker, the musician was greeted with a warm reception. Muhammad, one of the top ranked freshmen in the nation, was declared “indefinitely ineligible” by the NCAA just prior to the team’s first game as a result of alleged extra benefits received during his recruitment. Flea tweeted , “Free Shabazz Muhammad. NCAA is out of control. This is absurd.” According to Yahoo Sports , Flea’s shirt mirrored the thoughts of some of the team’s fans, as several students were noticed donning “Free Shabazz” shirts with the player’s likeness on the front. The shirt likely eased a few tensions for the bassist as well, as he took classes at UCLA’s crosstown rival USC a few years ago. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/red-hot-chili-peppers-flea-back-to-the-future-cameo/” title=”Next: Flea – Musician Movie Cameos” align=”center”]