Ex-Ramone Sues Apple and Wal-Mart
Richard Reinhardt, or, as he's more commonly known, Richie Ramone, is suing just about every company under the sun that offers digital music downloads, including Apple, Real Networks, and Wal-Mart. The former drummer of the seminal 1970s-1980s punk band The Ramones is even going after the estate of Johnny Ramone, the band's late lead guitarist.
What's Reinhardt's beef? According to reports, the suit claims that was no agreement for the digital distribution of the six songs Reinhardt wrote as a member of the Ramones. The songs in question are "Smash You," Human Kind," "I'm Not Jesus," "I Know Better Now," "Somebody Put Something In My Drink," and "(You) Can't Say Something Nice."
Over the four years and three albums, none of the six songs Reinhardt wrote were singles, and yet the guy is demanding $900,000 in back royalties and an injunction against future distribution of his work. Is he out of line? Given the rising stock of Apple and its ilk, we say good for Reinhardt!
From Beta News and AOL Music.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
kathy @ Sep 24th 2007 7:50PM
I wanna be sedated
Sig @ Sep 24th 2007 8:41PM
What an ass, but then, what is punk??? You do what you need to get what you want. Get as much as you freaking can. Now, release your songs as singles and see if anyone actually buys them HAHAHAHAHA
M.Borrelli @ Sep 25th 2007 12:01AM
Hmm..I was a die hard Ramones fan. Richie who ?? I don't recall ANY of those songs..maybe he'll get a "has been" reality show & join the ranks of the "I didn't care to know him then" quasi celebs...May the real Ramones rest in peace
James Carter @ Sep 25th 2007 3:39AM
Come on now if he wrote them he deserves the money and by the way he is a real Ramone
Kenny48 @ Sep 25th 2007 9:54AM
Kinda reminds me of when Steven Adler went after Guns and Roses. He lost.