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Rock guitarist Joe Satriani has filed a lawsuit against British
band Coldplay, accusing them of using his own music in their song “Viva la Vida”
off the album “Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends,” released in June
2008.
Court papers filed Thursday in Los Angeles on behalf of Joe Satriani claim
British band Coldplay used “substantial original portions” of his 2004
instrumental song “If I Could Fly” on the title track of their newest album, “Viva
la Vida or Death and All His Friends.”
Satriani, who wants a jury trial, is seeking damages for the
alleged plagiarism and “any and all profits.”
News of Satriani’s legal move come just one day after
Coldplay were nominated in seven categories for the Grammy Awards, including
Song of the Year and Record of the Year for the track allegedly committing
copyright infringement.
“Viva la Vida” is credited to the band’s four members: singer
Chris Martin, bass player Guy Berryman, guitarist Johnny Buckland and drummer
Will Champion. It has become the most successful song of Coldplay’s career, debuting
in June at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and on UK charts. It is Coldplay’s first
number-one single and their second top ten on the Hot 100.
“Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends” was released in
June and went to number one in 36 countries. Its title is inspired by Mexican artist
Frida Kahlo and the album’s cover features French painter Eugčne Delacroix‘s
“Liberty Leading the People.”
Coldplay worked with renowned producer Brian Eno on their
new studio album, a collaboration drummer Will Champion has said encouraged
them to explore new territory. “Brian has this amazing ability to demystify
wonderful music and make it seem very achievable. We weren’t afraid to try
anything,” he told Billboard in April.
This obviously does not include plagiarizing. As to Satriani’s
song, the one allegedly copied by Coldplay, it appears on his album “Is There
Love in Space?”
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