J.Geils Sues The J.Geils Band

[Jeff Fin]

Aug. 4, 2012, 1:38 PM EST
WENN
The J. Geils of the J. Geils Band is suing the group for planning a tour without him.
John Geils gave his name to the "Freeze Frame" hitmakers in the late 1960s and he doesn't think his former bandmates, including singer Peter Wolf and Danny Klein, should be able to use the moniker if he's not part of the act.

Geils has filed a lawsuit in Massachusetts, in which he claims his former bandmates have "planned and conspired" to exclude him from an upcoming J. Geils Band tour, which is scheduled to begin on Aug. 25.
He is seeking to prevent other members of the band using the name and full rights to the trademark.

His lawyer states, "Together they're the J. Geils Band, but separately they're Mr. Wolf, Mr. Salwitz , Mr. Klein, and Mr. Justman. They do not have the right to take his name and use it, and try to deny him the right

[Quinn53]

I think he has a point.

[TonySTL]

All I can say is....




THAT Stinks!


Wonder why he is excluded..? Have some great memories of JGB shows. Looks like the House Party's Over.

Having said that...I'd go see them!

[TonyNYC]

Only saw J Geils Band once and I always wondered why it was named after Giles. He was hardly noticeable....Wolf and the keyboard guy and Magic Dick on the harmonica is what I remembered. And they were great that night.

Also recently saw Peter Wolf solo with his band and they were terrific.

A must see if and when they or him come around.

[aceinoc]

Only saw J Geils Band once and I always wondered why it was named after Giles. He was hardly noticeable....Wolf and the keyboard guy and Magic Dick on the harmonica is what I remembered. And they were great that night.

Also recently saw Peter Wolf solo with his band and they were terrific.

A must see if and when they or him come around.

I was Peter Wolf at the Coach House on his last west coast swing. He was a master showman as always and his band was top notch. Duke Levine on lead guitar was amazing and Mitch Chakour on keys rocked it so...and wondering if either are scheduled to tour this time around...

[Patm]

I think he has a point.

One would think.

In the 70's, Fleetwood Mac's manager send five musicians out on tour as Fleetwood Mac, namesake founders Mick Fleetwood and John McVie not being part of it.

[studiogirl]

Hmmm...wonder if "The J. Geils Band" (or without "The") is a registered trademark? If so, then I hope he owns it!

If Richie, Jimmy, Randy, George Grantham, Paul, and/or any other former Poco members wanted to go out as "Poco"...they can't. No can do without permission from the owner of the trademarked name "Poco". Or so I believe....

[wheland]

Hmmm...wonder if "The J. Geils Band" (or without "The") is a registered trademark? If so, then I hope he owns it!

If Richie, Jimmy, Randy, George Grantham, Paul, and/or any other former Poco members wanted to go out as "Poco"...they can't. No can do without permission from the owner of the trademarked name "Poco". Or so I believe....

Carolyn,

You are correct about using the name Poco- anybody using it has to have permission of the owner and that's Rusty Young. It used to say right at the bottom of the page on this website "Rusty young DBA (doing busines as) Poco.

I know the J. Geils Band situation is different but it brings to mind the famous lawsuit where John Fogerty was sued for plagiarism - of himself. He won that suit.

J. Geils has a chance of winning this but as strange as it sounds unless he registered the name and holds the legal rights to it he may not have a legally sound claim to any band calling itself the J. Geils Band without him being a part of it. It's very possible that a Judge could rule the two things are exclusive of each other . It depends on prior use, etc. Legal things do not always follow a direct logical line.

Dennis

[studiogirl]

Legal things do not always follow a direct logical line.

LOL!! THAT'S fer shure!! The law is the law, and common sense, human logic, and any number of other attributes of intelligence don't matter!! I would know...I worked for lawyers for decades!!

[Bogeyfire]

I'm not so sure its a close call. As a sole proprietor, using your legal name claims ownership. For instance, you don't have to get an EIN. You can simply use your SSN and never even apply for an Employer ID Number. That would be the business "J.Geils". So, how J. Geils is listed as a business matters.

Likewise, copyright is likely already well established. Did J. Geils register it? Did J. Geils, Inc. register it? Or, did "The J. Geils Band" register it? I think its a slam dunk for somebody.

I remember seeing "Steppenwolf" when they came to my school back in college. They were sans John Kay. They didn't have the John Kay vocals. They didn't have the John Kay songs... They sounded like a garage band of no name songs that were turned up too loud. They tried to tour as Steppenwolf but weren't allowed to play any of their songs!

Copyright protection ruled.

I don't know the stories, but I wonder about the Lennon / McCartney songs. Was it permitted for Ringo and George to play Lennon / McCartney? Did they pay? Did they have to get permission to play Beatles? In the era of free love, you'd think it was a given.