Songwriting credits on the new album

[Zing!]

Incorrect.

Down in Flames was never recorded and published on an album.

Thus, Mike will not receive any credit towards it.

That would be my interpretation as well. They could have had input on 'Down In Flames' from Jimbo the janitor, but if it was never published with a copyright on an official Van Halen release, Jimbo - and Michael Anthony - have no claim on it. Dave HAD to have used a few ideas from the classic 6-pack years that he mined during his solo career (just like Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison did after their tenure in The Beatles on their various solo efforts). After the break-up, who's to say who wrote what, and when. Besides, my feeling is that Anthony's claim to his Van Halen history is more ceremonial in nature after the '04 train wreck.

[chefcraig]

Yes, you are correct because Down In Flames goes.. ..dit de deet de de deetly leet deet

and Tattoo goes .................................................. ..dit deeeeet deet de de deetly leet deet.

Isn't that pretty much what that dim-bulb Vanilla Ice tried to say when he ripped off the bass line of "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie for "Ice Ice Baby?"

[ZahZoo]

There's a video interview of Mike over at links and he was asked the question if he got credit for old tunes being reworked by the current VH. He say "Nah. I'm not the kind of guy who's gonna go asking either or say hey I played on that originally"... He happy where he's at and not interested in stirring things up... High road prevails...

[VOODOO_King]

The licensing is to The Three Twins, LLC and Diamond Dave Enterprises, Inc., under exclusive license to Interscope Records and Mikey ain't a twin.

[academic punk]

That would be my interpretation as well. They could have had input on 'Down In Flames' from Jimbo the janitor, but if it was never published with a copyright on an official Van Halen release, Jimbo - and Michael Anthony - have no claim on it. Dave HAD to have used a few ideas from the classic 6-pack years that he mined during his solo career (just like Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison did after their tenure in The Beatles on their various solo efforts). After the break-up, who's to say who wrote what, and when. Besides, my feeling is that Anthony's claim to his Van Halen history is more ceremonial in nature after the '04 train wreck.

A song doesn't need to have an official album release to have publishing rights and copyrights assigned. How many professional songwriters (or screenplay writers/novelists/patent holders, etc) would get screwed out of their just royalties if that were how it worked? So long as a copyright has been established, you have your rights on that product. Even in terms of domain names. You could buy the rights to "www.hagarsucksballs.net" and never ever use it. But if someone wants the domain name, it's yours, they have to buy if from you.

If VH's management back in the day (or Warner Brothers) had the good sense to make sure EVERYTHING was documented and established (and they'd be idiots if they hadn't), then it's established. And, yes, a janitor who took part in the creative process would have a legal claim if they so chose to pursue it. (look at mick jagger's "Just Another Night" from 1984 as an example)

[academic punk]

Isn't that pretty much what that dim-bulb Vanilla Ice tried to say when he ripped off the bass line of "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie for "Ice Ice Baby?"

EXCELLENT EXAMPLE! Yes, and in fact, that is EXACTLY what the schmuck claimed in court. Even the judge - who'd never even heard of Freddie Mercury in his entire life - rolled his eyes.

[TJMKID]

EXCELLENT EXAMPLE! Yes, and in fact, that is EXACTLY what the schmuck claimed in court. Even the judge - who'd never even heard of Freddie Mercury in his entire life - rolled his eyes.

Just another reason why judges and lawyers are useless parasites on society ---- never heard of Freddie Mercury ???

[mohican]

One of the oddest song royalty cases I've heard involved Men at Work's Down Under. The Aussie court decided the flute solo of Down Under was ripped off from a popular children's song and ordered Men to pay 5% of their royalties to the publishing company that owns the rights to "Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree." Here's the story.

[clarathecarrot]

Isn't that pretty much what that dim-bulb Vanilla Ice tried to say when he ripped off the bass line of "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie for "Ice Ice Baby?"

WINNER!!! That is almost word for word his distiction of how his tune was completely different.

Sorry about screwing the thread up with that refference. I almost posted the video of Ice Baby talking about it, from when the sampling controversy really became mainstream news... thinking noone would get it.

There is a mash-up with video overlay on ytube that really is kinda cool ..

[Jetstream]

what is even more interesting is that if one looks at the copyright, you have Roth and then you have the three Van Halens going under a new name which is the three twins on copyright

[chefcraig]

One of the oddest song royalty cases I've heard involved Men at Work's Down Under. The Aussie court decided the flute solo of Down Under was ripped off from a popular children's song and ordered Men to pay 5% of their royalties to the publishing company that owns the rights to "Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree."

While that was disturbing, for levels of absurdity, it has nothing on the case brought against former Creedence Clearwater Revival singer John Fogerty by the band's former manager, who accused Fogerty of stealing...from himself.

Read on: John Fogerty Sued for Plagiarizing ... Himself

[mohican]

I always thought it was a generous decision of Dave and EVH to split the royalties equally in the past. Most bands like Led Zep, Fleetwood, the Stones are very specific about who gets the credit.

[mohican]

While that was disturbing, for levels of absurdity, it has nothing on the case brought against former Creedence Clearwater Revival singer John Fogerty by the band's former manager, who accused Fogerty of stealing...from himself.

Read on: John Fogerty Sued for Plagiarizing ... Himself

That one takes the cake.

[yankeegigolo]

Mike Anthony said he wasn't getting any royalty's and didn't want any

[SunisinuS]

Mike Anthony said he wasn't getting any royalty's and didn't want any

Lawyers still like to get paid.

I am a member of ASCAP if that gives a point of reference. I used to write articles on recording for the local chapter newsletter.

Been just a bit around the block before I fell off the turnip truck.

"Little Kids take care of the music biz, (sic) all rights reserved@TM, they take good care of me"

Lol Wolfie Rocks.