Levon Helm suing over band song in ad campaign
The Band's singer-drummer Levon Helm has filed suit against an ad agency over the use of the group's song "The Weight" in an ad campaign. Helm claims that he never gave permission for the song to be used in the ads for Cingular's mobile phone service, and he said, "It was just a complete, damn sellout of the Band -- its reputation, its music," according to the Associated Press.
Helm also said having the song play in the commercials was disrespectful to his two late bandmates -- pianist Richard Manuel, who hanged himself in 1986, and singer-bassist Rick Danko, who died in 1999.
Helm, who filed the suit back in December in state Supreme Court in New York, wants to know how much the ad agency BBDO Worldwide has profited from the ad campaign. Helm's attorney said the drummer has gotten a royalty payment for the use of the song, but Helm thinks the compensation he's received hasn't been fair, and is seeking more.
Helm also said having the song play in the commercials was disrespectful to his two late bandmates -- pianist Richard Manuel, who hanged himself in 1986, and singer-bassist Rick Danko, who died in 1999.
Helm, who filed the suit back in December in state Supreme Court in New York, wants to know how much the ad agency BBDO Worldwide has profited from the ad campaign. Helm's attorney said the drummer has gotten a royalty payment for the use of the song, but Helm thinks the compensation he's received hasn't been fair, and is seeking more.
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