Music is one of the most creative and emotional art forms available to us – but, unfortunately, once bands make it big there’s a whole lot of admin to get through. From bankruptcy to copyright claims and disputes over ownership, bands through the ’90s were hit with all kinds of legal battles.
Read on to find out which artists behind your club night classics ended up in court.
© WireImage via Getty ImagesDavid Byrne sued his former bandmates when they tried to tour as ‘Heads’ in 1995
Talking Heads
Talking Heads might have defined the ’80s but their legal battles took the band straight back into the cultural zeitgeist in the ’90s. While the band didn’t officially break up until 1991, tensions had been brewing as David Byrne took control over the band.
When the other three members attempted to tour as The Heads in 1996, with a more relaxed vocalist in tow, David took them to court. They’ve only performed live once since then, for their 2002 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
© FilmMagic via Getty ImagesFamily businesses aren’t all they’re cracked up to be when it comes to lawsuits over favouritism
Destiny’s Child
Beyonce Knowles is a name everyone knows, but in the ’90s she was part of the beloved pop group Destiny’s Child. While the band kept performing into the 2000s, original fans would surely have noticed a difference in the line up.
LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson, original members of the band, filed a lawsuit against their manager – and Beyonce’s father – Mathew Knowles. They alleged unfair financial compensation, mismanagement, and being unjustly dismissed from Destiny’s Child. LeToya and LaTavia were replaced, only finding out when they watched the ‘Say My Name’ music video.
© Redferns via Getty ImagesMilli Vanilli faced backlash and lawsuits when it was revealed they were lip syncing all of their tracks
Milli Vanilli
Milli Vanilli started the decade in impressive style with a 1990 Grammy Award for Best New Artist. They had already built a loyal fanbase through the ’80s, but all of this was called into question when a live Club MTV set malfunction in 1989 caused their vocal tracks to skip.
In 1990, their producer Frank Farian revealed that the stars were simply the face of the project, opening legal floodgates. The Grammy Award was revoked, millions of fans were refunded and lawsuits abounded. Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus attempted a comeback as Rob & Fab, but Rob Pilatus’ passing definitively ended the project in 1998.
© Getty ImagesThe Verve originally took home zero earnings for their best-loved hit ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’
The Verve
The Verve may have split for the third and final time in 2009, but there’s no doubt their earlier legal dispute with The Rolling Stones took its toll. The band’s beloved hit ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’ sampled an orchestral cover of 1965 single ‘The Last Time’ by The Rolling Stones.
While The Verve cleared it with Decca Records, Allen Klein’s publishing company ABKCO hadn’t approved the use. Allen sued the band, who settled out of court and relinquished all profits to Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and ABKCO. More than 20 years into a legal battle, Mick and Keith signed over the publishing rights and royalties to The Verve’s Richard Ashcroft in 2019.
© Getty ImagesThe Smiths legal battles and bad blood mean the iconic band are unlikely to bring about a reunion tour
The Smiths
From stardom in the ’80s to legal issues in the ’90s, The Smiths still have a selection of regular hits that show up at every indie club night to this day. Theirs is a light that never goes out.
But while their songs have lasted the test of time, relations between the band members weren’t as consistent and destroyed the chance of a reunion. Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke sued Morrissey and Johnny Marr for unpaid royalties, winning the case in 1996.