One More Reason Gene Simmons Is A Great Big Jerk!
, the all-female Canadian heavy metal band founded by sisters Mercedes and Morgan Lander, has been issued a "cease and desist" letter by the band KISS. The legal infraction: KISS objects to the name the band has given their own independent label, Kiss of Infamy, on which Kittie is releasing their next album, "Funeral for Yesterday" in February.
I asked Mercedes Lander what the deal was and here's what she told me.
"We did have to change our label name because of it. Crazy I know, but Gene Simmons apparently owns the rights to a lot of words. Hahaha!
"
"We are actually really bummed out about it, as I really don't see how there could be confusion. It may just be bullying, who knows, but we all know Gene has quite an ego and an affinity for dollar signs."
Obviously.
But you've got to wonder - has KISS taken the same tact with Tom Jones, Prince or Zach Braff, who appeared in a movie called "Last Kiss?" Probably not. I'm no attorney but if the letters in the word are not case-sensitive, where's the case?
The upside is that perhaps this moronic lawsuit will generate more sales for Kittie - which started back in '96 when the Landers sisters were only 15 and 17 years old, but has struggled to find a supportive label and permanent band-mates.
For now though, Kittie has changed their label name to X of Infamy - an X being a Kiss (rather than a KISS) symbol.
Just don't tell Exene or John Doe.
Posted by unregistered user at 12/4/06 11:41 a.m.
Wow.
That's an incredibly petty lawsuit. I hope Kittie gets some publicity out of it.
or maybe they should change their name to KISSie - and see what happens.
more comments - my friend Tom e-mailed these to me, but they were just so good I feel compelled to add them to the comments page since I guess he was averse to registering.
And heeeeere's Tom:
Kiss of Infamy -- great name for a label.
The lawsuit is absurd.
(My favorite quote about Kiss -- "You have to hand it to them for longevity. They may suck, but they've sucked for 25 years.")
Did the Rolling Stones sue the Stone Temple Pilots?
Did the Box Tops sue Candlebox, or Matchbox 20? Did the Yardbirds sue the Byrds?
Kiss, a band, is suing someone not because of their band name but because of their label name?
That's even more goofy than suing a band with a similar name.
Did Deep Purple sue Prince over Purple Rain?
Tom rules.
Posted by unregistered user at 12/9/06 12:41 p.m.
screw KISS.
..
Posted by unregistered user at 12/10/06 2:31 p.
m.
This is the kind of thing that defies any kind of logic or common sense. The fact that KISS has people on retainer just to seek out anything that has 'kiss' in it and sending 'cease and desist' letters are nothing more than bully tactics and makes KISS look like utter tools.
No one is going to think for a minute that Kittie's label has anything to do with KISS. Kittie's PR people should use this to get as much mileage promo-wise as possible for their upcoming release..
.I hope it helps them sell more of their CDs no matter the name of their label is. KISS: That was so, so petty.
Shame on you!
Bassladyblue
New York
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