Tim Stopulos

Earlier today, Justin alerted me that, once again, someone is contemplating suing Coldplay over their Grammy-winning record "Viva la Vida". This time it's folk legend Cat Stevens, who now prefers to be called Yusuf Islam:

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/cat-stevens-may-sue-coldplay-it-depends-1003969208.story

The band decided to weigh in on this issue.

(as taken from our email string)

JUSTIN: So if you guys get a chance listen to cat stevens' foreigner suite 2. The same riff as viva la vida and the satriani riff is in there too!

SEVILLE: Would everyone using the twelve-tone scale please stop creating "IMMEDIATELY" pending Cat Stevens' and Joe Satriani's posting their "Plea for Permission to Steal Our Work" application which, in the spirit of fairness, they intend to make available online for free download. You're on your own for postage though.

TIM: If this is grounds for legal action, why hasn't One Republic sued the Fray? Why hasn't Oasis sued Green Day? Do we realize that in the 50's, there was only one rock and roll song???? Little Richard wrote it. And to get a new song, people just used a different girl's name. Lucille, Maybellene, Miss Molly, Long Tall Sally, Peggy Sue, etc. Little Richard could sue EVERY musician from the 50's (and 60's for that matter). So Coldplay should pay Cat Stevens cuz he wrote a four chord song? Come on, Yusuf.

JUSTIN: Lol

SEVILLE: Has Yusuf declared a fatwah on Coldplay yet?

JUSTIN: No, a jihad.

SEVILLE: You and Mikey (Justin's brother) can't ululate anymore by the way... not without Cat Stevens' permission.