Former band mate's new band playing song I wrote

[fjrabon]

So how do I resolve this situation:

My last band, I wrote all the songs, in fact I wrote all the parts except the drums and about half the solos were improvised during live gigs.

The band broke up and the lead guitarist and bassist formed another group. They're doing a few of my songs. Which in fact I'd be totally cool with, but they generally introduce it with "here's an original" or something similarly ambiguous, that makes it somewhat sound like they wrote the song. I came to one of their last gigs and they introduced it as "here is one from our last band" I think only because they knew I was there. These dudes didn't write any of the parts.

It may just be from a lack of material for their new band and they'll just eventually phase it out.

Should I talk to them about it? Or just let it go and be flattered? I really wouldn't mind them playing it if they were just more clear about it being my song.

These guys were pretty good friends of mine and then we had a pretty tense break up to the band, and I don't want to permanently burn the bridge forever by seeming like I'm still controlling the band long after we've broken up, but I also don't want a year down the road, when I put the band back together, people asking my why I'm covering THEIR song.

[cram]

consider it a compliment?
Shake his hand and tell him you think it's cool he's keeping the song alive and perhaps ask that he tell people where they can find recordings or that it was you who wrote it.

you may find yourself sitting in for that very song on their next gig, which I think would be cool.

Stay positive about it in general. It's a good thing.

[bjjp2]

Call this guy immediately:

http://veracitystew.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Seinfeld_Jackie-Chiles.jpg

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRU2c17DVfOvBnpijJkPmKW0PO60q

[Jahn]

until they start earning royalties from it, just see it as a way to get your song out there. couldn't hurt to tell them to say "here's one written by our good friend fjrabon, whadda talented bastard" or something to that effect!

[GuitslingerTim]

The first thing I would do is register the songs with the Copyright Office, and then in the event someone profits from them, you can prove ownership. The melody and lyrics are the main issues, not the drums or solos.

[fjrabon]

until they start earning royalties from it, just see it as a way to get your song out there. couldn't hurt to tell them to say "here's one written by our good friend fjrabon, whadda talented bastard" or something to that effect!

yeah, I think I'm just leaning towards letting it go unless they start unambiguously calling the song theirs. I can't think of a way to ask them to stop saying things like "here's an original tune" without coming off douchey.

I'm thrilled they're playing the songs overall, and bringing it up at all will probably be a quick way to further tense the relationship and make them stop playing the song all together.

And I have a feeling things are about to get really awkward when I put the band back together with mostly different members in a couple of months.

[fjrabon]

The first thing I would do is register the songs with the Copyright Office, and then in the event someone profits from them, you can prove ownership. The melody and lyrics are the main issues, not the drums or solos.

Yeah, all that's already taken care of, I have a law degree (though I no longer practice).

I gave the drummer some credits on some songs, because we worked a lot of the songs out together, though I came up with all the lyrics and melodies, he helped shape them, if that makes sense.

[rob2001]

until they start earning royalties from it, just see it as a way to get your song out there. couldn't hurt to tell them to say "here's one written by our good friend fjrabon, whadda talented bastard" or something to that effect!

Agree. Unless they want to record and market it I wouldn't worry about it. If they are still your friends they should mention who wrote it though.


Question for OP....do they have any of their own originals?

[fjrabon]

Agree. Unless they want to record and market it I wouldn't worry about it. If they are still your friends they should mention who wrote it though.


Question for OP....do they have any of their own originals?

They kind of have an instrumental/jam type original. I don't think they really plan to do originals overall though. The lead guitarist always wanted to turn our last band into a cover band. The bassist just kinda follows along with whatever.

[Crowder]

I was in this situation once, and it first it really cheesed me off. But then reality set in. It was just a fun little ditty that wasn't going anywhere, and the guys had written a new bridge for it that really improved the song. Just a little music karma floating around out there for as long as they want to play it.

The song was about a girl I dated who joined the Navy. It was called "Sailor Girl" and went a little something like this:

Sailor Girl, you're my
Wet dream
Come take a ride on my
Submarine
Sailor Girl, I know you gotta go
But tell those sailor boys about your boat back home

You can see why it wasn't going anywhere. :D

[fjrabon]

I was in this situation once, and it first it really cheesed me off. But then reality set in. It was just a fun little ditty that wasn't going anywhere, and the guys had written a new bridge for it that really improved the song. Just a little music karma floating around out there for as long as they want to play it.

The song was about a girl I dated who joined the Navy. It was called "Sailor Girl" and went a little something like this:

Sailor Girl, you're my
Wet dream
Come take a ride on my
Submarine
Sailor Girl, I know you gotta go
But tell those sailor boys about your boat back home

You can see why it wasn't going anywhere. :D
ha, nice

I do take these songs pretty seriously. They're on a self produced "album" that I used as the bands demo (despute teh fact that I played all the instruments except drums) and am currently working on putting into a proper album.

[Brooks]

the vast majority of original tunes don't make any money, and you've already covered that tiny possibility w/ your copyright. you know you wrote it, and they are NOT gonna introduce it as "here's one our friend wrote". let it go.

[mcknigs]

the vast majority of original tunes don't make any money, and you've already covered that tiny possibility w/ your copyright. you know you wrote it, and they are NOT gonna introduce it as "here's one our friend wrote". let it go.

The circle of guys I play with play mostly originals and often do songs written by other freinds within that same circle. They will almost always introduce the song by saying "here's one written by our good friend ____ ____." It's not hard to do, gives credit where credit's due, an increases the audience's knowledge of other musicians/songwriters on the scene. That's what I think the OP's friends should be doing. I understand if he doesn't want to be the one to bring it up. I think someone should bring it up though, just in case these guys need to be disabused of any notion that they can consider themselves cowriters just because they played on it in the last band.

[Brooks]

The circle of guys I play with play mostly originals and often do songs written by other freinds within that same circle. They will almost always introduce the song by saying "here's one written by our good friend ____ ____."


hey that's a pretty cool (and unusual) scene, good for y'all.
but its different than the OP's deal;
they were in a band together that ended badly. my guess is they are NOT gonna give him credit over the mic at gigs.

[Route234]

I wouldnt really care about the money, but I would care about people playing my songs without asking or getting permission or even giving me credit. Especially friends or ex band members. Dont even care about the legalities or money, just seems weak to me. I know Id never do it to another person.

[nocoJack]

Well... if they can't write their own songs, then they'll be phased out of the music world soon anyway... problem solved. If they do write more songs, they'll stop playing yours.

Another solution, get your new band to play with these guys. Ask to open and play the songs first. BAM!

[fjrabon]

Well... if they can't write their own songs, then they'll be phased out of the music world soon anyway... problem solved. If they do write more songs, they'll stop playing yours.

Another solution, get your new band to play with these guys. Ask to open and play the songs first. BAM!

ha, these aren't the types of gigs that have another band opening. On the off chance that this did happen, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be classless enough to cover a song I wrote, when I was playing the same show, regardless of who opened or closed.

[fjrabon]

hey that's a pretty cool (and unusual) scene, good for y'all.
but its different than the OP's deal;
they were in a band together that ended badly. my guess is they are NOT gonna give him credit over the mic at gigs.

my feeling is that its not so much that they don't want to give me credit out of spite, its they kinda want to make it seem like the song is theirs to help build their reputation. I don't think they'd ever claim they wrote it outright, just kind of make it ambiguous to the point of other people just assuming they wrote it.

[taez555]

BMI has just started a program where you can register all your live performances for royalty payment rather than wait for radio airplay and such.

http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/550133

Register all your tunes with BMI, then follow them around and register every live performance. :-)

[fjrabon]

BMI has just started a program where you can register all your live performances for royalty payment rather than wait for radio airplay and such.

http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/550133

Register all your tunes with BMI, then follow them around and register every live performance. :-)

ha, after reading that, I still have no idea how it really works. I had heard something about it from a guy I occasionally play with and he said its more trouble than its worth.

[taez555]

ha, after reading that, I still have no idea how it really works. I had heard something about it from a guy I occasionally play with and he said its more trouble than its worth.

Copyrights only legally establish you as the author and protect you if anything happens.

If you actually want to get PAID for your songwriting(outside of record sales, gigging, etc) you need to register with one the performing rights societies like ASCAP or BMI that track how often a song is played on the radio, in clubs, on TV, coffee shops, etc. They collect money from these places and pay the songwriter and the songwriters publisher.

Normally you'd be S.O.L. as a small time songwriter because they basically only pay the big acts that get radio airplay. This new feature by BMI actually lets you register your own songs every time they get played, which means for once (maybe, we'll see), us small time songwriter may start getting our share of the pie too.

Very cool actually.

[fjrabon]

Copyrights only legally establish you as the author and protect you if anything happens.

If you actually want to get PAID for your songwriting(outside of record sales, gigging, etc) you need to register with one the performing rights societies like ASCAP or BMI that track how often a song is played on the radio, in clubs, on TV, coffee shops, etc. They collect money from these places and pay the songwriter and the songwriter publisher.

Normally you'd be S.O.L. as a small time songwriter because they basically only pay the big acts that get radio airplay. This new feature by BMI actually lets you register your own songs every time they get played, which means for once (maybe, we'll see), us small time songwriter may start getting our share of the pie too.

Very cool actually.

well, right, but from what I've heard, unless you're actually having some major play outside of radio, you're not going to see much more than a couple of five dollar checks anyway. Having a few local cover bands play your song isn't actually going ot get you any money.

The rumor is that its a backdoor way for BMI to catch venues/bars who aren't paying their licensing fees to BMI, but are still playing music.

[taez555]

The rumor is that its a backdoor way for BMI to catch venues/bars who aren't paying their licensing fees to BMI, but are still playing music.

Interesting. :-)

I gotta say, that's actually a really good idea. Although now it sort of makes any royalties paid to the small guys sound like a finders fee for ratting out your local establishment, I still like it. It's a great way to crack down on people cheating the system AND help get songwriters paid.

[rob2001]

FWIW, I left a band back in the 90's and they replaced me. Everything was cool. They continued to play at least 6 songs I wrote and I thought it was pretty cool. They didn't always pay homage to me as the writer. If I was there they'd ask me to join them for a few tunes.

The only way I could imagine being pissed is if they recorded and made money or things weren't cool, like if you split on bad terms. Hey, your music is getting out there and being heard. Would it be better if you took your song and played it for yourself?

[mikem]

Sue the sumbitch!

:phones

Reminds me of a time a friend wanted to cover one of our tunes- the drummer stated that he was worried about the copyright- my response was BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! It's not like it was Hairway to Steven or anything like that.

Mike

[fjrabon]

FWIW, I left a band back in the 90's and they replaced me. Everything was cool. They continued to play at least 6 songs I wrote and I thought it was pretty cool. They didn't always pay homage to me as the writer. If I was there they'd ask me to join them for a few tunes.

The only way I could imagine being pissed is if they recorded and made money or things weren't cool, like if you split on bad terms. Hey, your music is getting out there and being heard. Would it be better if you took your song and played it for yourself?

The only thing that mildly annoys me is when they introduce the song just as "an original" with the clear implication that its an original for their band. Heck, I'd be fine if they just played the song and didn't say anything about it at all.

Overall, I more or less agree though. I think I'm going to let it go and just hope people realize that they're my songs when my band gets formed back up.

To be a little more clear of this particular situation:

I formed the band to play songs live that I had written (with some help from the drummer). The bassist and lead guitarist were actually originally hired just as regular fill ins, and for a long time they weren't even considered members of the band. They got paid $100 per night, regardless of what me and the drummer got paid (me and the drummer divided the "profits" at the end of the month between us equally), their duties consisted of rehearsals 1-2 times per week and showing up on time to gigs with their gear. However, after a while we made them official members of the band, and they were expected to contribute to the overall health of the band, like booking gigs, coming up with material, gas money, help with load in, etc. This caused problems that ultimately lead to the band breaking up.

They didn't realize that for most gigs me and the drummer actually ended up making around $100 each (usually slightly less), after we paid the band's expenses. So when the other two came on as equal partners, they thought they'd be getting raises and really didn't. And their nice little just show up and take the benjy every night we play gig was done. So they wanted to go back to the old way, but they also didn't want to give up the "control" of the band either. The classic "have your cake and eat it too" conundrum.

So they left and hooked up with a drummer and lead singer and started a new band, that is a 99% cover band. When they play my songs, they give a clear impression that these are songs they wrote, though they never directly say "we wrote this one." Like I said, they usually say "here's an original song for ya!"

So its not like I was in this band, wrote some songs for the band, left the band and the band kept playing my songs. That I wouldn't have any problem with, as its always been my feeling that if you write a song for a band, that band has the right to keep playing it and presenting it as theirs, even if they don't give you verbal credit for it.

I wrote some songs, I contracted these guys to help me with them live, they left the band and then started playing my songs with a different band, giving the impression that they wrote these songs.

[Jarrett]

I'm on the other side of the coin kinda. I'm in a new band that wants to play a couple of songs that we played 20 years ago in a previous band. The guitar player and I wrote and copyrighted all the music back then, but the lyrics were written and copyrighted by the singer of the old band. So flash forward to today, we are playing the song with the same lyrics with another singer. Feel a little weird about it, but like others said, the song and band aren't going anywhere, just a local for fun kinda band thing. Not looking to make money.

[3leggeddog]

I would be very bothered by that scenario. It's actually happened to me on one occasion as well. For me it has nothing to do with money, or copyright laws, or anything other than the simple fact that it's YOUR idea and it simply a very deceitful, crappy thing to do on the part of the other guys.

[fjrabon]

Sue the sumbitch!

:phones

Reminds me of a time a friend wanted to cover one of our tunes- the drummer stated that he was worried about the copyright- my response was BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! It's not like it was Hairway to Steven or anything like that.

Mike

getting a copyright for a tune is pretty easy. Especially if you count common law copyrights. You can actually just upload the song to youtube, giving a clear showing of the date you composed it, and as long as nobody can prove a pre-dating creation, most courts would count that as a valid copyright.

[fjrabon]

I'm on the other side of the coin kinda. I'm in a new band that wants to play a couple of songs that we played 20 years ago in a previous band. The guitar player and I wrote and copyrighted all the music back then, but the lyrics were written and copyrighted by the singer of the old band. So flash forward to today, we are playing the song with the same lyrics with another singer. Feel a little weird about it, but like others said, the song and band aren't going anywhere, just a local for fun kinda band thing. Not looking to make money.

yeah, I would be fine with that type of scenario as long as you didn't try to pass it off like you wrote the whole thing. Something like "here's a song me and a couple of buddies wrote 20 years ago" or not even saying anything about it at all would both be fine to me.

[rob2001]

The only thing that mildly annoys me is when they introduce the song just as "an original" with the clear implication that its an original for their band. Heck, I'd be fine if they just played the song and didn't say anything about it at all.

Overall, I more or less agree though. I think I'm going to let it go and just hope people realize that they're my songs when my band gets formed back up.

To be a little more clear of this particular situation:

I formed the band to play songs live that I had written (with some help from the drummer). The bassist and lead guitarist were actually originally hired just as regular fill ins, and for a long time they weren't even considered members of the band. They got paid $100 per night, regardless of what me and the drummer got paid (me and the drummer divided the "profits" at the end of the month between us equally), their duties consisted of rehearsals 1-2 times per week and showing up on time to gigs with their gear. However, after a while we made them official members of the band, and they were expected to contribute to the overall health of the band, like booking gigs, coming up with material, gas money, help with load in, etc. This caused problems that ultimately lead to the band breaking up.

They didn't realize that for most gigs me and the drummer actually ended up making around $100 each (usually slightly less), after we paid the band's expenses. So when the other two came on as equal partners, they thought they'd be getting raises and really didn't. And their nice little just show up and take the benjy every night we play gig was done. So they wanted to go back to the old way, but they also didn't want to give up the "control" of the band either. The classic "have your cake and eat it too" conundrum.

So they left and hooked up with a drummer and lead singer and started a new band, that is a 99% cover band. When they play my songs, they give a clear impression that these are songs they wrote, though they never directly say "we wrote this one." Like I said, they usually say "here's an original song for ya!"

So its not like I was in this band, wrote some songs for the band, left the band and the band kept playing my songs. That I wouldn't have any problem with, as its always been my feeling that if you write a song for a band, that band has the right to keep playing it and presenting it as theirs, even if they don't give you verbal credit for it.

I wrote some songs, I contracted these guys to help me with them live, they left the band and then started playing my songs with a different band, giving the impression that they wrote these songs.


Ya, that is a bit different considering you hired them to perform your music. If I were any of them I would have asked permission and would for sure give credit when I could. It's a bit presumptuous of them.

Are you on good enough terms to have an open discussion with them about it? Maybe they just don't think it bothers you. At least tell them that when your new band is up and running, YOU will be performing the songs. That might clue them in...if they're clueless!

[fjrabon]

Ya, that is a bit different considering you hired them to perform your music. If I were any of them I would have asked permission and would for sure give credit when I could. It's a bit presumptuous of them.

Are you on good enough terms to have an open discussion with them about it? Maybe they just don't think it bothers you. At least tell them that when your new band is up and running, YOU will be performing the songs. That might clue them in...if they're clueless!

yeah, I don't know. Things were pretty tense when the band dissolved. I'd like to remain friends with both of them, as overall they are cool dudes. Like I said, I think I'm leaning towards just forgetting it unless they become really overt about claiming they wrote the songs.

[kmgreensman]

So how do I resolve this situation:

My last band, I wrote all the songs, in fact I wrote all the parts except the drums and about half the solos were improvised during live gigs.

The band broke up and the lead guitarist and bassist formed another group. They're doing a few of my songs. Which in fact I'd be totally cool with, but they generally introduce it with "here's an original" or something similarly ambiguous, that makes it somewhat sound like they wrote the song. I came to one of their last gigs and they introduced it as "here is one from our last band" I think only because they knew I was there. These dudes didn't write any of the parts.

It may just be from a lack of material for their new band and they'll just eventually phase it out.

Should I talk to them about it? Or just let it go and be flattered? I really wouldn't mind them playing it if they were just more clear about it being my song.

These guys were pretty good friends of mine and then we had a pretty tense break up to the band, and I don't want to permanently burn the bridge forever by seeming like I'm still controlling the band long after we've broken up, but I also don't want a year down the road, when I put the band back together, people asking my why I'm covering THEIR song.


I agree its a compliment, BUT I think he should give you a little cred. I have a couple of guys that play songs I wrote out. NOW, I have never been at the event to see what happens, but I would assume he gives me credit. I dont guess it would matter too much if he didnt unless he claims he wrote it but I KNOW he wouldnt do that..

Curt

[lhallam]

If it was me and I was playing someone else's material I'd mention who wrote it.

[glenperry]

So how do I resolve this situation:

My last band, I wrote all the songs, in fact I wrote all the parts except the drums and about half the solos were improvised during live gigs.

The band broke up and the lead guitarist and bassist formed another group. They're doing a few of my songs. Which in fact I'd be totally cool with, but they generally introduce it with "here's an original" or something similarly ambiguous, that makes it somewhat sound like they wrote the song. I came to one of their last gigs and they introduced it as "here is one from our last band" I think only because they knew I was there. These dudes didn't write any of the parts.

It may just be from a lack of material for their new band and they'll just eventually phase it out.

Should I talk to them about it? Or just let it go and be flattered? I really wouldn't mind them playing it if they were just more clear about it being my song.

These guys were pretty good friends of mine and then we had a pretty tense break up to the band, and I don't want to permanently burn the bridge forever by seeming like I'm still controlling the band long after we've broken up, but I also don't want a year down the road, when I put the band back together, people asking my why I'm covering THEIR song.


I would say the bottom line is, don't be a hardass and don't be hardassed. If you think these guys are just not thinking about who wrote the song, then they're getting away with doing exactly what they mean to do, taking credit that is yours. Nobody gets on stage and introduces a song as "here's an original" and means "here's a song a friend of ours wrote". They're just playing dumb and seeing how far they can go with it. Obviously, the whole thing is bothering you, so you should deal with it. If it were me, I'd be totally cool, depending on circumstances, that they're covering my song, but I'd be totally uncool with them sneaking in the insinuation that they wrote the song. It's sneaky, uncool, childish, and just wrong. Talk to them civily about it, and if they are friends or even just cool human beings, they will adjust their show accordingly. And whether or not they adjust, put your new band together and play the songs in public as much as possible, using the whole scenario as a boost to your new band. But always keep your cool, never down-talk them on stage, that kind of stuff can come back on you in a very bad way.
just my 3 cents...

[Jon Silberman]

I think it's the band that's being hardassed, not the OP. How f- difficult is it to introduce the song as, "Here's an original written by our former guitarist, __________?" To imply it's theirs through ambiguity is to me a dickweed act. Particularly because of how accommodating to them the OP's being already.

If it was me, I'd first and foremost copyright the song now. Then I'd tell them (or a band rep) in person, "Look, this isn't about controlling what you play, it's about respecting an author in his lifetime."

P.S. glenperry - welcome to TGP. Excellent first post - stick around, mon!

[Norlo]

I think its petty on both sides...

Yeah they should probably credit you, are they gonna?
probably not unless they have to.

Do you really need to be credited when its played?

If I were in the audience and they said "This is a song by so and so." or "this is an original" either way it doesn't matter to me because I don't know who you are - the fact that someone I don't know wrote a song (that I may have never heard before) another band is playing, big deal. (no offense) I only care if I like it or not.

To me it seems like a waste of time to try and get them to credit you when they play them. If they were gonna do it they would do it on there own. I think it would cause more headaches and bad blood. You said you already have the legal stuff taken care of so unless it makes some big bucks I would say **** it.

Besides when you get your thing going you could always say "...and here's a song I wrote with my last band." or something to that effect. If anyone says something about them playing it you could be like "oh, yeah. I wrote it but I let them play it, they do a good job." Makes you seem like a really cool dude ya, know?

[SW33THAND5]

this has happened to me quite a few times...


i wrote most of the songs (or all) in most all of the bands that i have been in... then when i left, it happened that they did quite a few of my old songs.


personally? i just let them go into the wind. lets face it, the chances of ANY band doing ANYTHING with ANY song (good or bad) that actually generates MONEY is SLIM to NONE.


if they do not have someone to competently fill the songwriting duties then their band will fizzle too.


on to the next song

[Flyin' Brian]

Only one answer:

http://www.realmofdarkness.net/pc/img/judy/judgejudy-007.jpg

[2HBStrat]

.....If it was me, I'd first and foremost copyright the song now. Then I'd tell them (or a band rep) in person, "Look, this isn't about controlling what you play, it's about respecting an author in his lifetime." P.S. glenperry - welcome to TGP. Excellent first post - stick around, mon!

Two things....one, if the OP hasn't copyrighted the song yet, then there's no reason for this conversation.....and two, when you cover a song, you say "here's a song by Elvis (for example).....you don't say "here's a song by Lieber & Stoller (the writers of "Hound Dog").

[SW33THAND5]

also... in my group of musician friends... who have various bands. we almost always cover songs from local bands that our buddies are and put our own take on them. we see each others shows... then your buddy launches into one of YOUR songs. we all get a kick out of it.

we always take it as a sign of respect and an honor... of course we are competitive and want to "one up" the original version. but its all done over beer, loud music, love, and rock-n-roll

[db9091]

Make yourself a t-shirt that says "I wrote this bands songs!!"

What are they going to do, get mad at you for taking credit for songs they didn't write?

[Frank Prince]

The only thing that mildly annoys me is when they introduce the song just as "an original" with the clear implication that its an original for their band. Heck, I'd be fine if they just played the song and didn't say anything about it at all.

Overall, I more or less agree though. I think I'm going to let it go and just hope people realize that they're my songs when my band gets formed back up.

To be a little more clear of this particular situation:

I formed the band to play songs live that I had written (with some help from the drummer). The bassist and lead guitarist were actually originally hired just as regular fill ins, and for a long time they weren't even considered members of the band. They got paid $100 per night, regardless of what me and the drummer got paid (me and the drummer divided the "profits" at the end of the month between us equally), their duties consisted of rehearsals 1-2 times per week and showing up on time to gigs with their gear. However, after a while we made them official members of the band, and they were expected to contribute to the overall health of the band, like booking gigs, coming up with material, gas money, help with load in, etc. This caused problems that ultimately lead to the band breaking up.

They didn't realize that for most gigs me and the drummer actually ended up making around $100 each (usually slightly less), after we paid the band's expenses. So when the other two came on as equal partners, they thought they'd be getting raises and really didn't. And their nice little just show up and take the benjy every night we play gig was done. So they wanted to go back to the old way, but they also didn't want to give up the "control" of the band either. The classic "have your cake and eat it too" conundrum.

So they left and hooked up with a drummer and lead singer and started a new band, that is a 99% cover band. When they play my songs, they give a clear impression that these are songs they wrote, though they never directly say "we wrote this one." Like I said, they usually say "here's an original song for ya!"

So its not like I was in this band, wrote some songs for the band, left the band and the band kept playing my songs. That I wouldn't have any problem with, as its always been my feeling that if you write a song for a band, that band has the right to keep playing it and presenting it as theirs, even if they don't give you verbal credit for it.

I wrote some songs, I contracted these guys to help me with them live, they left the band and then started playing my songs with a different band, giving the impression that they wrote these songs.

Record the songs and then set up a table at all of their gigs and sell the CDs. :idea :rockin

[The Golden Boy]

I was in a band with a couple of friends. We went through several iterations, and eventually the band collapsed.

When two of the guys put another version of the band together (with new members and a different name), they let me know they were doing songs I'd written and I'd written with them. I was way OK with it- They gave me a record (which I didn't listen to for 5 years) and it did surprise me to find they used some of my parts in some of their new songs.

I was kind of flattered. If it were to ever get famous or make big money, I'd want in on some of that. Otherwise... I'm glad I unconsciously helped them write songs they liked enough to record.

[Cosmic]

To be a little more clear of this particular situation:

I formed the band to play songs live that I had written (with some help from the drummer). The bassist and lead guitarist were actually originally hired just as regular fill ins, and for a long time they weren't even considered members of the band..........etc

OK, now that you laid it out with more detail, I'd be a little bothered by it too. Not sure how much, but it'd certainly be a speck in the eye.

Before, while reading the string, I was not bothered and viewed it more as complimentary of them to keep your song a living, breathing entity. Now....now, sounds like they are pulling a slight bit of doucher move on you.

I'd love to tell you how I'd handle it -- but everyone is unique in their ways and I'd have to be in your shoes to really know for sure.