“We hear that a Canadian Metallica tribute band is a little upset with us and with a little digging figured out why”, posted the band on their website.
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A cease and desist letter sent to Canadian Metallica tribute act Sandman last week has become “The Thing That Should Not Be”, as Metallica have come out in support of the cover band and claim an “overzealous” lawyer is to blame for the snafu.
Metallica cover band Sandman didn’t expect to have a FedEx package waiting for them over the weekend when they arrived at FitzRay’s, a London, Ontario club where the band was scheduled to play Saturday night. Sandman’s logo uses the same font adopted by Metallica on their 2003 album St Anger and they refer to themselves as “Canada’s tribute to Metallica”.
After a number of comments on the Facebook post from followers, Di Taranto offered some clarification, stating, “Unfortunately I think many people here have either misread or not read the letter at all …”
Catching the attention of the lawyers by using “Metallica’s logos on or to identify or promote live musical performances through Facebook and YouTube”, let this be a warning to any fellow tribute bands out there. “We will always remember those days and continue to enjoy tribute bands”.
Metallica’s statement concluded: “Sandman should file the letter in the trash”.
“You don’t see Rush doing this or the Chili Peppers for that matter”, read an online statement by the Halifax-based Red Hot Chili Peckers.
When the members and management of Metallica got wind of the suit earlier this week, however, they took swift action against what they called a “very overzealous attorney who sent this letter without our knowledge”.
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Di Taranto said that Lars Ulrich called him yesterday to apologize. Yeah, shut that cover band down now guys before they have that big pay day…of two 12 packs and parking validation.
