Original URL: www.jsonline.com/onwiscons...305036.asp


Sony shuts down band Beatallica, Web site
Posted: Feb. 25, 2005

If you needed another reason to rail against the big bad record industry and how it stomps on the little guy, how about this: Local Metallica-Beatles parody act Beatallica was forced to shut down its Web site after receiving a cease-and-desist notice from Sony / ATV Music Publishing that alleged copyright infringement.

The band has received international notice for its clever sendups of both The Four Horsemen and The Fab Four, such as "I Want to Choke Your Band," and counts Metallica's own members among those who have expressed public support.

Beatallica had posted its songs online for free - until Sony opted to take legal action last week.

Fans of Beatallica quickly responded with an online petition asking that the cease-and-desist notice be lifted, arguing that, as a parody, the band is not violating copyright law.

As of Friday afternoon, more than 3,800 e-signatures in support of the band and its Web site had been received at www.petitiononline.com/p1gp0g/petition.html.

Beatallica comprises four veteran Milwaukee musicians and is up for a Wisconsin Area Music Industry Award this year in the specialty / nostalgia group category.

Neither Beatallica nor Sony / ATV returned calls seeking comment.