How Dread Zeppelin avoided getting sued!
Jah Paul Jo of Dread Zeppelin answers a fan's question about DZ's ability to legally get away with doing Zeppelin Inna Reggae Style...
Question: My first questions are how the band was able to get Jimmy Page and Atlantic's permission to release this album, MTV videos, and continue to perform live without having to pay hefty fees to make this happen?
Answer: The first part is easy...I made up the name Dread Zeppelin. When I was in the group, The Prime Movers, we used to play led Zeppelin songs reggae style for fun at our sound checks. The one I remember playing the most was "Good Times Bad Times" but, strangely, we didn't get around to recording it until the fourth album, Hot & Spicy Beanburger.
In 1989, we had already recorded six songs... 2 A & B side singles and put out a cassette compilation with two more songs on it. These were released on Birdcage records and we never asked anyone's permission (that's how we rolled in those days). When the band signed to major label, IRS, everybody said, uh-oh, now they're gonna get sued.
Shortly before the Un Led ED album was to be released, Robert Plant appeared on several magazine covers wearing a Dread Zeppelin t-shirt and declaring us his favorite band.
THAT was a game changer.
From that point on, there never was any problem with Led Zeppelin. The Elvis Presley camp was far more nervous about it. Our manager and myself met with the head of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Jerry Schilling. Jerry was one of Elvis' old "Takin' Care Of Business" boys so I knew a bit of his history. Jerry's big problem was why we had to make "our" Elvis look so fat. Gee, Jerry he IS fat... that ain't padding. But you gotta hear him sing...
Turns out, Jerry was a HUGE Led Zeppelin fan, so once he found out Robert Plant was on board, he was OK with it.
Believe it or not, the biggest legal hassle we ever had was clearing the publishing for "Heartbreaker" with the copy-writer of "Heartbreak Hotel," Mae Axton (Hoyt's mom!). But that's another story!
