The war behind the scenes over rock's relentless party song

But the more interesting question is: Will the Kingsmen case have a significant impact on artists' rights in the future? Some industry experts think so. "[Lawyers] just got themselves a whole brand-new way of going after the record industry," says music publisher Joe Vincent, who is working with the Richard Berry estate. "Do you know how many thousands of one-hit wonders there are out there?"

However, Cheryl Hodgson cautions that "the theory we recovered under only works if there's a complete failure to account and pay." If the record label has paid a band something, no matter how minimal, it will be hard to justify tearing up the contract. Northwest rock historian Peter Blecha notes: "Any record company can juggle the books to show that what they paid a band was fair. They'll say, 'Well, we're investing in their career, you don't understand the overhead, there were defective returns, we flew these guys to Florida, we're still losing money, Your Honor.'" And zero royalties is hardly unheard of. Just last year, the Goo-Goo Dolls sued their longtime label, Metal Blade Records, claiming they had received nothing. (The dispute has now beensettled.)

Back-catalog artists like the Kingsmen, who are no longer coddled stars, will always be prime targets for exploitation. Joe Sasfy, a consultant to the big reissue company Time-Life Music, says the Kingsmen verdict "sends the message to record companies that they're better off paying royalties than losing control of the material." Though as Kingsmen attorney Scott Edelman observes, "There's an underside of the recording industry whose behavior is not going to be affected by anything," let alone this case.

Even the disputes surrounding the Kingsmen's work aren't entirely over. Jerry Dennon has revived his Seattle record label, Jerden Records, and released a CD of live, early '60s performances by the Kingsmen. Asked about these, Dick Peterson says, "I don't know under what authority he's putting those things out. He deeded all masters to us. It's some understanding we have to come to with Jerry."

The Louie Report, maintained by Eric Predoehl, who is working on a documentary film about the song.
http://www.netuser.com/~erp/Louie_Louie.html

The Kingsmen website
http://www.eskimo.com/~craigb/kingsmen.html

Learn to play Louie Louie for the next time you're at a frat party
http://www.housing.gatech.edu/rha/
saacurh/trivia/louie-1.html