The family of one of pop music's first moguls are heading to the UK courts in a dispute over the band he and his family have managed since the fifties, The Drifters.
George Treadwell bought a controlling share in the famous American R&B/doo-wop set up in the early fifties off the group's founder, Clyde McPhatter. He managed the group throughout the fifties, overseeing regular line up changes (on one occasion he replaced all four members in one night!) - so regular, in fact, that the band name and their hits are much better known than the majority of the people who have performed with the group over the years.
Following his death in 1967 George's widow Faye took over the management of the group, relocating the operation to the UK after they were so well received here on a late sixties British tour. She continued to manage the group for some years after that, although there were disputes over the use of The Drifters name after former members set up a rival group in the seventies and successfully obtained the US trademark to the name - although that trademark was eventually overturned following long running legal action by Faye Treadwell.
The new litigation is against the latest The Drifters incarnation, a UK based group who are about to embark on a new tour and release a new album. The Treadwells say that the new group is not sanctioned by them, and that they, their manager and their agent are infringing the Drifters' trademark by 'passing off' as the legendary pop band.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Tina Treadwell, George and Faye's daughter, told reporters: "It is my goal to rid the marketplace of all the warring factions of the Drifters so there is just one group that the fans can depend on. When something is wonderful you always have people who will copy it".