More copyright law for you. The members of Procul Harum are heading to court in a dispute over their 1967 hit 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale'. The dispute follows claims by the band's former keyboard player Matthew Fisher that he is due royalties on the track.
The song is currently credited to the band's lead singer Gary Booker and lyricist Keith Reid and as such it is they who have earned publishing royalties on it. However, Fisher now claims he wrote the song's distinctive organ melody and as a result is claiming a share of the royalties.
Responding to the claim, Booker denies that Fisher had a role in creating the track, and cites the fact he is only making a claim forty years on as evidence in support of that fact. Writing on the band's website, he says: "'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' was written by Keith Reid and me before Matthew even joined the band. I am shocked and dismayed that after Matthew had worked with us quite happily over the course of 40 years without him once alleging that his role on 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' was anything other than as a musician, it is only now that he claims he recalls writing part of the song. People can draw their own conclusions from this".
But Fisher's solicitor, Mike Shepherd, claims his client has always stated he had a role in creating the song, telling reporters: "My client has always maintained he wrote the parts, or composed the parts, he claims he composes".
The case is due to go to the London High Court, where it is expected Shepherd will be asked to play the disputed piece of music.