Into the pop courts or, rather, out of the pop courts, and The Drifters have reached an out of court settlement with, erm, The Drifters. Not that The Drifters will be called The Drifters anymore. Only The Drifters will be able to use that name.
Yeah, bit confusing this. Basically, the Treadwell family, whose father George Treadwell founded the original group The Drifters back in the fifties, have long asserted their claim to the exclusive use of the name in the soul-pop combo business, but have often had to go legal when other groups - normally with one member or a manager who has had some association with the Treadwell's The Drifters outfit at some point - launches their own male vocal group using The Drifters name or a variation of it.
The latest litigation related to a British-based version of The Drifters run by artist manager Phil Luderman and his business partner Mark Lundquist, who had previously worked with George Treadwell's widow Tina when she had been UK-based and operating a The Drifters set-up over here. The Treadwells objected to the existence of the Luderman/Lundquist managed version of the group, especially once Tina Treadwell had re-established a version of the group in the US who she planned to tour in Europe.
According to the family's legal reps over here a court order has now been secured barring anyone but the Treadwells from operating a The Drifters group, while an out of court settlement has been reached with Luderman and Lundquist regarding their use of the name to date. The Treadwells-managed The Drifters are currently on a UK tour.
Confirming the settlement, Tom Frederikse of Clintons lawyers told CMU: "The Drifters history is as interesting as it is unique, but there is one theme that's constant - the name Treadwell. This is a moral victory for the Treadwells and we are delighted that they have now reaffirmed their legal right to the family business, which they have run for 55 years".