Royalties bid by Pink Floyd school chorus

Owen Bowcott
Saturday November 27, 2004
The Guardian

"We don't need no education.

We don't need no thought control.

No dark sarcasm in the classroom.

Teacher, leave those kids alone."

Twenty-five years after belting out those lyrics on Pink Floyd's number one hit, Another Brick In The Wall, a group of former London schoolchildren were yesterday reported to have lodged a claim for unpaid music royalties.

Some of the ex-pupils are hoping for back payments for their contribution to the album, which has so far sold more than 12m copies.

When the song was recorded in 1979 at Britannia Row Recording Studios in Islington, north London, the studio manager recruited a chorus of young voices from nearby Islington Green School.

After the song was released, the Inner London education authority branded it "scandalous" and the school blocked the children's participation in a pop video.

Islington Green, however, subsequently received a £1,000 cheque from the recording company, which was spent on musical equipment.

Trevor Averre-Beeson, the current headteacher, confirmed there had been discussions about whether any of those involved should have received royalty payments.

He said yesterday: "No one foresaw then how their voices would be heard around the world.

"The children were very pleased and excited. I believe the chorus involved 12 children, at least half of whom later went on to have careers in music or the recording business."

EMI, Pink Floyd's recording label, yesterday declined to comment on the reported request for royalties.

God, I hate that fucking song. I hate Pink Floyd. I hope they get screwed for every penny they've got.

BinaryJustin said:

Actually I hate the song too, but not Pink Floyd

Taureau said:

I've actually had fist-fights with people because they've played Pink Floyd records in my presence.

They make me feel physically ill.

God, I hate that fucking song. I hate Pink Floyd. I hope they get screwed for every penny they've got.

BinaryJustin said:

but why?

but why?

Taureau said:

It's just pretentious art-school hippy bollocks. I can't stand it. Their music reminds me of the 70s - but in a bad way. Dreary weather. The smell of wet dogs. Roast beef dinners. Power-cuts because half the country was on strike most of the time. The soccer results on a Saturday evening. Ugh. No. I can't fucking stand them.

There was an article 2day in one of our papers that the kids(of course, they are all grown up now!!!LOL) that sang the chorus in that song are now fighting Pink Floyd for a share of the royalties from it, due 2 some copyright law or something!!!

I know!! I didnt realize it untill after I posted my comment!!

Ususally if posts are too long I cant b bothered 2 read them!! I dont have that kind of time or patience!!!!

I know!! I didnt realize it untill after I posted my comment!!

Ususally if posts are too long I cant b bothered 2 read them!! I dont have that kind of time or patience!!!!

Gold319 said:

You don't have time yet you sit around here virtually all day...interesting..you also don't have the patience yet you expect people to read your crap and reply.

God you annoy me

Seems silly, I don't think session musicians get paid royalties, especially when they are nameless.

BinaryJustin said:

Actually I hate the song too, but not Pink Floyd

well, they were probably paid a flat session rate when they went in to do the recording, so that's all the payment they get or deserve, just like any other session musician. if half of those kids went on to careers in the music business, as the article claims, they should know that and not be wasting their time and money on a frivilous lawsuit.

GrayKing said:

And if the flat session rate was "a day off school" then that was the negociation at the time, and you can't reverse those agreements.

What would Judge Judy say?



"Get over it!"

This thread is going off topic, the early posts were great. let's get back to hating 'The Floyd' please.


[Edited 11/27/04 20:34pm]