This is directed at everyone not a specific reply, as I can't suss out how to post a topic of my own, but I do want to say thanks to everyone involved in this site. Some great stuff by nearly every band on the planet worth checking out. Further a couple of comments...
Any chance of running some of the T.Rex concerts. Those are the ones I'd most love to hear? Also, were the T.Rex Performances video taped?
Some comments on the pending lawsuits as well....
Since Bill Hagan is only broadcasting the stuff, and since they get airplay royalties for anything broadcast, the case may set some legal precedents with regard to any judgements that come out of the case, because it is a pretty unique case. As for the t.shirts etc... that is said to be leftover stock from Bill Graham's collection. No law against selling old t.shirts or the like either. People do that on eBay every day.
But basically as long as the guy isn't charging people to listen or selling the stuff, there is nothing they can do about him.
You don't need permission from The Grateful Dead to play one of their songs on the radio. You play it, a fee is paid to ASCAP, BMI or the apt royalty collection agency, the artist cashes their cheque and spends it. End of story.
What is really going on here is these people are getting greedy. Record companies and the bands. Knowing this stuff exists, they now want in on the action and are trying to stop this guy so they can get ahold of it and put it out themselves, so they reap the profits instead of him.
The thing is, he owns the tapes, not them, and that's what really bugs their you know whats. Were I in his shoes I'd say this....
Okay, I will stop broadcasting music by all the bands who are suing me. In fact. I am going to take the master tapes and every single existing copy in the world, and I am going to burn the bleeping lot of it at 2 pm tomorrow - eastern standard time. Totally and forever erasing these performances from the history of rock'n'roll.
Within 3 seconds the guy's phone and e-mail inbox would be swamped with calls from the bands and record companies notifying him that they were dropping their lawsuits and sending over people to perform oral sex on them, while they plead on bended knees for him to not destroy the tapes. As the owner of the tapes he would have the right to do so if he saw fit.
The guy has been very nice about sharing this stuff and he does not allow downloads or sell it from the website, so he's broken no laws. The greedy record companies and bands need to grow up a little and appreciate what this guy is doing for them. If he starts releasing DVDs or CDs of it. Then by all means these people can seek out a share of the profits or to block such releases if unhappy with their performances or something. Not that I'd like to see that happen. But so far - no crime done. And the lawsuits are groundless.
