So, Dodge posted Tuesday about Mazarin calling it quits, which upset me because I really dug into the group’s last LP, We’re Already There. Turns out, the band is actually being forced to change its name becaue of a cease and desist order by an attorney hired by another band called Mazarin, “often referred to as ‘Long Island musical legends’ ” (by whom I don’t know).
This from The Good Mazarin’s Web site, wherein “Mazarin A” refers to those “Long Island musical legends”:
Considering MAZARIN B had no disposable income to fight the case, plus information had come to light revealing that one of the members of MAZARIN A was in poor physical health, yet still paying his attorney some four hundred dollars an hour, all the while desperately soliciting donations for their legal and medical funds via their website, MAZARIN B and their management concluded the whole predicament was so sad and despairing that instead of dragging out a lengthy litigation, which they had neither the time nor money to commit to; fuck it. Clearly, the name is cursed.
And, really, how could The Good Mazarin win this one? I mean, Mazarin A “was awarded ‘Best Rock Band’ by Good Times Music Magazine 1982-1986” and “has shared the stage with the world’s top music acts and has performed thousands of shows in front of hundreds of thousands of loyal fans.” Good Times Music Magazine? Wow. What were the Walkmen thinking? They should have covered this Mazarin.
Sigh. This reminds me of the rapper Common, who went by the name Common Sense on his first two albums but was sued by a ska band nobody had heard of by the same name. Hence, Common.
Ah, well. The Good Mazarin is having a show (retirement party?) on Dec. 2 in Philadelphia to bid farewell to its name. I really hope they just change the name and keep playing. Garrison had asked me a few months ago if, looking back, there were any albums I wished I had put on my best-of list for 2005. We’re Already There definitely was my first choice.
As for music, The Good Mazarin is offering a new track, Your Advice, at its MySpace page.
Mazarin | Another One Goes By
Hey I know you don’t see the reason in this…
but the deal is that “band names” are basically brand names… and if you come up with it first, you should have the right to use it
plainly 2 groups operating or releasing material under the same name creates confusion n the marketplace.
Just because you never heard of the Common Sense ska band doesn’t mean I never heard of them, in fact I have, long before I knew about some rapper using the name.
See that’s confusion.
ex.
A guy I knew in DC had a goth punk band called Madhouse, and he sold the name to Prince later when Prince wanted that name…
He lived off that $30,000 for awhile..that’s fair. He relinquished his claim, Prince paid up.
and then ironically the same guy started a band called Grand Mal…which then was a name stolen by another group recently…
he’s gotten nothing I’m sure, but it has still created confusion…
ex.
Nirvana was a British band in the late 60’s before some kids in Aberdeen Washington came up with the same moniker nearly 20 years later…
Afyer a lawsuit, Geffen paid out in that instance…
I knew a guy in LA using the band name The Living End, and then a newer Australian band showed up with lawyers & a major label and through economic force put my guy outta the game.
Even though he was first…
Let’s jus say when I started a group called Toolin’ For Bovines , I never expected some band in West Virginia would surface 5 years later…
and I got nothing of course…but what are the odds of that?
When people use the same name, it sorta sucks for fans as well…
Meaning I go buy one band’s CD, and it’s really anothers…
If you bought a Pepsi and found out is was milk in the bottle ya might be upset eh?
or if I started a Blog called “So Much Silence”…
it’s just misleading at the very least, or perhaps a way to cash in…
It wouldn’t be really fair if I was an actor going by the name Brad Pitt, if I’m not would it?
So I’m just wondering… ya do realize that they actually call it “the music business” for a reason…
and music artists have a right to exclusively use their name, unless it is proven they abandoned it..
M,
Thanks for the lengthy comment, though a tad patronizing.
ex.
“So I’m just wondering… ya do realize that they actually call it ‘the music business’ for a reason…”
Yes. I’m quite aware. Legalities aside, I’m not sure there’s much “confusion in the marketplace” regarding Mazarin, especially in terms of national branding. I’m not saying the Mazarin I like is all that popular, but I’m guessing not many people have heard of this other Mazarin from Long Island. Again, I do get it, though.
However, I’d hate to think that fans would be short-sighted enough to actually buy the WRONG CD. If I wanted to buy a Common Sense (the rapper) CD, I’m pretty sure I’m bright enough to distinguish its cover from Common Sense (the ska band). If someone does that, I don’t blame the artists with the same name; that’s short-sighted behavior of the fan.
Maybe I’ll go buy a copyright for my blog name right now.
m, what you say makes a lot of sense. I dug a little deeper to see that only one side of this story is (possibly) being presented. Everyone’s entitled to call themselves something but you know from being in a band ya gotta do some research to see if anyone else is out there.
The Philly band may not have meant any harm but maybe they were just little lazy?
I can’t imagine there was’nt significant effort on the part of the original band to get this cleared up. Maybe the new guys ignored them? There had to be something more becuase these guys in NY have been around for decades. Did you see the photos on their website?
The New York based Mazarin has been around for thirty years, appeared nationally and released a number of records that received significant airplay in major markets. They’re still performing to this day. Their “records” are out of print but the songs on are on http://www.myspace.com/mazarinrockers & http://www.mazarin.us and were included on vinyl collections that featured Bon Jovi and Twisted Sister.
Their “radio hits” are to be re-released in 2007.
They appeared at the largest headline venue at SXSW in 91.
They have performed thousands of shows.
If you do some additional research you’ll find what I did, that they were produced by the legendary Roger Nichols (Steely Dan).
The “original” Mazarin from NY was on the cover of the Relix website in June for their anniversary show with Gary US Bonds.
Not so hard to locate including catalougue numbers for their singles.
Thanks for your opinion.
I’m sure since the original mazarin was still around and the Philly band hit places they were playing it must have caused some irritation & confusion to their fans.
This is a very visable band. Billy Joels guitar player-musical director Tommy Byrnes played with them and did a list (mazarin website) of other people I saw.
peace
music fan
As someone who knows the original Mazarin, I’ve decided to comment on this one, and hopefully clear up a couple of mis-statements, which come from the Mazarin Retirees myspace.
First and foremost Mazarin was not out for money, would never have considered selling the name, and NEVER solicited funds for medical treatment for one of the original band members. They also did not just “appear†out of the woodwork with a Cease and Desist. They attempted to contact the Retirees for a couple of years with calls, emails and letters and were simply ignored. Their original intention was to attempt to have the Retirees simply not play as Mazarin in Manhattan, as they were being flooded with phone calls and their following was buying records and going to shows only to see the wrong Mazarin. They never received any return communication until they got a lawyer involved, and at that point the Retirees Manager did his clients the ultimate disservice of attacking, provoking and being such a prick that Mazarin had no choice but to go forward completely. If one Retiree had ever contacted Mazarin, the whole thing could have been worked out musician to musician. The Retirees also didn’t just decide to bow out due to lack of funds, they did hire a New York City Lawyer who, after reviewing the longevity, documentation, and consistancy of Mazarin (who never stopped playing) consulted his clients that in this matter, they could not win.
Mazarin did not solicit funds from their fans, their fans simply donated in the most generous way I’ve ever seen for the law suite, not medical expenses. That’s what happens when you’ve been playing consistantly in the world’s biggest musical market, with the musicians who paved the way for bands like the Retirees, and with the top producers in the business for 30 years. I wish the Retirees the best of luck, and that they can enjoy the longevity, success and passion that has kept Mazarin rocking for 30 years. It’s a rarity, and one that should be celebrated by musician everywhere, especially those who hope to do this for the rest of their lives too
Wow. Anonymous, thanks for the very detailed follow-up. Much appreciated.
very very nice
thank you