Coldplay sued by Joe Satriani for copyright infringementThe American guitar whizz claims Chris Martin and his crew have borrowed 'substantial original portions'
It seems everyone thinks they wrote the Coldplay track Viva La Vida. Earlier this year, New York band Creaky Boards posted a YouTube clip claiming the song was similar to one of their own. And now acclaimed American rock guitarist Joe Satriani is suing the band for copyright infringement. Satriani claims that Viva La Vida rips off his song, If I Could Fly. The suit contends that "substantial original portions" of his song are recycled in Coldplay's hit.
On the one hand, you have Satriani's six-and-a-half-minute instrumental from 2004, with cheese-ball guitar wailing, moments of shredding, and long bouts of soloing. On the other hand, you have Viva La Vida: Eno-produced, Grammy-nominated, full of strings, church bells, drum rolls, chorales. And a sort of harpsichord solo. Certainly Viva La Vida is cheese-ball as well - but it feels more cheddar than Dairylea.
Enterprising YouTubers have already created head-to-head comparisons, but unfortunately for Satriani it's not internet commenters who will decide whether his song has been plagiarised. The 52-year-old is seeking a jury trial, demanding damages and "any and all profits" from the song.
Even if Satriani is unsuccessful, Coldplay may yet have difficulties with Creaky Boards. The band still allege that at least three seconds of Viva La Vida were nicked from their (aptly named) tune, The Songs I Didn't Write.
Not only that, Creaky Boards are, er, pretty sure they saw Chris Martin in the crowd at one of their gigs. Your honour – throw away the key!