Why is it okay for the band to rip off Soul Asylum but not others?

"I've always felt that people should know about this and I still have the original demo. If anyone in the world wants to hear it I'll be happy to put an Mpeg up on my website so they can hear it too"

Interesting story. Has anyone ever heard this demo? The story is pretty old, but six years later on Joel's official webpage http://www.joelellismusic.com you can even listen to the Joel's first studio recordings (at age of 6), but there is no demo of I'll be there for you.

Ted Poley - the drummer of Prophet once said that Richie stole the famous Wanted intro riff from their song "Slow down" (1985).


Judge for yourself!

P.S: Anyway, it's interesting that Richie's old buddy Dean Fasano is the singer on that album. Even though the lead vocals on "Slow Down"' are sung by the bass player.

I'm pretty sure that that's because the story is bogus. We know that it was Richie who wrote (most of) the song, not Jon. And there have been so many rumours like this that I just refuse to believe any of them. If they were as prolific as writers as it's been said, why would they steal songs? People still believe Jon&Richie wrote 18 And Life and I Remember You for Skid Row. If they had songs like that hidden away, why would they steal?

Better known as the singer of Danger Danger.

It's as much like Wanted as Für Elise is like Stairway To Heaven.

Ice

Completely agreed. If anything, Bon Jovi have been quite open with how Wanted has come about. Mix Turn the Page and Midnight Rider into one song and add a little bit of Jimmy Page and John Bonham sound and taaaa-daaaa: Wanted Dead Or Alive. Doesn't make it any less original or any less awesome.

That Prophet song is just a ballad with an acoustic lick that is played along most of the fretboard. Quite a stretch to call it a 'rip-off'.

I really think Bon Jovi (especially in the early days) was a band that wore its influences on its sleeve. It has been done to death how much he was chasing a Springsteen style etc. and I imagine that they were students of what was then current music as well as what had happened in the past. Jon was more than open on some occasions about how a certain song got its sound, they have name tracks and artists that inspired their music. Did they steal, I think back in the day not outright no, but I think they tried to create the vibe or sound of songs they loved.

I am a writer and I decided around two years ago to write an adventure story for a book of shorts I was putting together. It was a departure from my usual subject matter but I loved the adventure novels of Clive Cussler while growing up. Anyway, there is no doubt that anybody reading that adventure short would say, hey this is like Cussler. I didn´t copy him in the slightest but his influence was in my finger for sure.

I find it interesting that Bon Jovi has never been sued for plagarism. I know some of you will say "not that we know of", but we know of other major acts who have been, so I doubt that Bon Jovi could keep this all under wraps especially if they are the prolific stealer´s some suggest.

In that Bart Steele case, they apparently have, over I love this town: http://voices.yahoo.com/is-jon-bon-j...352.html?cat=2

I've read a page from 2011 a couple of hours ago where it said that there are now 4 different cases on that matter (some don't involve BJ at all, but the networks using the song in their spots), and that they have been going on for 3 years, some already in appeal or something...

Yet, I agree, they have never been found guilty as far as I can recall...

It goes the other way too. After the success of Livin' On A Prayer, songwriters Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley wrote Heaven Is A Place On Earth for Belinda Carlisle. I didn't realise it until it was pointed out.

The biggesr rip off at the mo are One Direction who've ripped of The Clash and Def Leppard (not the bands fault as they didn't write the songs) but the songwriters and producers.

Who actually believes that? There's demos of 18 & Life (with slightly different bridge lyrics) with Skid Row's first singer, demoed before Jon & Richie even got involved with the record label deal and all that.

And yeah, I know Jon & Snake are friends, but I doubt he wrote a potential hit for all his friends in bands.

I never actually heard how that was a ripoff, but nonethless, that'd be some unexpectedly cool reference points for a boygroup, don't you think?

I do. Skid Row was under Jon's label and he was going to cash in big-time from their successes. Those songs are too polished and have the Bon Jovi lyrics all over them. Much different from anything else on that album. If not Jon and Richie, Desmond.

Tequila in his heartbeat, his veins full of gasoline.

Perfect for the NJ album.

But even after the demos are posted pre Jon's involvement?

When were the demos recorded? Seb switching to lead singer has nothing to do with Jon s time with the Skid Row project.