Coldplay Sued by Joe Satriani for Copyright Infringement for "Viva La Vida"

Joe Satriani is looked upon as one of the greatest guitar slingers that have ever graced a guitar fret with his fingers. Joe Satriani has not only produced a dozen full length studio albums of mostly instrumental compositions, he has also been a successful instructor, calling many great guitarists - including Kirk Hammett of Metallica and Steve Vai - his disciples and students. But Satriani is now looking to teach Coldplay, the British pop sensation, a lesson in court. He has targeted Coldplay in a recent lawsuit, maintaining that much of his 2004 instrumental "If I Could Fly" was lifted to create the pop band's "Viva La Vida," the title track to their No. 1 selling album, which has sold over 2 million copies to date.

Satriani, according to Rolling Stone magazine, seeks "any and all profits attributable to the alleged copyright infringement."

Although not impossible, it is quite difficult to prove that someone intentionally stole another's music. Artists like Madonna, Ray Parker, Jr., MC Hammer, The Verve, and Daughtry have all been the targets of lawsuits citing copyright infringement. Of those mentioned, only Daughtry's case is pending, the others having lost their respective cases or settled out of court. Joe Satriani will have to prove that Coldplay not only heard his song before composing "Viva La Vida," but that the Coldplay tune is similar enough to justify the charges.

But one is left to wonder if Coldplay, who are nominated for seven 2009 Grammy Awards, wrote any of the music for "Viva La Vida." The website finding Dulcinea reported that earlier this year, the band Creaky Boards posted a YouTube comparison of their song, "The Songs I Didn't Write" (an ironic title, no less), with "Viva La Vida." However, the New York-based band did not file a lawsuit.

Joe Satriani, who completed some European tour dates with ex-Mr. Big guitarist Paul Gilbert earlier this year and has recently played dates in Canada and the U.S., has made a name for himself with his G3 tours. Renowned throughout the industry - he has been nominated for more Grammys (14, all for Best Rock Instrumental Performance) without a win in Grammy history - Satriani has had several successful world tours, calling on other guitar virtuosos to complete the G3 lineups (G3 stands for 3 guitarists). Among those who have toured with Satriani have been Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petrucci, Eric Johnson, Andy Timmons, and Robert Fripp.

But Joe Satriani's name has generated plenty of interest of late in conjunction with the name of Sammy Hagar. The two, along with Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Michael Anthony of Van Halen, have formed Chickenfoot, the latest high-profile supergroup. According to Hagar, Chickenfoot has laid down nearly enough tracks to put out a CD in the Spring of 2009. Joe Satriani told Billboard magazine that he hoped the album would be out by April. Satriani also said he was hoping for another name other than "Chickenfoot."

Joe Satriani's latest release was 2008's "Professor Satchafunkilus and the Muserion of Rock."

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Sources:

Satriani.com

Findingdulcinea.com

Billboard.com

Rolling Stone