Since the debate on Californication is getting pretty tough, I thought a poll on that would be suitable. You have time until the evening of 01st December to vote. If you pick the third option, please do give your input by commenting on this news item. Arguments are OK, as long as you’re keeping them polite and civilised! There’s also a forum topic about this. Sooo, let’s sum it with a simple question: what is your opinion on the Californication lawsuit?

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Also, I have noticed that many people come here wondering if John actually had a say in this or not. Sorry, but I doubt anyone knows the answer to that! If you ask RHCP’s staff, doubt they’d know either.

*Credits for the madeup words in the title go to Jo and Ouis.

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 19, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) — Grammy-winning band the Red Hot Chili Peppers today filed suit against Showtime Networks Inc. and the creator and executive producer of the Showtime series “Californication” for unfair competition involving misuse of the band’s intellectual property.

The lawsuit says the band’s “Californication” title “is inherently distinctive, famous and has been the subject of substantial advertising and promotion, has been used and advertised throughout the United States and the world, is widely recognized… and immediately associated in the mind of the consumer and those in the trade” with the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Use of the “Californication” name by Showtime and other defendants “constitutes a false designation of origin and has caused and continues to cause a likelihood of confusion, mistake and deception as to source, sponsorship, affiliation, and/or connection in the minds of the public,” the suit says.

The suit says that actions by the defendants in creating, marketing, promoting and distributing the TV series “have been fraudulent, knowing, willful, and wanton.”

The band’s 1999 album “Californication” was one of its most commercially successful, selling more than 14 million copies worldwide. It received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album in 1999 and the Best Album nomination at the 1999 MTV Europe Music Awards, and it was named the Must-Have Album at the My VH-1 Awards in 2000. In addition, “Californication” was on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the Top 500 Albums of All Time and was selected among the 200 most influential and popular albums of all time by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

“The Red Hot Chili Peppers would never have allowed their iconic album and song title to be used as the title of a television program — much less this one,” said the band’s litigation counsel, Justin Ehrlich of The Law Offices of Ian Herzog in Santa Monica, CA. “They are particularly offended that Showtime used its material without permission.”

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges unfair competition, dilution of the value of the “Californication” mark and unjust enrichment. It seeks a permanent injunction barring Showtime and other defendants from using the title “Californication” “or any confusingly similar title” for the TV program, music or memorabilia. It also seeks actual damages; treble damages; restitution and disgorgement of all profits; and punitive damages.

Band frontman Anthony Kiedis said, “Californication is the signature CD, video and song of the band’s career, and for some TV show to come along and steal our identity is not right.”

Plaintiffs in the suit are band members Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith, John Frusciante and Michael “Flea” Balzary. In addition to Showtime, a wholly owned subsidiary of CBS, defendants are Twilight Time Films, Inc., Aggressive Mediocrity, Inc., and Tom Kapinos. The suit identifies Kapinos as the creator, writer and executive producer of the “Californication” TV show.

(thanks to Anđelka for the heads up on this!)

MTV European music awards will be held on 01st November in München, Germany; for the 13th time. This year categories have been a little bit expanded and the viewers have even more chances to vote for their favourites. Starting today, for the next 2 months.

Red Hot Chili Peppers are nominated in the following categories:
1. Rock Out
4. Band
6. Headliner
7. Album, for Stadium Arcadium

You can vote as many times as you like, remember to do it every day. Click here!

First of all, until 03rd September, you can watch some of the Reading set at this URL. I know how to rip and I would rip it and extract the best parts for you, but my computer has a problem with the rstp protocol and it won’t even let me watch it. So, if anyone knows how to rip from the stream (as I assume I’m not the only person in the world with that superpower…), it would be nice if you could rip this

Yorkshire Evening Post review
NME review with a partial setlist. BTW, John did not do a solo at this show, for the first time after the Bilbao promo on 18th April 2006.

And this is what happened at Reading

Here’s the setlist and some useful links for last night’s Reading Festival. The photo is courtesy of BBC.

If you’re interesting in reading the NME review, click here. Don’t bother to look at the photos linked; unless you want to see other performers.

Here’s another review, from Uncut.

Here’s BBCs RHCP special for the Carling weekend.

I’d suggest you to keep on checking these links, as in most of the cases the pages will be updated with information from the Leeds festival.

1. Intro Jam
2. Can’t Stop
3. Dani California
4. Scar Tissue
5. 21st Century
6. Parallel Universe
7. Snow ((Hey Oh))
8. Songbird (John Solo)
9. This Velvet Glove
10. Wet Sand
11. Emit Remmus
12. Bass Solo
13. Don’t Forget Me
14. Warlocks
15. She’s Only 18
16. Californication
17. By The Way
18. C’mon Girl
19. Give It Away
20. End Jam (with trumpet)

As the I-M.net regulars who went to Glasgow are probably still more resting, here are some nice off-site pics and reviews from the show.

Some wonderful pics…bookmark and check back as, from what I understood, there will be more.

Scotsman.com have posted a not-so pleasant review.

However, Evening Times says:

Opening with an instrumental jam, the Chilis took every opportunity to show off their virtuoso-like musicianship, with John Frusciante extracting never before heard noises from his guitar.

and also:

Meanwhile, Frusciante dropped to his knees for yet another over the top solo - like the reincarnation of Jimi Hendrix, the riffs just kept coming.

To read the whole review, click here

Oh yes, and if you’re going to Reading and Leeds festivals and are intending to be in the pit, please do record whatever John sings and perhaps intro and outro jams!

This is the supposed setlist of last night’s show, according to a source from the official RHCP BBS. If anyone has corrections, they’re welcome. And of course, videos of both covers would be more than appreciated!

Jam
Can’t Stop
Dani California
Scar Tissue
Readymade
Throw Away Your Television
Snow
Get on Top
Emit Remmus
The Metro (John)
Wet Sand
So Much I
She’s Only 18
Right on Time
Californication
By The Way

ENCORE:
Drum Solo (including a little We Will Rock You)
Trumpet solo
C’mon Girl
Jam
Give it Away
Looooong Jam