Alex Grossi thinks newer bands will learn what not to do & not have two band versions fighting over name

Alex Grossi thinks newer bands will learn what not to do & not have two band versions fighting over name

Quiet Riot and Hookers & Blow guitarist Alex Grossi was recently interviewed by Mick Michaels for The Cosmick View. Hookers & Blow recently released their cover versions of Eddie Money‘s “Shakin'” and The Rolling Stones‘ “Rocks Off.”

Grossi was asked what he sees as the biggest change in the music industry over the last couple of years that has greatly impacted how an artist conducts business and makes music. The guitarist replied:

“I see more and more emphasis being put on protecting artist’s brands. I don’t think in the future you will see 2 versions of the same band fighting over the rights to the name, as that is never fun for anyone involved. I think newer artists are going to take a page from some of these acts’ playbook on what NOT to do and protect their intellectual property to avoid these scenarios from happening again.”

In the last ten years, there have been many fights over band names including two groups fighting over the names Great White, Queensrÿche, Ratt and L.A. Guns with the latter dispute currently in litigation. The big difference between the dispute over the L.A. Guns band name and the other previously mentioned groups is that both drummer Steve Riley and guitarist Tracii Guns, who are each spearheading their own versions of the band, apparently own a 50% stake in the L.A. Guns name.

In terms of the future impact of the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic on the music industry, Grossi indicated: “It’s obviously affecting everyone across the board, and certainly evened the playing field, which is in a roundabout way, positive – by that I mean that it’s going to hopefully make both artists and fans appreciate live music a little more and not take it for granted as much. Maybe after all of this is over less people will spend the whole show looking at or through their phones, and maybe some of the artists will step up their game as well and turn in better, more passionate performances…who knows?”

You can read the rest of the interview with Alex Grossi at The Cosmick View‘s website.