It’s official: according to posts on her official Myspace and Facebook sites, Pauline Black now owns The Selecter name. The trademark ownership decision now clears up any confusion among fans and promoters as to which ‘The Selecter’ (the Pauline Black version of the Neol Davies version) they are going to see – there is now only one The Selecter® and it belongs to Black.
2010 marked the 30th anniversary of the release of The Selecter's iconic 'Too Much Pressure' album. It also saw the emergence of two competing versions of the band led separately by vocalist Black on one side and lead guitarist Neol Davies on the other. Though the reality of two version of The Selecter has always been intriguing, its also been a crying shame that the original members have been unable to patch up whatever differences existed between them and come together to properly honor their legacy. With this decision, Davies, who has also been playing and performing under The Selecter band name will have to come up a new name for any of his future musical projects.
To celebrate, The Selecter have released the second single, a cover of the Amy Winehouse classic 'Back To Black' from their upcoming album 'Made In Britain'.
So the guy that puts the band together and writes most of the songs is the one that loses out. I sense a pattern emerging...
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately its Neol's mistake by not getting in there first and registering the name himself...
ReplyDeleteMaybe Neol simply didn't want to go down that road as he felt it wasn't the right thing to do and could upset other original members. As you know, the name of course comes from the track, The Selecter... Pauline or Gaps didn't even play on that track
ReplyDeleteIf you had any integrity you would ask us, Neols management or Neol himself for an official statement on this story before publishing.
ReplyDeleteNeol has not been aware or involved in any "trademark battle for ownership of The Selecter name " as you have published, this is an over-inflated and false headline.
Trademarks are quite easily obtainable if you have the money to do this.
Neol is about the future, new audiences and great new music.
Do not forget Neol Davies is the founder of 'The Selecter' and gave the original band it's name 'The Selecter' from the track he co-wrote in 1969, he also talented spotted and gave Pauline Black the chance & audition to join the band many years ago in Coventry.
It is his hit songs that Pauline and her musicians perform still to this day, and with out Neol Davies they would not be performing.
Neol Davies is known today with his new music and new band amongst new and old fans, friends and the music Industry as 'Neol Davies a.k.a The Selecter'
www.neoldaviesakatheselecter.com
Management on behalf of Neol Davies
Well said
DeleteHa! Well thanks for questioning my integrity! I've always viewed the sad state of affairs between the various factions of The Selecter with an open mind. That is to say I have interviewed both sides and have posted information about both sides equally and fairly and now taken abuse from both sides!! To be fair, I did ask Neol to comment on the overall situation when I interviewed him a while back and he gave a diplomatic response, which is to say he decided not to comment. My advice (if you care) and the feelings of most every fan I've spoke to is that you all need to work your differences out and honor the legacy of the band. Given this latest development its clear that this is too far gone but I wish both sides well and hope they both continue to record and perform great music. If you have an official response to this development or care to share a statement I'm happy to post your side.
ReplyDeleteHow sad to hear this, I´m deeply sad to hear it all had come out to this point even being an admiror of Pauilne´s talent on their work on the variety of stuff she is involved with just as well as I do recognise the great stuff Neol had created and the projects he has been involved since his departure from the band. I personally think it wasnt necesary to pull the rope that way far to her side in order to own the use of the selecter name no matter what the differences beetween she and Neol were. Not only because I´m sure it is a big knock out punch to the little hope there was to someday see standing both Neol and Pauline and other old members of the Selecter on the same stage (if there even was any hope left)but because I do think it wasn´t the way to make it clear there was not any chance to make it happen and give a little of respect to this cycle ending and to be fair to the band legacy Neol created.
ReplyDeleteNot to count the words She herself pointed out on this very same blog I guess last year when she refered herself and Greg to have done all they could to bring about some kind of reconciliation, to which I´m think going ahead on to get the right on the use of the selecter´s name is not such a good help into those efforts.
But that is just my personal opinion.
Domingo Munoz "El Sunday"
For me, the statement by Neol's management sums it up....It's an absolute disgrace what has happened here. Neol formed the band, Neol came up with the name, Neol wrote all of the classic songs. Knowing Neol as I have done for 20 years I would guess he did not 'steal' the name and register it behind everybody elses back (as Pauline has done) out of respect for his fellow past band members and the legacy of the band.
ReplyDeleteApart from Gaps who has been bunged a few quid to give Pauline's act some credibilty, there are no original members of the band at all in this act, none of the original musicians that made this great music.
So would anybody like to see Pauline's 'Selecter' without 'On my Radio' 'Three minute hero' 'Too much pressure' 'Out on the streets''The Whisper' 'Missing Words' and all of Neol's other great songs that he wrote.....I suspect not!!...Without his songs they would just be a bad covers band.....I rest my case :-)
So many ANONYMOUS people with such damning, forthright opinions, but too scared to put their names to them.
ReplyDeleteThis is sad to see....Pauline & Neol are both friends of mine and are both great artists and performers in their own right....Both versions of the band are really good (but very different) and both are writing and playing new material alongside the old Selecter classics....I would hope the majority of 2-tone fans would know the difference between the two bands and could make their choice (or support both!)... It should all be positive and about introducing the fantastic music and the principals behind the original movement to a new generation....wasn't it supposed to be all about unity guys???
ReplyDeleteA trademark is an identification mark, logo, name. It is used to distinguish a person's product or service from others. Trademarks related to goods and services were administered by the Trademarks Act in 1999. Trademark registration is valid for 10 years and can be renewed every 10 years after paying the renewal fee.
ReplyDeleteTrade Mark Registration in Delhi