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Does anyone have the "Knight Of the Jaguar" Ripoff audio?
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| FleaAccela |
I just learned about this story and wa sabsolutely amazed that UR won in the end. Does anyone happen to know where I can find an audio clip of the Sony ripoff at? I can't seem to find it anywhere on the net.
Excellent piece of history. I'm very suprised to not find any info on it on the UR entry on wikipedia. |
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| keithos27 |
| can you share the full story... i only know very little bits and pieces... |
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| FleaAccela |
[Obviously taken from 1999]
Earlier this year, the fiercely independent Detroit techno imprint Underground Resistance - headed by the enigmatic and militant MAD MIKE released the single "Knights Of The Jaguar' by DJ ROLANDO, a track which has been one of the underground "hits" of the year. It caught the attention of folks at Sony Music Germany who decided they wanted to license the track for a wider release, but who also recognized the well-documented disdain felt by UR towards the major labels.
So rather than attempt to negotiate the rights to the track, they commissioned a thinly-veiled remake of the track entitled "Jaguar" which has started making the rounds in promo form, with a commercial release sure to follow. An attempt to justify this sleazebag move was made in an email to UR from Dirk Dreyer, a rep from Sony Germany's dance music department, where he claims to be a fan of UR (going so far as to say that he prefers the original to Sony's rip-off version) but says that "in my way of 'industry thinking' it is a track worth to be available for lot of people, much more than just people going to vinyl shops."
He goes on to say that Sony found a "way of re-recording the track tone by tone" (whatever that's supposed to mean) and since they "don't want to be seen as guys who rip off or bootleg a well known track", they will list Rolando as the writer of the track as will ensure that "you get the publishing money that you deserve." Of course, it still doesn't change the fact that they blatantly ripped off the track without permission, but in the usual corporate mindset, they figure that throwing money at the problem will solve it.
UPDATE: Sony has caved under the pressure and protests and will NOT be releasing their "cover version" of UR's "Knights of the Jaguar". Here's the full text of the message sent to UR from Sony earlier today (December 17th)...
"Mike & Rolando,
Unfortunately you were not able to get back to me personally. Some direct words from you to us could have avoided a lot of misunderstandings, wrong suspicions and excitement causing damage to both sides.
Obviously you think, that it is our aim to make UR customers buy Sony records. Kind of paradoxical. We don't share your point of view that a cover version of Jaguar makes you sell less records. The people interested in your original vinyl are way different to Sony buyers. People who have bought UR records will still buy UR records.
In the past days we have received a lot of feedback from the underground to our cover. Apart from some people just abusing Sony Music with 4-letter words, many people express their feelings in a detailed and reasonable style.
We understand that you generally disagree with the whole major company business. In this case Sony can be reproached for picking up someone elses idea for profit reasons without taking care of the attitude of the inventor. We realize, that even that we are save on the legal side and the reactions from the 'overground' to our version are euphoric, its commercial release would cause a damage to the relationship of the industry to the underground that could not be compensated. We see ourselves as a company supporting and benefitting from inventive artists.
Instead of trying to benefit from the huge buzz that has been created, we have decided to respect your attitude and declare that we will not work any further on the Jaguar cover. Sony Music will not commercially release the track rather on CD maxi or compilations. We are quite sure, that a different company will use the idea and milk the cashcow.
We are sorry that we have hurt your feelings. Finally at least the UR record will benefit from the story. We wish you good luck and a lot of sales for this classic piece of music.
Regards
Dirk Dreyer
A&R Manager Sony Music Dance Divsion"
Here is some additional info:
Following is an explanation of what happened by Cornelius Harris (Member of UR)....
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...Recently, UR (Underground Resistance) has enjoyed the success of the track, "Knights of the Jaguar" by DJ Rolando. Recognizing that UR (Mad Mike, in particular) would be unwilling to license the track, Sony bypassed even making a request and has decided to release a "cover" version titled "Jaguar." Unconfirmed reports even indicate that promotional information on the records imply that it is a UR release. Cover versions traditionally have been done by fans of the original track as an homage to the original. In this case, it is being done as a method of undercutting the sales of the original.
While this is an unethical and unprincipled act in and of itself, it is also a very dangerous act. In doing this, a major label, Sony, has determined that it has the right to stomp all over an independent label in its pursuit of profits. With this as a precedent, the question that should concern any and everybody in the music community is who will be next? It is imperative that Sony be held accountable for its actions. We are currently looking into whatever legal options we have as well as any other means to put an end to this. We urge all concerned individuals to flood Sony's offices worldwide with calls, emails, and faxes expressing those concerns. This kind of crap has to stop and it has to stop now.
Anyone with any ideas, comments, addresses, or suggestions, please let me know. Some basic info follows. Any media folks, contact me privately. If anything could get Mad Mike out in the open, well...contact me.
Peace,
Cornelius Harris
Underground Resistance
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Now, read the following email sent to UR from Dirk Dreyer, A&R Manager AT Sony Germany, justifing his actions...
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Please forward this message to DJ Rolando and Mad Mike
Hello Rolando & Mike,
sorry for not contacting you on this way earlier but I did not realise the relationship between Submerge and UR. I have found this adress on the Submerge webside. My only contact to you so far is __________ but I prefer the direct contact.
As you sure know, our promo release of the cover version of your track from the 'Knights Of The Underground' EP is currently talk of the techno community. Let me explain the history of the idea and our point of view.
I bought the 12" six months ago and enjoyed hearing the Jaguar whole summer. The feedback to the track is amazing, I have never seen people - no matter if house,techno and even trance fans - enjoying one tune like this one. It seems to be the first genre - crossover track for years since the split of 'techno house'from the early 90's to different styles and fanbases. In my way of 'industry thinking' it is a track worth to be available for lot of people, much more than just people going to vinyl shops.
The philosophy of Underground Resistance not to cooperate with the industry is well known Your title names like 'message to the majors' and the liner notes on your records are not misunderstandable. I understand that you don't want to have any relationship with companies like Sony. Nevertheless we have tried to license the track for a compilation via our vinyl partner Discomania but we did not get a response.
As we don't want to be seen as guys who rip off or bootleg a well known track, we have chosen the way of rerecording the track tone by tone. Indeed the new version has lost some of the typical Detroit flavour, what makes me still prefer the original. On the CD will be the original writer and publishing credits that you get the publishing money that you deserve.
I know that you, Rolando, have met our promoter _________ aka ___________ when you played at Stammheim / Kassel. Please let me know your thoughts about the story. All I get so far is rumours.
Kind regards
Dirk Dreyer
A&R Manager Sony |
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| DOOMBOT |
| Wow, that was very interesting. The track is definitely incredible. |
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| keithos27 |
interesting though that on the UR website you can buy the mp3 and it is labeled "jaguar"... i.e. the name the sony people gave it??? :conf:
still a great track... i've always had a hard time "defining" techno, but i don't really see (in my limited knowledge) how this track sounds like techno??? |
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| DOOMBOT |
| quote: | Originally posted by keithos27
interesting though that on the UR website you can buy the mp3 and it is labeled "jaguar"... i.e. the name the sony people gave it??? :conf:
still a great track... i've always had a hard time "defining" techno, but i don't really see (in my limited knowledge) how this track sounds like techno??? |
First of all THANK YOU! I had no idea this track was available like that. :D
And I agree. I often see tracks labeled techno and there is no way that it would have crossed my mind as that when listening to it. I mean, I am horrible at defining genres anyway, but still it just doesn't sound correct. I think Beatport labels Tigerskin - Neontrance as techno. Is it really though?
Edit: Same with Roland Klinkenberg - What's The Point, just to name a couple. |
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| distant |
| quote: | Originally posted by keithos27
interesting though that on the UR website you can buy the mp3 and it is labeled "jaguar"... i.e. the name the sony people gave it??? :conf:
still a great track... i've always had a hard time "defining" techno, but i don't really see (in my limited knowledge) how this track sounds like techno??? |
http://www.discogs.com/release/4080
It goes under both names, Jaguar is just a shorter version of the title.
EDIT: Actually, forget that. The original EP is called "Knights of the Jaguar", of which the most well known track is "Jaguar". |
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| keithos27 |
| quote: | Originally posted by distant
http://www.discogs.com/release/4080
It goes under both names, Jaguar is just a shorter version of the title.
EDIT: Actually, forget that. The original EP is called "Knights of the Jaguar", of which the most well known track is "Jaguar". |
yeah i saw that... but the way the story was going above, i was under the impression "jaguar" was the rip-off... but the UR website has it labelled as jaguar, as does teh vinyl, so i'm going with jaguar. :) |
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| keithos27 |
| quote: | Originally posted by DOOMBOT
First of all THANK YOU! I had no idea this track was available like that. :D
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no worries... did you find the shop? |
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| DOOMBOT |
| quote: | Originally posted by keithos27
no worries... did you find the shop? |
Well I found it in the catelog but how do I purchase it? I see you can register to the site, do I have to do that? |
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| keithos27 |
| quote: | Originally posted by DOOMBOT
Well I found it in the catelog but how do I purchase it? I see you can register to the site, do I have to do that? |
yup... and there is a checkout button towards the top right... it's kind of hard to see... be sure to add the hi-def version to your basket for 2.99 if you want the 320 kbps version... it's not an easy site to navigate. |
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| DOOMBOT |
| quote: | Originally posted by keithos27
yup... and there is a checkout button towards the top right... it's kind of hard to see... be sure to add the hi-def version to your basket for 2.99 if you want the 320 kbps version... it's not an easy site to navigate. |
Awesome. Thank you so much! :)
Can't wait to play this out next Saturday. :D |
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