Michael Jackson Won’t Affect Beatles Rock Band
Michael Jackson has passed away, and lawyers are currently picking through his estate. Jackson owned 267 Beatles songs, the ownership of which is at risk.
Rock Band developer Harmonix has stated that the situation regarding Michael Jackson’s estate will not affect the release of Rock Band Beatles. What’s more, the game’s track list will not be altered.
Jackson purchased the Beatles’ back catalogue in 1985 — rumour has it that this caused a falling out between Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney, who advised Jackson to purchase song rights.
In the wake of Jackson’s recent passing, McCartney has commented on that rumour:
Some time ago, the media came up with the idea that Michael Jackson was going to leave his share in the Beatles songs to me in his will which was completely made up and something I didn’t believe for a second.
Now the report is that I am devastated to find that he didn’t leave the songs to me. This is completely untrue. I had not thought for one minute that the original report was true and therefore, the report that I’m devastated is also totally false, so don’t believe everything you read folks!
In fact, though Michael and I drifted apart over the years, we never really fell out, and I have fond memories of our time together.
At times like this, the press do tend to make things up, so occasionally, I feel the need to put the record straight.
Jackson and McCartney collaborated on a couple of hits together, including “Say Say Say” and “This Girl Is Mine”.
Rock Band Beatles Unaffected By Michael Jackson’s Death [IGN via GoNintendo] [Pic]
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
BStu
AlucardsQuest
hanulbada
OutsideTheBox
Altima NEO
Assault
Assault
@Psudonym:
i vote yes for that! i loved moonwalker on genesis, easily one of my fav games on it.
everytime I see that picture I keep hearing MJ's voice..it's starting to scare me :(
Deathbearer
Nope! It was Michael Jackson and "SONY" who owned 267 Beatles songs and now Michael Jackson is dead. Do you want to take an educated guess who owns the rights to the 267 Beatles Songs now?
RashidaAcrisius
@The Red Comet: And the Secret of Nimh!
Gawd, I loved the nineties.
Polterg3ist: BURN HARDER!
@bassiladelph:
At least Latoya was relatively normal looking back then. She looks about as bad as Michael now.
@LordChris915: eh? What the hell does socialism have to do with this?
The whole MJ owning the Beatles catalog thing is the most PURE example of capitalism if there ever was one. THATS how capitalism works. The rich own everything even stuff YOU made yourself, as long as they have the money to buy it away from you.
Never worked for a company where your ideas, even IF they use absolutely no resources or company time are the companies have you?
Jim Topoleski
@denki: Actually McCartney would have to die and we would have to wait 70 years for his songs to reach public domain, just sayin.
Michael Hilger
@KyleNichol: Aw, come on, that's one of the finest Jackson videos! How can you not love the medicine-man style video?
@Psudonym: I concur. This would be very cool. The time is now. Everybody wins. MJ is honoured, some jerk makes some money, and we get a (hopefully) cool game.
@MixMaster81: That movie is still one of my all time favorites. Along with the frickin Land Before Time.
*ahem* but yeah, a new Moonwalker would be the bees knees.
@Kobun: Would be totally epic. Redo it, sorta like Bionic Commando: Rearmed.
Would be awesome.
@Showmeyomoves!: I actually tittered. I'm not sure I've ever done that before.
dd528
@Showmeyomoves!: The doggone rights are mine.
@TerribleDecade: or Kung Lao...
@LordChris915: You know, it is rather ironic that you feel bad for Paul McCartney given that he allegedly taught Michael Jackson how to purchase other artists' music catalogs.
SixWingedAngel
@Showmeyomoves!: I'm a buyer not a fighter.
Jadakra
@NicolasCage:
Yeah I'd love for that song to make its way into a RB/GH game for that very reason (would be a ball to sing)
Kazaam_McFresh
@bassiladelph: Also it's The Beatles: Rock Band
Yes, it's 'THE Girl Is Mine', NOT 'This Girl Is mine'.
(gets off of high horse)
Anyway, funny factoid about 'Say Say Say' - there's a woman who flirts with MJ during the video...it was his sister, LaToya. Ick.
bassiladelph
@Ferkner: McCartney tried to get the Beatles rights in 1985 but MJ outbid a joint bid by he and Yoko. Macca told him that one of the wisest investments was in publishing rights and he ran with it.
The back and forth banter between Jackson and McCartney in 'The Girl is Mine' remains one of the most awkward moments in pop music to this very day.
@optikk: The arcade original was isometric and could easily be done as a modern 3-D platformer. I don't see that happening, though. Best you can hope for is Sega finally releasing the arcade game on XBLA/PSN to capitalize on the death.
@Psudonym: I wouldn't mind a moonwalker remake, but I can't imagine it being 3d. I think 2d platform is best for it.
That picture is all like (MJ)"surprise,,, buttsecks!!" (Paul)"ohhaa.."
@LordChris915: Then he should have bought the rights to them instead of letting them be sold off.
Ferkner
@LordChris915: You mean communist.
@TerribleDecade: An American Tale: Fivel Goes West anyone? lawl..
MixMaster81
@KyleNichol: indeed expanded view appears to be gone, sadness all around. I love the two songs these artists did together. The Say Say Say video is hilarious in the beggining when MJ drinks the super incredible energy drink and it makes him spin and shout "Ewh' (spelling?: you all know the sound im talkin bout) ... then he challenges the biggest strongest guy to an arm wrestle match and beats him then later in the video you see that the whole thing was a scam as the big guy was their friend and thats how the misfits were making money.
lilaliendog
@Showmeyomoves!: ok, that was funny.
Thriceborn
Say, Say, Say has a very 'odd' video, the track is alright though... also, has the expanded view for Kotaku disappeared for anyone else too?
@furiku: Oh lol looked like pacino with that face. So then suprise butsecks to McCartney then.
mitch_93
@LordChris915: So who deserves the money to the 25000 songs of other artists that Paul McCartney owned the rights to?
Rotmm
@Tubbygaijin: Well I'm no socialist, Paul deserves his money X3
@mitch_93: That's Paul McCartney.
furiku
OK, this just freaks me out.
I am listening to Horace Andy's version of the girl is mine right now. Just as I logged in Kotaku I see this! strange days.
furiku
Is that MJ giving suprise butsecks to Pacino?
mitch_93
@Cranker: Michael wouldn't do that, He's not in...Sorry, no.
Esper mind tricks
RIP MJ. Still saddens me that he has passed.
Jellopnik
It seems Paul is happy to "let it be".
(Hur hur!)
sits
Public Domaaaaaaaaaaaaaain!
That photo makes it look like MJ is stabbing McCartney in the back... not necessarily with a knife, either.
Cranker
The rights are mine (mine! mine!)
The rights are mine (mine! mine!)
Showmeyomoves!
@Psudonym: God, that game was AWESOME! Rarely in a video game do I get to use a hat as a weapon, unless I'm Odd Job.
@LordChris915:
You mean like almost every musician ever? There are quite a few independent songwriters scraping a living off of their own songs. But you'd be hard pressed to find one with the money Sir Paul McCartney has in his pockets. Everyone else, they've gotta sell their work to get work.
Psudonym
@LordChris915: Don't, he's already insanely rich!
Tubbygaijin
I feel sorry for Paul, I would be upset if someone was getting money for my songs and not me!
Awww I was hoping since the Beatles music was owned by MJ and he died that meant they would have added all of MJ's songs on Beatles Rock Band as well
Hinkuto
Good.
Now whoever's in charge get on making a new Moonwalker, please.
Psudonym
Purple Dave
Altima NEO
Hush, people doesn't realize there's a difference. You'll scare them.
FloraLagninja
As for MJ's stuff, it goes public domain in 75 years less 17 days. Can't wait. :-)
Tyler Waldman