Dear Joe,

I want to write to you regarding the "Viva La Vida" and "If I Could Fly" lawsuit that is happening between you and the band Coldplay. I want you to that I have been a fan of your music for a good many years now. I have had the pleasure to see you twice in concert. Once with G3 in, and again on your own tour. Both were amazing.

I write to you as a fan of your work, your music, and your dedication to being a viruoso guitar player, and not a fan in anyway of Coldplays.

But I have to say, that this action for me, is a straw that broke the camels back.

Yes, I can understand that it might be disheartening to hear a song that has a riff or a line that sounds very similar if not exactly like something you have created. I listened to both songs side by side, and the similarity is without a doubt there. But to cause such a fuss, and sue simply because of that reason is absurd.

Your argument essentially states that only you in the entire known world can come up with that arrangement of notes and that no one else is originally capable of doing the same feat.

Not only that, but only one person in existence can lay claim to that arrangement and no one else may make use of it even if they so happened to come up with something original with it.

Which is not the same argument as sampling a piece of music.

It is fortunate for all of us, including yourself that the early blues masters did not follow the same suite or else we would have to get someones permission to play a song that used a 1,4,5 progression or even worse a 12 barre blues line.

Of course this is simple music, and your music is much more complex. Never the less, the argument is still there, and for a standard to be kept the most minimal of examples must be used.

Youtube is inundated with songs that "sound the same", and clearly many of them do. However being a musician myself, and I use that term very loosely in your company, i understand that there is only so many things that you can do with 12 notes in a scale.

As a long time fan of your music, I myself periodically find that in my jam sessions I might use a technique or a line that I subconsciously picked up from listening to you, or Vai, or Morello, or Buckethead, and not even know it or be aware of it.

It's not plagiarism its paying homage to your heroes.

In my very limited ability, I myself have found that I too was once in a position of creating an arpeggio that sounded exactly like something that Petrucci had come up. Interestingly enough I had never listened to Dream Theatre before, only knew Petrucci by name, and didn't think much about it. It was a musing on my guitar. A year later I happened to listen to a Dream Theater album and sure enough, there it was. Same key and all! Now how is it possible that some random guy with a guitar was able to come up with the same thing that a Juliard trained master was able to come up with?

Do I abandon the song that I had spent a year on because someone else recorded the same 12 notes in the same pattern that I had before I had even heard of them? No, my song is my own, and Dream Theatres is their own.

It almost makes me scared to pick up an instrument for fear of getting sued because something I might make might sound like something else.

I understand that all of your songs have great meaning to you, and I respect that, however another master at their craft whom I know personally summed it up this way "fine, steal my ideas, tomorrow I will come up with something better".

Joe, I am sad to say that because of this, I can no longer in good conscious be a fan, your action is a symptom of a greater problem that lies in the recording industry. A problem that names like NIN, Radiohead and many others recognize. It is the reason for Creative Commons, and Copyleft music. I can't support you, or endorse your music to people who have never heard it before.

Dear Joe,

I want to write to you regarding the "Viva La Vida" and "If I Could Fly" lawsuit that is happening between you and the band Coldplay. I want you to that I have been a fan of your music for a good many years now. I have had the pleasure to see you twice in concert. Once with G3 in, and again on your own tour. Both were amazing.

I write to you as a fan of your work, your music, and your dedication to being a viruoso guitar player, and not a fan in anyway of Coldplays.

But I have to say, that this action for me, is a straw that broke the camels back.

Yes, I can understand that it might be disheartening to hear a song that has a riff or a line that sounds very similar if not exactly like something you have created. I listened to both songs side by side, and the similarity is without a doubt there. But to cause such a fuss, and sue simply because of that reason is absurd.

Your argument essentially states that only you in the entire known world can come up with that arrangement of notes and that no one else is originally capable of doing the same feat.

Not only that, but only one person in existence can lay claim to that arrangement and no one else may make use of it even if they so happened to come up with something original with it.

Which is not the same argument as sampling a piece of music.

It is fortunate for all of us, including yourself that the early blues masters did not follow the same suite or else we would have to get someones permission to play a song that used a 1,4,5 progression or even worse a 12 barre blues line.

Of course this is simple music, and your music is much more complex. Never the less, the argument is still there, and for a standard to be kept the most minimal of examples must be used.

Youtube is inundated with songs that "sound the same", and clearly many of them do. However being a musician myself, and I use that term very loosely in your company, i understand that there is only so many things that you can do with 12 notes in a scale.

As a long time fan of your music, I myself periodically find that in my jam sessions I might use a technique or a line that I subconsciously picked up from listening to you, or Vai, or Morello, or Buckethead, and not even know it or be aware of it.

It's not plagiarism its paying homage to your heroes.

In my very limited ability, I myself have found that I too was once in a position of creating an arpeggio that sounded exactly like something that Petrucci had come up. Interestingly enough I had never listened to Dream Theatre before, only knew Petrucci by name, and didn't think much about it. It was a musing on my guitar. A year later I happened to listen to a Dream Theater album and sure enough, there it was. Same key and all! Now how is it possible that some random guy with a guitar was able to come up with the same thing that a Juliard trained master was able to come up with?

Do I abandon the song that I had spent a year on because someone else recorded the same 12 notes in the same pattern that I had before I had even heard of them? No, my song is my own, and Dream Theatres is their own.

It almost makes me scared to pick up an instrument for fear of getting sued because something I might make might sound like something else.

I understand that all of your songs have great meaning to you, and I respect that, however another master at their craft whom I know personally summed it up this way "fine, steal my ideas, tomorrow I will come up with something better".

Joe, I am sad to say that because of this, I can no longer in good conscious be a fan, your action is a symptom of a greater problem that lies in the recording industry. A problem that names like NIN, Radiohead and many others recognize. It is the reason for Creative Commons, and Copyleft music. I can't support you, or endorse your music to people who have never heard it before.

Igneousiceman.... Hey, Thanks for the comments. Much appreciated. Julia is a song about Riche's little neighbor. Inspiration comes from anywhere. We play this song live and goes over pretty well. When I first heard it you can't escape the Steely Dan influence. Anyway, I'm glad you like the songs and the pics. Did you get a chance to check out the covers? Those were recorded and mixed in my studio. I thought they came out pretty good. Thanks again......

People are funny.

Lionel Five!!!!! by the who. aahhh i feel better now. would post but its not on you tube. so i'll post this one for you JOE and everyone. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baKgryyplco

ibanez_god--Welcome and thank you for testifying about smoking. My mother-in-law died a horrible death at the young age of 46 after smoking for 32 years. I will never forget the last time I saw her--she was in the hospital on oxygen, thin, gaunt and very weak. I hope I never have to see someone in that state again.

My husband and I were married only 4 months when his mom died. What a way to begin a marriage!! His dad was so distraught he refused to eat anything for 3 days.

So if you smoke--you're gonna lose that habit or die. I hope you lose the habit because your loved ones don't want to lose you!

Michelle--Yeah. I'm a barrel of laughs right now---NOT!

For all you non-smokers

NON SMOKERS DIE EVERY DAY!

I,m sick of banning smokers in bars, why cant they have bars for smokers & non smokers alike in every country like they do here in Barcelona, since when do people give a flyin fuck about saving a strangers life ooooh "your slowly killing yourself" so what, leave him/her the fuck alone & that other do goody phrase ......well dont be passing on your 2nd hand smoke t me....fair enough why dont you piss off t a non smoker bar leave me the fuck alone in my smokey blues death joint

Hows about this all you non smokers... get rid of your car if your that concerned about fresh air...buy a bicycle take the train or the bus....

BILLY CONNOLLY ON SMOKING go on yersel big yin

Slan, tell us how ya really feel, lol! ;- )

Happy Sunday!

Do The Stu..... You Missed..... Summer Song Surfing Always

and of course..... If I Could Fly . . . Your co-worker should love them..... Who does'nt....lol.....

Take Care, Dave

nice maritime nice. FZ was a very smart and savvy man.

old fart, hmmmmmm all the young lions eventually become old farts. paul McCartney, jagger and richards, clapton, page, andreas segovia was buring up the guitar in his 80's. bb king. i lob\ve to hear some 18 to 20 something talk talk talk about stuff. they have such a lot of life expereance don't they. you know when an 18 to 20 something comes in the karate school where i teach and we finally get to the fighting and self defense....they ALWAYS are flustered by the old fart they thought they would easily overcome. ahahahahhahah

soooooo.... why don't all you coldplay morons just go to they coldplay forum and "plook each other in the ass" as FZ would say. its ok nobody will sue you for having an unoriginal idea to start a dedicated forum for you particular band. please go.

Hey Joe and crew,

Just wanted to say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and here's to another year of music and guitars!

Thanks for all the great music and thanks for sharing it!

.

.

.

*novjul bows low, kneels humbly before assembled fans*

...it seems i hit a nerve...

i made a mistake

even though i'm still curious what's bugging mckenna, i dint approach this the right way

my bad, straight up

it was not my intention to be a divisive force on this, joe's message board

i'm sure joe wants his fans to get along and not fight here on t2j

it's not worth it, and it's disrespectful to joe

if i've ever offended anyone here -- now or in the past -- please believe me when i say: i am truly sorry

...please forgive me...

it's true i've been gone awhile, but ~ with utmost respect ~ i'm not a newbie ~ i've been posting on t2j for over ten years

others have been here longer than me (roo) but it's not important how long or how continuously fans posts here

the important thing is to respect the artist who provides this space, and by extension all assembled fans of the artist, whether the post is your first or your umpteenth-thousandth

this i know: words spoken in haste can never truly be recalled

at this point i've done what i can to mend fences

i understand everyone will make their choices and my earnest yet potentilly futile efforts in the end are nothing but a breath of fine white sand on the whisper of the breeze

best thing is to learn, and move on

...f...

Hey joe i just wanna say that you've been a huge influence on me and my guitar playing. Raspberry jam delta v has some of the best phrasing i've ever heard by the way!

I was listening to your solo on John 5's album the other day (The werewolf of westeria) and am now really hoping some day you create a metal instrumental track, or even better an album!. That solo was crazy!

all the best