A "legal" quandry -- KISS & PETRA ???

Number of posts : 397 Registration date : 2015-06-15

Okay---I'm calling on the great minds here at CHM to help me with this one...

As I work in my project, "Covers"... I'm learning a lot about copyright, and what licenses allow you to do in covering a song.
A "mechanical license" allows you to record a cover of the song---the style can change--but the melody and lyrics remain the property of the song writer/publishers and those cannot be changed without express permission.

So----When KISS remade "God gave rock and roll to you." Does anyone know the story here...? I know Kiss stripped away the evangelistic lyrics -- and replaced them with their own.

Did Petra give permission on this or what...?

I'm just curious because I just listened to Petra's version and it's a clear Call to rely on Christ.

Thank for you thoughts---in advance!

Subject: Re: A "legal" quandry -- KISS & PETRA ??? Wed Aug 12, 2015 1:55 pm

According to that bastion of reliable information Rolling Eyes

, Wikipedia, Argent originally recorded the song in 1971 and put it on their 1973 release In Deep. The same article states that Petra altered the lyrics, then KISS altered them a bit more for there cover, which was called "God Gave Rock and Roll To You II". Perhaps by renaming it KISS avoided the "cover" laws? In any case, unless the copyright laws give the covering artist some type of rights, i'd bet Petra's opinions and concerns had no bearing on what KISS did since Argent wrote the song. If anything, KISS had to get permission from Argent same as KISS did. JMO, as I know nothing about it. Knowing the way the law works, it won't be anything that makes sense.

Subject: Re: A "legal" quandry -- KISS & PETRA ??? Wed Aug 12, 2015 2:19 pm

There's also a rumor that since Petra's "Seen And Not Heard" lick is pretty close to a copy of Kiss' "Heaven's On Fire" that they made a deal to use "God Gave Rock and Roll To You".

Subject: Re: A "legal" quandry -- KISS & PETRA ??? Wed Aug 12, 2015 8:51 pm

I would say that both bands had to pay the original writers a certain amount of royalties to Argent. They definitely came out with it first. It was not an original song by Petra or Kiss.

I would use the lyrics to Petra's verison, PB.

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Number of posts : 397 Registration date : 2015-06-15

See... I knew you guys would have the answers! cheers

Number of posts : 40 Registration date : 2015-07-16

Xid wrote:: There's also a rumor that since Petra's "Seen And Not Heard" lick is pretty close to a copy of Kiss' "Heaven's On Fire" that they made a deal to use "God Gave Rock and Roll To You".

rumor period.... no truth to it.... Bob Hartman claimed he never heard the Kiss track

Subject: Re: A "legal" quandry -- KISS & PETRA ??? Fri Aug 14, 2015 6:58 pm

I always figured it was just a rumor.

Subject: Re: A "legal" quandry -- KISS & PETRA ??? Sun Aug 16, 2015 10:17 am

BearDad wrote:: If anything, KISS had to get permission from Argent same as KISS did.

Ummm,

Subject: Re: A "legal" quandry -- KISS & PETRA ??? Sun Aug 16, 2015 11:48 am

Hardkore wrote:

BearDad wrote:: If anything, KISS had to get permission from Argent same as KISS did.

Ummm,

Eh!? What's wrong with that Sonny!?

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