I grew up listening to Leiber and Stoller
music. They wrote such simple, catchy songs that gave me and millions like
me a zest for life. They created basic, foot stomping music that just seem
to make all my problems and those of the world disappear. I used to lie in
bed at night trying to tune into Radio Luxemburg to hear Elvis and the
latest songs from Leiber and Stoller. What joy it must have given
those two ‘kids’ Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller knowing that their music,
their creativity, their art was being heard all over the world and even by a
little Jewish kid living in the slums of East London trying to tune his
transistor radio into Radio Luxemburg. In those days in the 1950's there was
no BBC Radio 1, Capital Radio, commercial radio or pop stations.
What inspired Leiber and Stoller to write
their wonderful songs? I am sure it was not money but the desire of all
great artists to be recognised and appreciated by as wide an audience as
possible for their creativity. What a thrill it must have been when Elvis
sang their songs, songs of two young Jewish boys who loved black music and
wanted it to be heard by a white audience. Who better than Elvis to lead
that quest. Leiber wrote the words and Stoller the music and the world began
to rock’ n’ roll. They have given so much pleasure to so many millions
of people but now, as perhaps a swansong (they are both in their seventies),
it seems they are trying to destroy their own musical legacy by denying the
world the joy of hearing their songs from “Jailhouse Rock” performed on
a London stage. Sadly, because of EPE and Leiber and Stoller "Jailhouse
Rock the Musical" will not include the theme song "Jailhouse
Rock" or any of their songs from the film.
Leiber and Stoller have sent out a
worldwide Press Release on PR Newswire condemning the producers of
“Jailhouse Rock the Musical” for so naming the Musical that does not
include their songs, claiming it is misleading the public. Ten years ago a
lady producer from Los Angeles, Rene Sheridan, invested her money in buying
the Stage Rights to “Jailhouse Rock” from MGM. The music industry is
quite bizarre and although she had the Stage Rights she did not have the
Music Rights. At a similar time a real twerp called Gary Hovey took over the
licensing of Elvis music at EPE. In our last Newsletter we explained Hovey
is Lisa Marie’s Uncle and apparently an ex-used car salesman. I believe he
replaced Jerry Schilling who had been doing a very good job for EPE. Hovey
refused Rene Sheridan permission to use the songs from “Jailhouse Rock”.
It is not as if EPE would not make potentially $millions from licensing the
songs to the Musical...so what type of business turns away $millions?
Perhaps there is no answer because Hovey is a megalomaniac. How do you stop
a megalomaniac? Every possible approach was made to Leiber and Stoller, MGM,
anyone connected with the rights to the film and the songs but for TEN years
Hovey has said NO, NO, NO!
The
excuse now is EPE have their own Musical but they waited about eight years
saying NO before they just copied, no stole, Rene’s idea. Rene is quite
petite and Hovey thought he could intimidate her. She has had to endure
harassment and verbal abuse from Hovey over the many years. By all accounts
Hovey is just a very nasty bully but Rene, of small stature, has a big heart
and has just pursued her dream to bring "Jailhouse Rock" to the
stage. Stoller has said, in the press release, by using the name
“Jailhouse Rock” it denies him the right to use his own title for his
own musical… what chutzpah! Stoller has known for ten years Rene had the
rights so what has he been playing at for the past 47 years since he wrote
the song? Elvis will be turning in his grave knowing that Lieber and Stoller
are denying the world the right to hear his music and see a staged version
of "Jailhouse Rock". It is sad that they have also been
intimidated by that bully Hovey. The timing of this disgraceful press
release was just one week before the stage show opens in London yet Leiber
and Stoller had been begged for ten years for the rights to the songs from
Jailhouse Rock. It is a wicked and misguided attempt at sabotage that will
backfire on them. The public are not idiots and everyone will ask what
people deny the world the right to hear their music.
What
an honour it would have been for Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller to appear
onstage in London on April 19th 2004 taking the deserved applause of
thousands at the opening of this wonderful Musical that eventually will tour
the world. They should be mensches and have the guts to tell Hovey he is a
'Jailhouse Schmuck', to get lost but, first release the songs to Rene for
the Musical.
Songwriters
all over the world write their music for the world to hear to and to deny
millions of fans the pleasure to hear the song "Jailhouse Rock" in
"Jailhouse Rock the Musical" is a disgrace. Leiber and Stoller
should be truly ashamed of themselves. Perhaps they want history to
remember them as "Lilo and Stitch" (the Disney cartoon that
featured their songs). I and Elvis fans around the world will never forgive
Leiber and Stoller for this musical blasphemy.
I
have suggested to the Producers, who have tried so hard for ten years
to obtain the rights to the songs from "Jailhouse Rock", to make a
subtle change of name to the Musical to :
NOT
QUITE JAILHOUSE
ROCK the MUSICAL
Even
without the song, "Jailhouse Rock", the Show has been receiving
standing ovations in Plymouth and Manchester where it has been previewed
prior to its arrival at the Piccadilly Theatre in London on March 26th 2004.
We have heard from many fans who have seen the show that it is brilliant.
The Musical will run for years and years but the sad thing is that Leiber
and Stoller will get no credit from this wonderful theatrical production
just contempt and anger....great songwriters, no guts!!