April 19, 2006
London, England
LONDON, APRIL 19, 2006: Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. is pleased to announce a significant legal
victory in the London courts. Experience Hendrix is the Seattle based company owned by members
of the family of the late James Allen ("Al") Hendrix, the father of the international rock star
Jimi Hendrix. Experience Hendrix owns and administers the rights to Jimi Hendrix recordings,
songs and related properties.
In late 2005, Experience Hendrix took action in the High Court in London against Sonicus Limited,
(trading as Radioactive Records), and its distributor Blue Orchard Records, seeking to enjoin the
unauthorized release of Jimi Hendrix recordings.
Sonicus, Radioactive Records, Blue Orchard, and Radioactive's proprietor Mr. James Plummer have
agreed to a consent order that settles litigation regarding their unauthorized exploitation of
various Jimi Hendrix recordings. Sonicus, Radioactive Records, Blue Orchard and Mr. James
Plummer personally have agreed to immediately discontinue manufacturing, reproducing, selling,
or distributing all Jimi Hendrix releases. They have agreed to forfeit and deliver up all
existing copies of recordings whether in compact disc, vinyl LP, or picture disc format in
their control to Experience Hendrix.
Radioactive Records had previously issued fourteen unauthorized Jimi Hendrix titles, many drawn
from poor quality audio sources such as amateur, monophonic audience recordings. Radioactive
claimed rights to manufacture and distribute this material under a license purportedly granted
by longtime Jimi Hendrix litigant Ed Chalpin, presently acting under the guise of the Michael
Jeffery estate, which he arranged to revive several years ago. Jeffery, who served as Hendrix's
manager, died in 1973. Jeffery has no claim to any portion of the Jimi Hendrix estate or the
rights owned and exploited by Experience Hendrix.
Mr. Chalpin instigated a lawsuit in the United States in 2001 asserting the same claims (in the
name of the elderly former ancillary administrator of the Michael Jeffery estate in New York, now
deceased). The New York court rejected that claim as a "meritless" fabrication.
Experience Hendrix also obtained a legal injunction against Mr. Chalpin (and his company PPX
Enterprises Inc.) in July 2002 that restricts Mr. Chalpin and PPX from issuing, releasing or
licensing the exploitation of any Jimi Hendrix recordings, other than 33 Curtis Knight & The
Squires masters largely recorded in 1965 when Hendrix was an unknown sideman before he gained
international fame in 1967 fronting the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Mr. Chalpin has since defaulted
on payment of a significant costs order that was awarded to Experience Hendrix in that litigation.
Experience Hendrix is pleased that this action has now concluded, and will continue its active
efforts to combat piracy of its Jimi Hendrix recordings and rights. "We are pleased that we have
been able to remove these inferior bootlegs from the marketplace," states Janie Hendrix, President
and CEO of Experience Hendrix. "These unauthorized releases only serve to confuse and disappoint
Jimi's unsuspecting fans throughout the world. We shall continue to fight piracy and the
unauthorized exploitation of Jimi's great legacy." Any retailer who continues to carry Jimi
Hendrix product deriving from Sonicus/Radioactive Records risks legal action.
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UK LEGAL VICTORY FOR EXPERIENCE HENDRIX
SOURCE: Experience Hendrix, L.L.C.
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© 1995-2008 Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. All Rights Reserved. |
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