Heavy metal band Slipknot sues fake Burger King band Coq Roq

[Initech]

http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,17176,00.html

"The members of Slipknot are ready to have it their way--and that means the masked metal mavens want to shut down a new Burger King marketing campaign.

Earlier this month, Slipknot ordered its minions in the legal department to fire off a cease and desist letter to Burger King executives and their advertising agency, threatening a trademark-infringement lawsuit over a series of ads hawking the chain's new Chicken Fries and featuring a band bearing a remarkable resemblance to the Grammy-nominated outfit.

In the spots, currently airing on such networks as MTV, VH1 and Spike TV, the fictional band Coq Roq is decked out in masks similar to those worn by Slipknot and performs such ditties as "Bob Your Head" and "Cross the Road" in an effort to persuade head-banging foodies to make a beeline to the nearest BK for the newfangled delicacy, which are fried chicken strips with dipping sauce. BK also launched a Website, CoqRoq.com, touting the band and its music.

"It is obvious that the television advertising and Website are designed to conjure up the image and persona of a live performance of Slipknot," writes band attorney Howard Weitzman in an Aug. 4 letter, a copy of which is available online at the Smoking Gun, which first reported the story. Weitzman notes that Coq Roq's getups include "a gas mask as worn by Slipknot's Sid Wilson, a kabuki-style mask as worn by Slipknot's Joey Jordison, and a mask with dreads as worn by Slipknot's Cory Taylor."

<snip>

"The apparently hip BK counsel goes on to name check several other metal bands who wear masks whilst they bang their heads, including KISS , Marilyn Manson, Mudvayne, Gwar, Mushroomhead, Los Straightjackets, the Insane Clown Posse and the Spits.

Burger King legal reps are also asking a judge to have Slipknot reimburse the food chain's legal fees.

No response yet from the Slipknot camp, but we're guessing the band's lawyers are getting ready to tell BK to cluck off."

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. Kiss does not wear masks!

and how do you pronounce Coq Roq anyway? Cock Rock? sounds obscene! call the FCC! lol

[Initech]

6. Neither does Marilyn Manson.

[ET Awful]

2. Was this before or after they stole the name of a band that had been

playing together for over 25 years and basically forced that band to change its name to avoid all the little dingleberry wannabe metal heads that started attacking them and insulting them for stealing a name that was theirs to begin with.

[SmokingJacket]

3. "Coq Roq"? A bit racy, isn't it?

There's nothing sadder than a desperate advertising campaign. It would make me embarassed to go to Burger King.

[ghostsofgiants]

4. Remember when Slipknot wasn't completely lame?

Me neither.

[asthmaticeog]

5. Lame.

Slipknot ripped off Mushroomhead anyway. And Mushroomhead sucks. :shrug: