Melody Maker - News




MM 21st/28th December 1996 Issue



THE SEAHORSES

JOHN SQUIRE may be forced to change the name of his band The Sea Horses after being contacted by a south London duo who have used the name for almost 10 years.

Richard Veal and Simon Creaghan have recorded four albums as well as contributing tracks to many compilation albums released in the UK, Japan and Europe. Last year under the name Sea Horses, they recorded a soundtrack for a computer video installation and, earlier this year, completed work on a new album - "The Poet's Heart" - which is pending release. They've also performed at the last four Glastonbury Festivals and are working with producer Dave Goodman on ambient remixes and writing new material for future audio projects. Most importantly, they've had reviews in Melody Maker! Favourable ones, too.

John Squire's press people became aware that there were more fish in this pool the weekend before last. Their spokeswoman told The Maker: "We heard at the weekend that there was another band and everyone was like, 'Oh dear.' Basically it's their name if they've had it that long."

South London Sea Horse Richard Veal told The Maker: "They've only had the name a month and haven't recorded anything. I'm going to be writing and recording music whether it sells or not for as long as I live.

"I made a genuine effort to make a living from music at the start of the Nineties. And since then I've just continued slowly building things up and I'm happy doing that. I've done stuff that I've liked and haven't been paid for but it's never bothered me."

Asked if he would be taking legal action to protect his name, Richard said: "Our record company has sent out a letter to Geffen's legal department, but as yet we haven't heard anything back. I don't really like all these courts and stuff like that. It doesn't seem to me what it should be all about."

"What I'm hoping is that John Squire will realise how important the name an artist chooses to record under is and how close you become to that name and what it means and I agree with him. Some of my reasons for choosing the name are the same ones he's given for choosing it. I think our music is definitive of that name.

"I suppose the main thing I'm scared of is if Geffen try to take me to court the next time I put a record out under the name Sea Horses. Can they stop us using our name? That's what worries me.

"I set up a website at the start of this year and in their website, although it's unknown, they refer to mine so someone must have known about us.

"Ironically, I've put more music out as Sea Horses than John did with The Stone Roses."






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