Wolfgang’s Vault Gets Gang Tackled By Rock’s Biggest Names
Yesterday, several huge rock bands including the Grateful Dead, Carlos Santana, Led Zeppelin and The Doors, sued Wolfgang’s Vault, claiming it was illegally offering recordings to bait users to buy other merchandise available on its web site. The site sells T-shirts, pictures and memorabilia such as vintage concert posters and tickets. Wolfgang’s Vault offers thousands of recordings of rare audio and video music performances collected over 30 years by Bill Graham, one of the biggest concert promoters of all time who died in 1991.
The recordings were made at concert performances by a wide array of artists from Bob Marley to Bob Dylan. The site’s collection has been described by some industry watchers as one of the most important groupings of rock memorabilia and recordings ever assembled in one business.
The suit was filed at the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California against William Sagan, who bought the assets of Graham for $5 million from Clear Channel Entertainment more than three years ago. Wolfgang’s Vault derives from Graham’s given name of Wolfgang Grajonca. Over the course of his career as a promoter, he is credited within the music industry for helping create the modern concert promotion business.
More information on Wolfgang’s Vault.
