Blue vs. Blue as 1970s band is compared to Charleston
A court case over the rights to the band name Blue and which began on June 26, 2003, has started with flair, youth and controversy – from the presiding judge.
Mr Justice Hugh Laddie defied his professions image when three ageing Scots rockers took on a boy band in a battle over the use of a name.
The Paisley trio, called Blue, are suing the current chart-topping boy band of the same name for up to £5 million, claiming confusion about the names is damaging their recording career and reputation.
Mr Justice Hugh Laddie had been told by Charles Purle, QC, that the reputation of his clients, the original Blue – brothers Hugh and David Nicholson, from East Kilbride, and Ian MacMillan, from Paisley, all now in their fifties – was being threatened by the new boy band because fans might confuse the two.
The judge asked him: “Are you seriously saying that fans of one group would mistake one for the other?
“There is somewhat a difference of appearance. One is aged like you and me, the other is a boy band.”
Mr Purle countered: “My clients were a boy band in the 1970s.”
The judge replied: “Oh no. Boy band is a style of music that is a bit more recent than the Charleston.”
