Beach Boys Threatening Legal Action Over Memorabilia Sale

10/27/05 3:30pm

by Olena Kutin (CHARTattack)

When you become famous, everyone wants a piece of you. So what do you do when you find out someone is selling some of those pieces that you're pretty sure you never gave to anyone?

You take it to court!

NME.com reports an auction house in the U.K. is selling merchandise The Beach Boys claim was stolen from them. The 28 lots are being handled by auctioneer Cooper Owen and the Boys say they will file suit against the house to prevent sale of the items.

"The FBI and Interpol may also become involved in the investigation," Brother Records Inc, the Boys' label, said in a statement. The group say there is already an ongoing investigation being conducted by U.S. police. Not only will the band sue Owen, they're also taking action against the seller and anybody who purchases the items at the auction, which was slated to take place Thursday.

The seller is threatening a countersuit against the band, claiming they have damaged his reputation. The auction house, Cooper Owen, said in a statement: "The Beach Boys items were purchased more than 20 years ago. [The seller] is claiming full title to the items which he has put up for sale in a public auction."

The auctioneer has requested proof — a police report for instance — to indicate that these items were unlawfully acquired.

The seller has spoken to the Boys' management and both he and Cooper Owen are in touch with their lawyers.

The Beach Boys' early contracts and handwritten sheet music and lyrics are some of the materials up for sale — the original arrangement sheets for "Good Vibrations" and "God Only Knows" were to have been included in the sale.