Cro-Mags Settle Lawsuit Over Band Name Ownership
It appears that Cro-Mags have reached an agreement regarding the ownership of their band name. Last year, then-former bassist and vocalist Harley Flanagan sued the influential hardcore punk act he founded in the '80s after singer John Joseph and the group's remaining members continued to use the moniker.
The dust has seemingly settled, as Flanagan has now regained full control of the epithet, as outlined in a video statement he shared Monday (watch below) and reported on by BrooklynVegan. Claiming "exclusive ownership" of the name, the founding member's outfit will solely be known as Cro-Mags going forward, he revealed. After a three-month transition period, Joseph and his band — which includes drummer Mackie Jason — will be rebranded as Cro-Mags "JM."
According to the New York Post, Flanagan exited the group in 2002 around the time his son was about to be born and he left the group to be with his family. In his lawsuit, he claims that around 2002 the other members of the group took over the band and continued to use the name without his permission.
Flanagan claimed copyright infringement, saying that he trademarked the name for merchandise in 2009, for recording in 2010 and then again in 2017.
There is a history of bad blood between Flanagan and the band as the onetime singer-bassist showed up at the group's 2012 performance at New York's Webster Hall where he allegedly attacked two people, including one band member, with a hunting knife, causing the group to cancel the show. Assault and weapons charges against Flanagan were eventually dismissed.
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