Foreverland

As Seen On TMZ.com:

TMZ fans, if you're in the San Francisco Bay Area,
we're playing at Mezzanine on March 20th!

Check out this piece by ABC 7's Don Sanchez about Foreverland and our name change:

The backstory:

Lawyers from the Jackson estate have forced us to change our name.

Their letters:

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Here's our press release:

NEVER SAY NEVERLAND

Bay Area Michael Jackson Tribute Band Forced to Change Name

SAN FRANCISCO —Neverland: A 14-Piece Tribute to Michael Jackson has had a tremendous reception since its first gig at Bimbo’s 365 Club last June, five days before the untimely passing of Michael Jackson. The band exhibits hardcore musicianship and features four vocalists, four horns and a tight six-piece rhythm section that pays serious homage to Michael Jackson’s music. A sold out memorial at Slim’s San Francisco, regular club gigs, fairs/festivals and summer concert series attest to the band’s rapidly growing popularity.

So, it came as a shock to veteran bandleader Morty Okin, (who also plays trumpet and acts as manager for the band), when he received a letter from Greenberg Taurig, LLP representing the Michael Jackson Estate threatening to take appropriate legal action to stop the band from using the Neverland name. “It came as a complete shock,” said Okin. “I thought they were kidding. I mean here’s this behemoth, The Michael Jackson Estate, and they’re coming after our little tribute band in San Francisco? Neverland is from a book. Did Tinkerbell send Captain Hook to have a face to face with MJ’s lawyers about the name of his ranch?”

Tribute bands are a viable genre in the music world. Acts as varied as Dread Zeppelin (reggae based Led Zeppelin) Super Diamond (Neil Diamond Tribute Band) Badfish (Sublime Tribute Band) AC/DShe (all female AC/DC Tribute band) and Stung (The Police Tribute Band) all have rabid fans. There are literally hundreds of tribute bands, but it is very rare for the honored band to threaten law suits.

The letter from Greenberg Taurig cites an obligation by trademark law to stop the band’s use of “Neverland,” even though attorneys for the band can find no registered trademark for the name by the Jackson Estate. Okin says the band has no other choice but to succumb to the request. “We are totally getting screwed here by the Jackson Estate. We are just 14 killer musicians who love Michael Jackson’s unreal showmanship and his complex, badass arrangements and want to keep his music alive, while maybe making a few bucks ourselves. Hence the term ‘tribute bands.’ We don’t even try to impersonate him, we just play the hell out of the music.”

The terms of the settlement are being worked out. As part of the settlement the band will be changing its name to Foreverland. Based in San Francisco, Foreverland (formerly Neverland) was formed in March of 2009 to honor Michael Jackson’s musical genius and legendary showmanship. With four lead singers, four horns and a six-piece rhythm section, the ensemble brings energy, excitement and musicianship to the music of Michael Jackson. Rather than be limited by a Michael Jackson impersonator and pre-recorded backing tracks, the band’s unique approach is to celebrate the larger than life performances, imagination and infectious spirit of a legendary artist.

Hard core Michael Jackson fans love the band for respecting and performing his music. Band members report that fans often approach them after shows crying and thanking them for keeping the music alive. “That’s where we came up with Foreverland” explains Okin. “We want to keep his music alive forever.”

Right now, references and links for the band are a bit fluid. The Neverland website at http://www.neverlandsf.com redirects you to the new site, http://www.foreverlandsf.com. Facebook has a new page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/ForeverlandA-14-Piece-tribute-to-Michael-Jackson/299979552178 and content is being added as quickly as possible. The Foreverland (formerly Neverland) video is still available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzvcobO3BSk

http://twitter.com/Foreverlandsf: New Twitter Page
http://www.myspace.com/foreverlandsf: New Myspace Page

The band remains very popular with fans and has a busy schedule with dates booked throughout the summer of 2010. Here are the confirmed dates and venues:

2/12 Don Quixotes Music Hall, Felton CA
2/26 Mezzanine, SF CA w/Barely Manilow
3/20 Mezzanine, SF CA w/Barely Manilow
3/26 Last Day Saloon, Santa Rosa, CA w/Barely Manilow
4/03 19 Broadway, Fairfax CA w/ Barely Manilow
4/23 Harlows, Sacramento CA (Opening for Cheeseballs)
4/24 Red Devil Lounge, SF CA “In The Name Of Love” charity concert series. (Portion of proceeds goes to Doctors Without Borders to help earthquake victims in Haiti.)
5/30 Golden Gate Fields, Berkeley CA
6/25 Mezzanine, SF CA Remembering Michael Jackson (one-year anniversary of his passing)
7/09 Blackhawk Plaza, Danville CA
8/05 Music In The Park Concert Series, San Jose CA
8/14 Napa Town and Country Fair, Napa CA
8/19 Todos Santos Plaza, Concord CA

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