The Edmonton Sun reported yesterday that attorney’s for the original Metallica sent the Edmonton group a threatening letter, ” promising serious action if the Alberta band doesn't change its name by Friday.”

The Edmonton Sun reprinted excerpts from the letter like the following, "Your use of METALLICA is particularly astonishing to the band, given that you have admitted in at least one interview that 'you know you are not allowed to use the name,' " wrote Metallica’s lawyer Jill M. Pietrini, in an e-mail sent to bass player and singer Blair William Piggott. “METALLICA could recover significant monetary damages and obtain an injunction against any further acts of infringement, both in the U.S. and in Canada.” 

The Edmonton Sun report had a tongue in cheek flavor to it courtesy of Piggott who doesn’t seem to be taking the corporate Metallica’s threats that seriously. The Sun reported that “Piggott denies the name has any immediate causal connection to the Napster incidents, though agrees it's another way the band has lost connection to its fans.”

Piggott attempted to take advantage of the situation by passing along a CD of his group’s music to the members of the real Metallica and was told by Metallic’s attorney that it was against the group’s corporate policy to accept "unsolicited material." 

Piggott responded,  "'What are you talking about, you're suing us?' There's solicitation. They were once really in touch with the sexual frustration of the pimply high school kid. 

"Now you can't even get them to listen to your music!" 

Piggott further snubbed the California group by telling the Edmonton Sun that before he reaches a decision whether to drop the use of the Metallica name he would first consult with a friend in L.A. "who's had a lot of trouble with the media: Axl Rose. We'll take it from there. 

"Second to Jesus, he's the voice of the next generation." 

Rock 'n' Roll Pat, the guitarist for the Edmonton punk group explained why his band decided to use the Metallica name, "I think in most cases art reflects life, but in this instance, in this moment... life reflects art. That is clearly why we called ourselves
METALLICA.'' 

Will the band fan the flames even more and ignore Metallica’s threats?  We will know in a couple of days. 

more on Metallica

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