No bands without original members allowed

Not too long ago, I was watching one of those nostalgic PBS fund raising shows featuring old singing groups from the 50's and 60's. Among the groups was the Kingston Trio. As they went through a brief history of each of the current members of the Kingston Trio, it became clear that none of them were part of the original group that became famous at San Francisco's Hungry I. In fact, most were not even second generation members of the group. Since I had attended several concerts with the original group, I found it a bit disappointing.

Well, now, it appears it will also be illegal, at least here in New Jersey:

Original members of the bands Sha Na Na and The Drifters urged New Jersey legislators Monday to support a measure that would penalize impostors who perform while posing as members of famous oldies bands.

“In a sophisticated form of identity theft, impostor groups are duping consumers and stealing the names, the remuneration and the legacy of the pioneers of rock ‘n' roll,” Jon Bauman, formerly “Bowzer” of Sha Na Na, told legislators.

The New Jersey measure would make it a violation of the Consumer Fraud Act for any person to advertise or perform using the name of a famous band without having at least one original member. Fines would range from $10,000 to $20,000 under a bill that cleared the Senate Commerce Committee on Monday and is scheduled for a hearing Dec. 7 in the Assembly.