RANDY RHOADS' Family Sues Margolis and Klein

Joined: 04 Apr 2005 Posts: 2431 Location: Midwest, Sweden

Quote:

The estate and family of legendary OZZY OSBOURNE/QUIET RIOT guitarist Randy Rhoads have filed a lawsuit against the filmmakers and authors Peter Margolis and Andrew Klein, the publishing company Velocity Publishing Group, Inc., and co-author Steven Rosen in connection with a failed documentary film project on the life of Randy Rhoads and the recent publication of a book stemming from the defendants' involvement in the project. The complaint accuses the defendants of fraud, breach of contract, invasion of privacy, misappropriation of rights of publicity and making extensive and unauthorized use of personal information and photos from the documentary project.

In late 2012, Randy Rhoads' mother, Delores Rhoads, along with the late guitarist's siblings Kathryn Rhoads D'Argenzio and Kelle Rhoads, learned that a coffee table book titled "Randy Rhoads" had been released, co-authored by Andrew Klein and rock writer Steven Rosen with the assistance of Peter Margolis and Denny Anderson. The family obtained a copy of the book and was "both astonished and horrified to see that Klein and Margolis are holding themselves out as 'experts' on the life of Randy Rhoads, implying that they had the approval and cooperation of the Rhoads family, which they did not," according to a press release from the Rhoads family's publicist, Nancy B. Sayle of VQPR, LLC.

"On April 1, 2007, Margolis entered into an agreement with the Rhoads family to produce a single documentary film on the life of Randy Rhoads," the press release adds. "Margolis assured the family that the film would be completed within three years. From that point on, however, Margolis himself did not own any of the ideas and materials obtained or created in the production of the documentary, or any of the photos, videos or sound recordings collected for use in it, having assigned all of that to Dakota Films, the company financing and producing the documentary. Over the next several years, Margolis, Klein and others, working for Dakota Films, went forward with the project. Although Margolis reportedly claimed, as of early 2012, that the documentary was completed — 'in the can' — it has never been released. Individuals who saw portions of it during production have reported that it was 'edited poorly and unprofessionally,' and that the quality of the film was 'abysmal.' The Rhoads family was frustrated by what they considered the mediocre quality of Margolis' film, and by the fact that the 'official documentary' they had so long hoped for had never come to fruition. This has been especially painful for Randy's mother, Delores Rhoads, who is now in her nineties, and has spent the last three decades carefully preserving and advancing the legacy of her son."

The press release continues: "The family contends that Margolis and Klein have stolen the materials; they have no rights or ownership of, from the failed documentary. They used them in the book, in order to try to exploit Randy and the family for their own profit, while trying to establish themselves as 'authorities' on Randy Rhoads. They have falsely implied that they have the Rhoads family's support and cooperation for the unauthorized book. The family emphasizes that in no way did they authorize or participate in publication of the book, nor have they had anything more to do with either Margolis or Klein since the production of the unreleased documentary ended. Moreover, according to the family's complaint, the book contained more than fifty instances in which Klein and Margolis had used, without permission, photos, excerpts from interviews and other personal information that had been provided to them by the Rhoads family solely and exclusively for use in the authorized documentary film and for no other purpose."

Randy Rhoads died in a 1982 plane crash at age 25 while on tour with Osbourne.

Say what you want about the Rhoads family, but if this is the way
they're "protecting" Randys legacy, there's soon no
legacy to protect.

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

I don't get it. What I get from skimming over the article is a documentary film maker and an author tried to make a film and or book about Randy and didn't have support of the Rhoads family because they didn't stick to the terms agreed upon by all parties. How is the Rhoads estate wrong for what they are doing? The only reason for making a product like this is for making money. The Rhoads estate seem to be concerned with the manner in which Randy's life is exposed to the world. Am I not understanding something here?

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 14465

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

Am I not understanding something here?

I read it the same way as you.
Not sure where OP is getting his knickers in a knot over it.

Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 4860 Location: Pennsylvania

Jim6 wrote:

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

Am I not understanding something here?

I read it the same way as you.
Not sure where OP is getting his knickers in a knot over it.

if you have knickers, what else are you supposed to do with them? Confused

Joined: 13 Dec 2010 Posts: 3673 Location: Tampa, FL

Wonder if these are the same guys who supposedly stole private recordings, photos and such from Bob Daisley as well.

Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Posts: 5320 Location: DOA #07-01193

jkkkjkhk wrote:

Wonder if these are the same guys who supposedly stole private recordings, photos and such from Bob Daisley as well.

Good question, on the same note are these the guys who "borrowed" tapes from Kevin DuBrow of Randy with Quite Riot and never returned them?