A&M Records is suing a recording studio for control of the Temple Of The Dog master tapes

By Sam Barsanti | April 15, 2015 | 1:09am

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A&M Records is suing a recording studio for control of the Temple Of The Dog master tapes

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As reported by The Seattle Times (via Rolling Stone), A&M Records—the label behind early ‘90s super-grunge band Temple Of The Dog—is suing the co-founder of London Bridge Studios to get control of the master tapes for Temple Of The Dog’s self-titled (and only) album. Temple Of The Dog—which was made up of Chris Cornell and everybody who is now in Pearl Jam—recorded the album in 1990 with London Bridge owner Rick Parashar. It was a flop at first, because nobody had realized how dreamy Eddie Vedder was and Pearl Jam hadn’t released Ten yet. Once it started to take off (thanks to its huge single, “Hunger Strike”), though, Rick Parashar agreed to sell the master tapes and all associated rights to the band for $35,000. A&M took control of them at some point after that, but now it has realized that London Bridge never actually gave the tapes up.

This is where Rick’s brother, Rajan Parashar, enters the story. He co-founded London Bridge, but he says he “was not part of any agreement between his brother and A&M,” which means, as far as he’s considered, he still owns the rights to Temple Of The Dog’s album. As far as we know, he might be correct (even though it really doesn’t seem like it), but we wouldn’t expect A&M to sue him frivolously, anyway. After all, A&M doesn’t mind stealing bread from the mouths of decadents, but we know that it can’t feed on the powerless when its cup is already overfilled. Now this lawsuit is on the table and the mouths are all choking, but A&M is going hungry. (Going hungry!) It’s going hungry. (Going hungry!) It’s going hungry. (Going hungryyyyyyyy!)