AI
Looks like it was a hoax. Now the Inquirer is including a link to this thing:
"Byrds Founder Cancels Microsoft Lawsuit"
Roger McGuinn, founder of The Byrds, today announced he is canceling his copyright infringement lawsuit against Microsoft, after remembering that he didn't really write the first four notes of "Eight Miles High" after all.
McGuinn had previously charged that Microsoft had illegally used the distinctive chime, consisting of the notes "D", "B", "G" and "A", in the closing music for its Windows XP operating system.
"After I thought about it, I remembered that John Coltrane actually wrote that riff, and I basically stole it," McGuinn said. "Actually, the parts of the song I didn't take from Coltrane were ripped from Ravi Shankar and Andres Segovia."
"I'd like to remind everyone that David Crosby was there at the time," he added.
McGuinn, who is often credited with inventing folk-rock (an accusation he denies), had announced his lawsuit two days ago by posting a press release on his website. The announcement was quickly picked up by Byrds fan sites and discussion boards.
While many of his fans were supportive of the action, others said they were shocked and disappointed. "I can't believe Roger McGuinn uses Windows," flamed one fan. "I was sure he was a Macintosh guy." Wrote another: "I wish Roger luck with this, but don't forget that John Sebastian wore granny glasses before he did." Retorted another: "Yeah, but then John Lennon stole the idea from Roger."
McGuinn also disclosed that Jordan Bochanis, identified in his previous press release as a "music culture anthropologist" from the University of Bridgeport, is actually a waiter at the Acropolis Diner in nearby Fairfield, Connecticut.
Reached while serving some of the diner's famous fecacta pie, Bochanis commented: "The real crime here is that Microsoft uses Roger's work for the closing music. I think the only proper thing for Microsoft to do would be to move those four notes to the opening theme."
A Microsoft spokesperson could not be reached for comment.
http://www.ibiblio.org/jimmy/mcguinn/press.html
Good hoax. He shoulda let it run a few more days, though. (Either way, Inquirer still sucks for saying it was "no joke." Actually, they probably suck anyway.)
"Byrds Founder Cancels Microsoft Lawsuit"
Roger McGuinn, founder of The Byrds, today announced he is canceling his copyright infringement lawsuit against Microsoft, after remembering that he didn't really write the first four notes of "Eight Miles High" after all.
McGuinn had previously charged that Microsoft had illegally used the distinctive chime, consisting of the notes "D", "B", "G" and "A", in the closing music for its Windows XP operating system.
"After I thought about it, I remembered that John Coltrane actually wrote that riff, and I basically stole it," McGuinn said. "Actually, the parts of the song I didn't take from Coltrane were ripped from Ravi Shankar and Andres Segovia."
"I'd like to remind everyone that David Crosby was there at the time," he added.
McGuinn, who is often credited with inventing folk-rock (an accusation he denies), had announced his lawsuit two days ago by posting a press release on his website. The announcement was quickly picked up by Byrds fan sites and discussion boards.
While many of his fans were supportive of the action, others said they were shocked and disappointed. "I can't believe Roger McGuinn uses Windows," flamed one fan. "I was sure he was a Macintosh guy." Wrote another: "I wish Roger luck with this, but don't forget that John Sebastian wore granny glasses before he did." Retorted another: "Yeah, but then John Lennon stole the idea from Roger."
McGuinn also disclosed that Jordan Bochanis, identified in his previous press release as a "music culture anthropologist" from the University of Bridgeport, is actually a waiter at the Acropolis Diner in nearby Fairfield, Connecticut.
Reached while serving some of the diner's famous fecacta pie, Bochanis commented: "The real crime here is that Microsoft uses Roger's work for the closing music. I think the only proper thing for Microsoft to do would be to move those four notes to the opening theme."
A Microsoft spokesperson could not be reached for comment.
http://www.ibiblio.org/jimmy/mcguinn/press.html
Good hoax. He shoulda let it run a few more days, though. (Either way, Inquirer still sucks for saying it was "no joke." Actually, they probably suck anyway.)
