The children singers who contributed to Pink Floyd's legendary 1979 hit "Another Brick In The Wall" have begun action to claim unpaid royalties.
The children singers who contributed to Pink Floyd's legendary 1979 hit "Another Brick In The Wall" have begun action to claim unpaid royalties.
Some of the ex-pupils of Islington Green School in North London have launched a bid to claim back payments with royalties specialist Peter Rowan for their part in the UK and US hit single - taken from an album, which has sold over 23 million copies worldwide.
However, the band have said that the claim is directed at the Music Royalties Society, not Pink Floyd or Roger Waters.
We've just lodged a claim with for royalties owed to session musicians from broadcasts since 1997, said Rowan.
"The members of Pink Floyd receive their own payments for these broadcasts, and they are unaffected. This is a separate pot of money for session & backing musicians."
"We hope that the publicity from this story will encourage other former pupils to come forward and make a claim."
The recording process surrounding the track is the stuff of folklore. During the sessions, at Britannia Row Recording Studios in Islington, the studio manager recruited a vocal chorus of 23 children from the nearby school. The children's voiceovers were recorded in secret with their school music teacher after the school's headmistress refused permission, although the school subsequently received a cheque for £1000 and a gold disc.
After hearing the track, which includes the lyrics "We don't need no education, We don't need no thought control. No dark sarcasm in the classroom. Teacher, leave those kids alone," the Inner London education authority branded it "scandalous", refusing the children to participate in the music video.
Trevor Averre-Beeson, the current head teacher, added "No one foresaw then how their voices would be heard around the world. The children were very pleased and excited. I believe the chorus involved 12 children, at least half of whom later went on to have careers in music or the recording business."
A statement issued on behalf of the band read:
"Although there is some truth in this story, the fact is a lawyer on behalf of the children (some not all) is seeking a payment from the Music Royalties Society, not Pink Floyd or Roger Waters.
