Robert Plant and David Gilmour support Steve Marriott’s children in AI song feud with estate
Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant and Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour are among the rock icons who have expressed support to the children of former Small Faces frontman Steve Marriott as they fight against the release of AI-generated recordings being shared in his name.
The AI songs have been authorised by the late musician’s third wife, Toni Marriott, who he married two years before his death. At this stage, the set of recordings are said to be incomplete , and his children are fighting to stop them being heard by the world.
In addition to receiving the support from Plant and Gilmour, his former Small Faces and Humble Pie bandmates, Kenney Jones, Peter Frampton and Jerry Shirley has also signed the statement by Marriott’s daughter Mollie along with her three siblings.
Other notable musicians who have also signed the document include Bryan Adams, Paul Weller, Gary Kemp, Glenn Hughes and Paul Rodgers.
Mollie Marriott said in a statement to Variety: “The Marriott Estate is due to release an AI solo album of old and new songs of my father, Steve. Sadly, the surviving family which comprises just my siblings Lesley, Toby, Tonya, and I, have nothing to do with the Estate as there was no will. It is run by my stepmother who was only with my father for two years prior to his death and has since been re-married.
Marriott continued: “We, along with his bandmates of Humble Pie and Small Faces, are looking to stop this album from happening as it would be a stain on my father’s name. Someone who was known as one of the greatest vocalists of our generation, with such a live and raw vocal, it would absolutely break his heart if he were alive to know this. This is only for money, not art nor appreciation.”
She also explained how this fight doesn’t exclusively relate to Marriott and highlighted the bigger picture, stating, “It is the start of a campaign I wish to lead against this sort of thing, where deceased artists have no rights and that everything natural in this world is truly dying, including creativity and the arts, as AI comes into play.”
Meanwhile, former Led Zeppelin frontman Plant added: “This is a far cry from what any of us dreamt of when we set off into this wonderful world of music. We just can’t stand by and watch this unfold.”
In response to the allegations made by Marriott’s children, Chris France, who has been managing director of the late rock frontman’s estate since 1997, said to Variety: “At present there are no confirmed plans to use Steve Marriott’s voice on AI recordings.”
However, he refused to rule out this changing in the future, noting, “That does not mean a deal will not be done with one of several suitors who have made offers… I am afraid that [Mollie Marriott’s] opinions are of no consequence to me or his estate.”
This is a developing story.
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