Radiohead deny they’re suing Lana Del Rey over ’Creep’ similarities

Radiohead have denied tweeted claims by Lana Del Rey that they are suing her for copyright infringement and demanding money.

Instead, their publisher Warner/Chappell has clarified that the band merely wants a songwriting credit.

The dispute is over the apparent similarity of Del Rey’s 2017 song ‘Get Free’ from her Lust For Life album to the British band’s 1993 breakthrough ‘Creep’.

“It’s true about the lawsuit,” Del Rey wrote on Twitter.

“Although I know my song wasn’t inspired by ‘Creep’, Radiohead feel it was and want 100% of the publishing – I offered up to 40 (%) over the last few months but they will only accept 100.

“Their lawyers have been relentless, so we will deal with it in court.”

At a concert in Denver on Sunday, the singer told the audience that ‘Get Free’ might have to be dropped from future versions of Lust For Life.

Warner/Chappell responded to her claims in a statement,

“As Radiohead’s music publisher, it’s true that we’ve been in discussions since August of last year with Lana Del Rey’s representatives.

“It’s clear that the verses of ‘Get Free’ use musical elements found in the verses of ‘Creep’ and we’ve requested that this be acknowledged in favor of all writers of ‘Creep.’

“To set the record straight, no lawsuit has been issued and Radiohead have not said they ‘will only accept 100%’ of the publishing of ‘Get Free’.”

Radiohead have declined further comment.

But in the heated social media debate that followed Del Ray’s tweet, fans and musicians including Blur’s Graham Coxon have pointed that Radiohead themselves were sued over the originality of ‘Creep’.

Songwriters Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood who wrote British band The Hollies’ 1972 hit ‘The Air That I Breathe’ claimed the song shared melodies and chords.

They sued for a percentage of royalties and a co-credit on ‘Creep’.

That would mean that if Radiohead’s negotiations are successful, Hammond and Hazlewood would also get a writers’ credit on ‘Get Free’.