Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker has dismissed claims that he used an unlicensed sample on the group’s new album, Currents, after being threatened with a lawsuit.
Parker was emailed by Samm Culley of the 70s funk group Skull Snaps. Culley accused Parker of sampling his band’s 1973 song It’s a New Day on the Tame Impala song Eventually. It’s a New Day has been sampled previously by groups including the Pharcyde, the Prodigy, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Eric B & Rakim and Depeche Mode.
Culley wrote: “On your song Eventually you are using our drum sample from It’s A New Day. You have not cleared this sample with us. Our musicologist says it is indeed our sample. If we don’t hear from you in three days, we will file the necessary papers in court against you and the record company.”
Parker responded by posting a photo of the email on Instagram with the caption: “WOW unexpected compliment! The creator of the famous Skull Snaps drum sample thinks my drums IS his actual sample and wants to sue me for not clearing it! Haha!! Sam Culley you have 3 days to fire your musicologist. Anyone think this could be a hoax though?”
It was not a hoax, according to Pitchfork.
