Manager Of Californian Rockers One Direction: 'Simon Cowell & Lawyers Won't Push Us Around'
Thursday, 12 April 2012
Written by Elliott Batte
The manager of Californian rockers One Direction, the band attempting to sue the world-famous boyband of the same name, has told press that the band 'won't be pushed around' by Simon Cowell and his lawyers.
The band recently filed the lawsuit and are attempting to take on Cowell, one of the most powerful music moguls in the world, and his internationally recognised X-Factor winning boy band in court. The group are seeking $1million in compensation – because of the 'substantial confusion and substantial damage' caused to them – and also want 'three times the profits' made by 1D.
Their manager Dan O'Leary told The Sun: “We won't be pushed around. I don't care how powerful Simon Cowell is. He's mad if he thinks we're going to lie down, sit down or back down over this - whatever power and money he has behind him. We're not going to be pushed around by some music mogul.
“The British One Direction have Mr Cowell's enormous resources behind them. We on the other hand do not. In our view, we were here first. We have rights, we have talent, and we have heart. My boy's dreams and the dreams of the band are just as important as the dreams of Cowell's group.”
He continued: “It's black and white what's been done. We asked Simon Cowell to change their name before they came here. But they ignored us, and now we're reluctantly at this point of legal action. The facts are that we were first to use the name 'One Direction'. We've been using it since November 2009 when, with big dreams and no money, we started to distribute demo CDs. The British band did not come together as a group until almost a year later. We were the first to record an album.”
O'Leary was quick to add that he had nothing against the members of the band themselves, saying: “To Zayn, Harry, Niall, Liam, Louis, we wish you all well, and many years of success. There should be plenty of room for both bands to grow and thrive. We hope that this dispute will be resolved soon, and then all of us can focus on what we do best - making music.”
Whether the lawsuit changes anything, you'll be able to catch One Direction (or whatever they may be known as in 2013) touring the UK next year. One Direction UK & Ireland Tour Dates are as follows:
Fri February 22nd 2013 - O2 Arena, London
Sat February 23rd 2013 - O2 Arena, London
Sun February 24th 2013 - O2 Arena, London
Tue February 26th 2013 - SECC, Glasgow
Wed February 27th 2013 - SECC, Glasgow
Fri March 1st 2013 - Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Cardiff
Sat March 2nd 2013 - Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Cardiff
Sun March 3rd 2013 - Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Cardiff
Tue March 5th 2013 - O2 Dublin, Dublin
Wed March 6th 2013 - O2 Dublin, Dublin
Thu March 7th 2013 - Odyssey Arena, Belfast
Fri March 8th 2013 - Odyssey Arena, Belfast
Sun March 10th 2013 - Odyssey Arena, Belfast
Mon March 11th 2013 - Odyssey Arena, Belfast
Tue March 12th 2013 - O2 Dublin, Dublin
Wed March 13th 2013 - O2 Dublin, Dublin
Fri March 15th 2013 - MEN Arena Manchester, Manchester
Sat March 16th 2013 - MEN Arena Manchester, Manchester
Sun March 17th 2013 - Liverpool Echo Arena, Liverpool
Tue March 19th 2013 - Motorpoint Arena Sheffield, Sheffield
Wed March 20th 2013 - Capital FM Arena Nottingham, Nottingham
Fri March 22nd 2013 - LG Arena Birmingham, Birmingham
Sat March 23rd 2013 - LG Arena Birmingham, Birmingham
Sun March 31st 2013 - Liverpool Echo Arena, Liverpool
Mon April 1st 2013 - O2 Arena, London
Tue April 2nd 2013 - O2 Arena, London
Thu April 4th 2013 - O2 Arena, London
Fri April 5th 2013 - O2 Arena, London
Mon April 8th 2013 - Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Tue April 9th 2013 - Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Wed April 10th 2013 - Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, Newcastle
Fri April 12th 2013 - SECC, Glasgow
Sat April 13th 2013 - Motorpoint Arena Sheffield, Sheffield
Sun April 14th 2013 - Motorpoint Arena Sheffield, Sheffield
Wed April 17th 2013 - LG Arena Birmingham, Birmingham
Fri April 19th 2013 - MEN Arena Manchester, Manchester
Fri April 26th 2013 - Motorpoint Arena Sheffield, Sheffield
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
