A long list of rock star names have come forward to protest the proposed release of “new” recordings featuring the AI-generated vocals of late Little Face and Humble Pie frontman Steve Marriott.
According to a report in VarietyHumble Pi bassist Jerry Shirley – who retains the rights to the band's name – was sent Marriott a “new” recording of the Hoagy Carmichael classic song. Georgia on my mind When the label proposed revising its contract with him to include AI-generated versions of Humble Pie songs.
“It sounded like someone trying to sound like someone trying to sound like Steve Marriott,” explains Shirley. Variety. A second recording “sounded like a not bad soul singer, but it didn't sound like Steve. And the backing track was just laughable.”
Now singer Molly Marriott – Steve's daughter – is leading a campaign to prevent the release of any AI-generated version of Marriott's voice, while his estate is being handled by his widow, Toni Marriott, who In favor of release.
“Marriott Estate is about to release an AI solo album of my dad Steve's old and new songs,” says Molly Marriott. “Sadly the surviving family, which only includes my siblings Leslie, Toby, Tonya and myself, have no connection to the estate as there was no will. It is run by my stepmother who is only two. She was with my father for years before his death and has since remarried.
“We, along with Humble Pie and his bandmates from Little Faces, want to stop this album from happening because it would be a stain on my father's name. Someone who is considered one of the great singers of our generation. It was known, with such a raw and raw voice, that if he were alive, it would have broken his heart to know that it was only for money, not art or praise.
“This is the beginning of a campaign that I want to lead against this kind of thing, where dead artists have no rights and that everything in this world is dying naturally, including creativity and The arts, as AI comes into play, are a sad world to behold.”
In addition to Small Faces drummer Kenny Jones and Humble Pie guitarist Peter Frampton, Marriott has enlisted a number of big names to support his campaign, including Robert Plant, David Gilmour, Paul Weller, Paul Rogers, Joe Brown, Bryan Adams, Matt Suram included. , Glenn Hughes, Gary Kemp and broadcaster Bob Harris.
“It's far from what any of us could have dreamed of when we entered this wonderful world of music,” says Plant. “We can't stand by and watch it unfold.”
“There are no confirmed plans to use Steve Marriott's voice on AI Recordings,” says Chris France. “[But] This does not mean that the contract will not be awarded to one of the many bidders who make the offer. I am afraid that [Mollie Marriott’s] The opinion does not affect me or his property.”