Re-The Paterno Letter

Many years ago, Peter was on a panel at the dinner meeting of the California Copyright Conference (theCCC.org) at the Sportsman's Lodge. No one was thrilled with the food there and in Paterno style, he had a pizza delivered to the panelist's table on the stage. Hilarious.

Thanks for your emails.

Best,
Rhonda Bedikian
Heavy Harmony Music

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Good post Bob. Makes me wonder if Paterno would be the ideal guy to go after Trump for his unauthorized and widely reported use of popular songs by popular artists.

Certainly a different approach would be required....sans the wink and nod. Then again, what's the point?

Dave Dalzell

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Bill Murray? Are you kidding?
He can use any song of mine in
any way he wants for free.
The Doobs should be paying him.
Obviously they don't play golf.

Joe Walsh

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Apparently Bill Murray has changed his contract and IP lawyers.


Bill's 1983 Ghostbusters contract stated that on the home video packaging no one's head would be larger than his. The company I worked for did the 1985 duplication, packaging, and physical distribution of the videocassettes. When the packaging arrived a picture of Sigourney Weaver's head on the back of the box was larger than Bill Murray's head in another picture on the back of the box. Columbia Pictures received samples before we got the shipment, and a sharp Columbia lawyer spotted the contractual violation and they were obligated to recall all of the 400,000 boxes, which they did. Most importantly they had to re-print, die cut, fold, glue and ship new boxes to our location in Northbrook, Illinois and the deadline became so tight that we risked missing the release date which anyone in entertainment knows is unforgivable.

Our hourly workers made overtime based on the enforcement of Bill Murray's contract, and so did some people at FedEx. The release date was met.

I suppose Bill never knew about the boxes. We loved him like everyone does but always said, 'No one has a bigger head than Bill Murray.'

Tim Trummer

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In the 90s, I had an act ("Eleven") I was signing to Hollywood Records. Peter was running it, and when I got the draft of the record contract to review, I was floored. It was under 50 pages (when most were hundreds of pages long), and it was written in plain English! WTF??!! I asked, and it turns out Peter had taken the time to redraft the entire contract so that anyone could understand it. There was no benefit to Hollywood Records in this - Peter did it because it was the RIGHT thing to do, and it provided an unmatched level of transparency to the artists he was working with. Probably the best example of fairness ever seen at a label… No surprise that he would address the Bill Murray situation in the most creative of ways. Kudos, Peter!

Steve Stewart

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You gotta get people's attention and get them on your side. This letter does both. The kicker was that he cc'd Jerry Aldini at PolySutra Records. So inside & fantastic.

Bob Paris

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It's funny (to me) that you use the term "zetzing" when neither Bill Murray or Peter Paterno (or most of your readers) will know that "zetz" is "hit" in Yiddish. In this case, it's more like Paterno is really sticking it to Murray.

Btw - did you notice that the last person on the "cc" list was Jerry Aldini of Poly Sutra Records, a character played by Bill Murray in an SNL sketch from 1978, about people trying to get backstage at a KISS concert (other people trying to get backstage are the singer Stephen Bishop [as himself] and Art Garfunkel as Paul Stanley's brother Angus).

Take care,

Stuart Taubel
MC Mentholyptus Productions

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Of course it blew up your inbox and feed! Peter's letter had brains and humor in a time when our country is running on a lack of both! That letter was exactly what should be written by a guy who has seen it all in the business. I loved every word and wished more people in music were just as honest and to the point without spending any air of ego or trying to prove anything. The facts are there and, since it is Peter, so are some funny jabs. Loved it!

Cheers-
Jay Coyle

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Luv Peter hate his golf swing….lol

Val Garay

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So, the world finally got to find out a slice of what we've always known about Peter…the genius mensch.
You nailed it. Smartest, kindest loyal human ever.
Take care, Dave Kaplan

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Loved you note. You described Peter perfectly. He's the real deal - super creative and a genius attorney. Never heavy handed and by being nice gets the job done.

I think Peter should publish his email 'auto replies'. Maybe you could talk him into it?!

Jennifer Hawks

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Bob- thank you for writing this! I love Peter Paterno! ( Peter loves me too..... lol which is an amazing compliment because Peter does not like anyone!) hahaha

dina lapolt

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Good one Bob, and well deserved for Peter. Having him as your lawyer is like flying WITH a net. He affords one the luxury of aiming high, because no matter how far you fall, he won't let you hit the pavement. John Hartmann

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Exactly, Bob! He's real! He made his point but did it in a very cool way that I hope Murray appreciated. Calling out the hideous togs was a comedic hole in one.

Scott Soules

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That letter made my day. Hilarious. A letter from a lawyer. That's how bad it's gotten.

Randi Swindel

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Words are our tools and Peter is a master craftsman. Better than anything Murray ever wrote. (Shame on you Bill!) Stay safe.

Michael Reinert

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Hey Bob, I read your stuff all the time. I love your writing (I was a journalism major) and find it really fun and informative. I met you years ago at a party at Steve Rennie's house. I normally don't write stuff like this…but… .Love Peter –he's one of the lawyers in this industry who is very smart but doesn't take himself too seriously. I have known him for probably 40 years…Just wanted to clarify something..I have been in private practice, chiefly repping artists, for many years. . When Peter took the Disney job, I was rooting for him. Shortly after Peter left Disney, in 1994, I went to Capitol Records as a senior executive, and as part of my deal, I was able to keep some major clients (on other labels of course). Three years later, I left Capitol to resume private practice because I found I was an artist guy, not a company guy. Not only did I keep the clients I was representing during my tenure at Capitol, but also other clients whom I did not keep came back to me quickly. So while I admired Peter for leaving his clients behind when he went to Disney (and his getting them back when he left), I was lucky enough to get an education at Capitol for three years and then hit the ground running when I left….very unusual at the time…Best.

Gary L Gilbert
Senior Partner
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
2049 Century Park East
Suite 1700
Los Angeles, CA 90067

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The biggest bummer here is that while it's fun to read the letter and retweet it, this should have been THE year for the Doobies. 50th anniversary tour with Michael McDonald, plus the Rock Hall induction to give those guys a well-deserved boost of publicity and adulation, and presumably a nice infusion of cash from the tour and the related revenue. I really feel for Tom, Pat, and all the guys -- obviously there are a ton of artists who have suffered from the pandemic, but the stars were supposed to align for them in 2020. Long live the Doobies - let's hope they'll be on the road and Takin' it to the Streets in 2021.

All best,

Greg Renoff

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I guess I should leave a tip on the nightstand. Thanks, Bob!

Peter Paterno, Esq.
King, Holmes, Paterno & Soriano, LLP
1900 Avenue of the Stars, 25th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90067

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