Schoolchildren on Pink Floyd classic may seek royalties

A group of thirtysomethings who sang on the anthemic Pink Floyd hit Another Brick In The Wall as schoolchildren 25 years ago could pick up thousands of pounds in unpaid royalties, it emerged today.

The former pupils of Islington Green School in north London were roped into recording part of the classic in 1979 because the Britannia Row recording studios were just around the corner.

Now one member of the 12 who were involved has made a claim to access royalties due to session musicians for all broadcasts of the song since 1997.

A royalties agent who is processing Peter Thorpe’s claim hopes others will now join in.

Peter Rowan, of Edinburgh-based RBL Music, said the money would not be paid by the band or its record company, but from a fund that is paid into by broadcasters when they play songs.

It is available under copyright legislation introduced in 1997.

He tracked down London-based Mr Thorpe through the website Friends Reunited and also contacted three of four others from the original group, although none of them were interested in claiming the cash.

“It’s a legal right and the money is building up,” Mr Rowan said.

“There’s probably around five or six thousand pounds there already, so they would get a few hundred each.”

The school has a platinum record of the song and got a cheque for £1,000 at the time.

Music teacher Alun Renshaw excitedly gathered together the children, aged between 13 and 16, after the recording engineer was despatched to the school to find some children.

The song, with its chorus of “We don’t need no education, we don’t need no thought control – teachers, leave them kids alone,” was highly controversial at the time.

Current head teacher Trevor Averre-Beeson said: “It was seen as being quite improper, and I think it was raised in Parliament that children should have been used for this.”

But he said listening to the lyrics now he thought their sentiments had “quite a bit of resonance”.

He is planning special assemblies on the subject of the recording next week.

A spokesman for Pink Floyd had no comment.