Singer ponders legal action against Gorillaz

Hit singer Eddy Grant is considering legal action after claiming that Damon Albarn’s outfit Gorillaz has ripped off one of his tracks.

The 'Electric Avenue' singer claims that 'Stylo', the new song from Gorillaz, infringes the copyright of his 1977 track 'Time Warp'.

Grant, 62, who shares the same music publisher as Gorillaz, has called for the band to give him a full credit and apologise.

He said in a statement: “I am outraged that the Gorillaz have infringed the copyright of my song 'Time Warp' claiming their song 'Stylo' to be an original composition.”

He accused Gorillaz of making a “blatant rip off”, saying: “'Time Warp' is a very popular song and has been a staple of the DJ scene for many years and I feel total disrespect from Gorillaz and their management company, especially as they are an established act.”

Grant said he was “very angry” that the issue “was not picked up by our mutual publisher EMI’s administration division”, saying he blamed “the state of the industry at the current time with all labels and publishers folding into one”.

He said: “I would like the outcome to be that the band admits that they have lifted my song, that I have a full credit for the song and an apology from the band.”

Representatives for Grant, who was born in Guyana and had success with songs 'I Don’t Wanna Dance', and 'Walking On Sunshine', have hired a musicologist to assess the tracks and said they were considering legal action.

A spokeswoman for Gorillaz was not immediately commenting.

A spokesman for EMI Music Publishing said: “This is a private matter between Eddy Grant and Gorillaz, and we’re not intending to make any further comment.”