Former L.A.P.D. band member Richard Morrill filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Gwen Stefani and Pharrell Williams over some lyrics of the 2014 song "Spark the Fire." (Photo : Join the Synergy/YouTube)
Gwen Stefani and Pharrell Williams are facing a lawsuit involving the lyrics of a song they co-wrote back in 2014. The complaint, which was filed by Stefani's hairstylist and former member of an '80s band, alleges that the duo infringed on his rights to a song released back in 1996.
Musician and hairstylist Richard Morrill filed a complaint with a Colorado federal court claiming that the song "Spark The Fire" infringes on his rights to the song "Who's Got My Lightah" which Morrill wrote in 1996 and rewrote in 2009, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "Spark The Fire" is a 2014 Stefani's song but was co-written by Williams.
Richard Morrill claimed that he gave Gwen Stefani a copy of his song when he was coloring and styling her hair in the late 90s, Metro reported. Morrill was a member L.A.P.D., a funk metal band in the late '80s, which was later renamed into Korn. He later worked as a Huntington Beach hairstylist from 1997 to 1998.
Morrill filed a suit against Gwen Stefani and her company Harajuku Lovers, the record label Interscope Records as well as Pharrell Williams. Morril wants to recover "all gains and profits that they have enjoyed" in addition to the legal fees associated with the suit. Furthermore, the musician wants all parties to acknowledge that there was a copyright infringement of the track.
In particular, Morrill is highlighting the chorus of Gwen Stefani and Pharrell Williams' song "Spark the Fire" which he claims to be very similar to his "Who's Got My Lighta." Morrill's 2009 version has these lyrics "Who's got my lightah? Who got the fire. Who's got my lightah? I'm right behind ya. Who's got my lightah? I'm going to find ya. Give it back, give it back," with fire pronounced as "fi-ya."
Meanwhile, Stefani and William's "Spark the Fire" chorus contains the lyrics "Who got the lighter? Let's spark the fire. Who got the lighter? Let's spark the fire." The complaint stressed that the word fire in Stefani's song is likewise pronounced 'fi-ya.'
Morrill claimed to have discovered the infringement upon watching Stefani and William's performance of "Spark the Fire" on the TV show "The Voice" in 2014. At the moment, Stefani and Williams declined to comment on the issue.
Meanwhile, enjoy Gwen Stefani's music video of "Spark the Fire" below:
