A writer's faith is failed

Matthew Fisher, the organist who did the organ-y bit at the start of a Whiter Shade of Pale, has won his legal battle against Procul Harum to get a slice of the copyright:

Mr Justice Blackburne ruled he was entitled to 40% of the copyright.

Fisher, from London, had wanted half but the court decided lead singer Gary Brooker's input was more substantial.

Fisher's claim for back royalties - of up to £1m - was also rejected.

"I find that the organ solo is a distinctive and significant contribution to the overall composition and, quite obviously, the product of skill and labour on the part of the person who created it," the judge said.

And is Gary Brooker embracing the time of year and being a good loser?

Erm, not quite:

In a statement, Brooker said his former bandmate had no right to be credited as a writer of the song: "If Matthew Fisher's name ends up on my song, then mine can come off!"

He added: "It's hard to believe that I've worked with somebody on and off since 1967 whilst they hid such unspoken resentment.

"I'm relieved the trial is over, but my faith in British justice is shattered."

It's terrible when someone loses their faith in British justice, especially when it had managed to remain intact through the Birmingham Six, Guildford Four, Stefan Kizcko and Colin Wallace cases. But the question of who wrote the first bit of a song is so much more important, of course.

music procul harum