DJ Kool Herc Sues HBO’s "Vinyl"

A scene on a recent episode of HBO’s “Vinyl,” the TV series created by Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger, shows a young DJ Kool Herc, played by Dominique Johnson, at one of the parties where the turntable pioneer was inventing hip-hop. Now, DJ Kool Herc is suing HBO for using his nickname and likeness without his permission, The Hollywood Reporter reports.

According to the complaint in New York state court, DJ Kool Herc (real name: Clive Campbell) was offered $10,000 to waive “overall rights” and consult for the show, an offer he rejected as too low. The lawsuit calls for a trial to determine damages for HBO and production company Broken Records’ “unauthorized use of his identity, name, and voice,” plus trademark infringement.

DJ Kool Herc’s lawyer, Taso Pardalis, told THR, “It’s beyond us why HBO and the producers of ‘Vinyl,’ a successful show about artists and music, would hurt an artist like Herc who has contributed so much to the music industry.” An HBO spokesperson was quoted as saying, “We are confident there is no validity to the claims.”

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