Village People frontman Victor Willis dies aged 74

[TallThinMan]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cddlnqy8zmqo

I guess this is the end of the lawsuit over 'Go West'?

[MikeyC]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cddlnqy8zmqo

I guess this is the end of the lawsuit over 'Go West'?

I think his wife was primarily behind the lawsuit.

[leesmapman]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cddlnqy8zmqo

I guess this is the end of the lawsuit over 'Go West'?

No, 70 years after the death of an author.

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[DopeFiend]

Oh god, that's really sad. Rest in peace. I'm glad he got to take the public stage and perform YMCA as part of the Trump presidential celebrations. https://youtu.be/ptTc17stBkw
The music will live on.

Hopefully PSB can make a statement and sort of make amends with the disagreements.

I've never massively been into the Village People, but I did go out of my way to listen to the original Go West the other day while driving and really enjoyed it.
I've never been a massive fan, but Victor Willis as part of Village People have been a massive iconic pop act in one of our favourite eras of music. I mainly know the music from Trump rallies (they play the songs before and after the speech, not just 1 or 2 but a handful of different Village People songs) as well as The Simpsons which had In The Navy in one scene. Also the videogame Grand Theft Auto 3 the pedestrians say the lyrics of YMCA and In The Navy, and in Grand Theft Auto Vice City there's a recreation of the group in the Malibu Club, in the themed outfits.
Anyway, sad for any recognisable music figure to pass away.
He was obviously a bit cumbersome with the Go West lawsuit, but in a way so was Neil.

I want to point out, it's an interesting coincidence of timing that he's passed away literally the day after Pride Month.
Obviously with Village People and YMCA being one of the biggest publically associated gay anthems.

Pet Shop Boys have a concert soon, where they'll presumably be performing GW. Perhaps they'll dedicate it to Victor.

Rest in Peace.



By the way, I love the acoustic intro for Go West PSB did for the Live 8. It's quite the obscure release. https://open.spotify.com/track/2lCnjCnm8j3zV342OCBqOI

[Future Lover]

I'm glad he got to take the public stage and perform YMCA as part of the Trump presidential celebrations.

Disgusting.

Perhaps they'll dedicate it to Victor.

Hope not!

[TallThinMan]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cddlnqy8zmqo

I guess this is the end of the lawsuit over 'Go West'?

No, 70 years after the death of an author.

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I think you're thinking of copyright. The lawsuit wasn't about copyright per se, it was about specific licensing clauses around the circumstances of when the boys could perform the song and release their version of it.

[NotInvisible]

I'm glad he got to take the public stage and perform YMCA as part of the Trump presidential celebrations.

Gross.

[babi7808]

So far, they've played "Go West" three times on the summer tour (today will be the fourth), and they haven't recommended the song to anyone.

[Sandy Shaw]

VW''s passing mentioned 26 minutes into the Radio 4 midnight news including a very brief mention of PSB.

[telys]

From what I could deduce from Willis' wiki-page, the support for Trump came after he understood the money he would make from the song being played.
Willis' had a long period in life where he was a drug addict. Poor man.
There is no doubt that he was instrumental to the success of Village People.
But as Elton John said about the PSB Go West: "a much better version" than VP's.

[Vintage Youth]

He has indeed, Gone West **nods solemnly**

[Sandy Shaw]

He has indeed, Gone West **nods solemnly**

Someone had to go there...