When invited to replace John Norum in Europe in 1986, guitarist Kee Marcello had to leave the band Easy Action – and never managed to sue Poison for plagiarism of one of their songs.
The plagiarism accusation concerns the chorus of the 1986 song "I Want Action," which allegedly copied "We Go Rocking" by Easy Action, released three years earlier. After Marcello, one of the song's composers, left the case, the matter was left in the hands of the record label, and an out-of-court settlement was reached.
In an interview with Vinyl Writer Music (via Ultimate Classic Rock), the musician claimed that the producer of the album Look What the Cat Dragged In introduced Easy Action to the group during the recording sessions. “After playing, Ric Browde encouraged the guys to record a cover of 'We Go Rocking,' and the band's reaction was, 'No, some Scandinavian glam band? Let's copy them, who's going to notice?'”
Too busy with Europe, Marcello didn't have the opportunity to pursue a lawsuit, but he regrets it because of Poison's reaction years later. When questioned about the plagiarism accusation during a festival in Sweden, Marcello's homeland, vocalist Bret Michaels said he had never heard the songs involved. "I can get over the fact that you stole my music, but at least admit it, you coward!" the guitarist exclaimed.
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