A&M Records Suing for Temple of the Dog Tapes
Temple of the Dog – the early ‘90s super group featuring members of Pearl Jam and Soundgarden 
– made an album that to this day is revered as a grunge era classic. But, now it’s the subject of a lawsuit between A&M Records and the brother of the man who produced it.
According to court documents, A&M records says that the album’s producer Rick Parasher went back on a 1993 agreement to sell the Temple of the Dog master tapes to A&M for $35,000. He also allegedly ignored several requests from A&M to hand the tapes over.
What makes this matter all the more interesting is A&M’s lengthy assumption that Temple of the Dog had ownership of the tapes.
The suit reads that A&M “believed the artists to be in possession of the master recordings.” Then in May 2013, “a representative of the artists contacted A&M and informed A&M that [Rajan Parashar] and Rick Parashar” possessed them.
Rick, who passed away in 2014, left the tapes to his brother Rajan.
“He’s had them all along. They’re his,” explained Rajan’s lawyer Warren Rheaume in an interview with The Seattle Times.
A&M is seeking ownership of the tapes, plus damages and attorney’s fees.
What’s the rub here?
Well, 2016 will mark the 25th anniversary of the album’s release – chances are, there’s money to be made.
-Adam Grant
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