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- 🔍 Controversy of Michael Moorcock (DuckDuckGo search or Google search or WP search or FB)
Controversy of author Michael Moorcock, who created the fantasy figure Elric of Melniboné. The first book with Elric was Science Fantasy No. 47 (Jun 1961). The book cover for Elric was Brian Lewis, not Whelan. And there are many magazines, comics and books about Elric before DAW Books.
Artist Michael Whelan later joined DAW Books on the Elric Saga books 1-7 from 1976-85. After that Cirith Ungol has also used it on artworks from 1981.
Pros:
- Cirith Ungol have thanked Moorcock on their credits, (but only three records, see the Cons after this.)
- sometimes they are selling more Elric books – only because of Cirith Ungol initially.
- some people haven’t heard of Cirith Ungol, but the artwork was amazing cover, and thus they buy the record(s). Many of them later on, they got them into Moorcok and bought Elric book(s) – only because of Cirith Ungol initially.
- artist Michael Whelan had the book covers from 1976-85 on DAW Books, author was Moorcock. On 1981, Cirith Ungol had deal with Whelan and Cirith Ungol pay to Whelan. But it was supposed to be OK.
- from various interviews:
We read all about Conan, Bran Mak Morn, etc. but the books that stood out in my mind the most are the Michael Moorcock’s masterpieces: Elric, Hawkmoon, Corum, etc.
I think they hit a chord with us at the time. The whole thing about good and evil, chaos vs. law is a never-ending struggle and we felt our music had the same duality about it.
No, [Michael Moorcock] hasn’t, but we have followed his career from the beginning and I think his works are mostly masterpieces, especially the Elric and Corum books!
I was reading the book Stormbringer by Michael Moorcock at the time and I remember looking at the cover of the book and thinking this would be the best album cover of all time. … The painting “Stormbringer”, was there and I was mesmerized by its imagery! We got to talk with him, and he is interested in possibly doing another Elric cover for the band! Unfortunately we never got to meet with Michael Moorcock, but needless to say his work influenced our music greatly!
Michael Whelan who painted the covers, which grace our albums, took the original painting for the book “Sailors on a Sea of Fate” which appeared on our CD “Paradise Lost”. His intention was to have Moorcock sign the painting near the bottom as his imagination created the figure portrayed. They had never met and Michael Whelan introduced himself and explained that he had painted the covers for his US editions of his books and was very polite. Michael Moorcock took the painting and with a giant marking pen signed his name very large all over the painting. Of course Michael Whelan said he was in shock and grabbed the painting rushing home to try to repair the irreplaceable masterpiece. I think he fixed it but the story is very disturbing. I believe this account as Michael Whelan is a very honest and straight up guy.
Cons:
It appears that Cirith Ungol’s use of Elric of Melniboné on their album art is unauthorized, making it legally questionable. According to Linda Moorcock, who collaborates with Michael Moorcock (the creator of Elric), the band does not have a license to use Elric’s image in their commercial work. Her comments suggest frustration that the band is profiting from Elric’s image without permission and without compensating Michael Moorcock.
This statement implies that Michael Whelan, the artist who created the Elric artwork used by the band, has also not acknowledged or compensated Moorcock, according to Linda’s remarks. Legally, using a copyrighted character like Elric for commercial purposes without permission could constitute copyright infringement, as any licensed use would typically require approval from the copyright holders.
Elric of Melnibone (FB private group), 02 Nov 2024
Linda Moorcock
More THIEVES! They have no license to sell ANYTHING WITH ELRIC IMAGES. As with most, they just don’t SAY it’s Elric.
Cirith Ungol Fan
Tim Baker (Cirith Ungol), Michael Whelan (artist on Elric) and Robert Garven (Cirith Ungol). And they have thanked both Whelan and Moorcock on their credits.
Linda Moorcock
Thanks yous, homages, tributes, etc…all make $$$ for THEM while skirting the legality of what they are doing. That’s supposed to make it all OK. Well, it doesn’t…unless they are giving it all away, which I doubt! [And Whelan has never said ONE WORD of thanks to Michael OR offered a print, a card…NOTHING!
Cirith Ungol Fan
I am sorry for that. But you can contact Cirith Ungol directly on email …
…
Michael Whelan …
…
Linda Moorcock
Cirith Ungol Fan …a little too late for that, doncha think! If you’re their fan, why don’t YOU tell them. Why people don’t just ASK is what I don’t understand. We’re not here to rip anybody off and NEVER ask a fortune, if anything at all…so why don’t they ask?
First of all: suppose it is not mentioned at all on “Michael Moorcock” from Paradise Lost LPs and later records, and addition One Foot In Fire. So there is only three discs – Frost and Fire, King of the Dead and One Foot In Hell – on thanks to Michael Moorcock.
And also CU avoided Moorcock/Cawthorn who created the Chaos Star symbol.
Possible solution for Moorcock problems
I would like to fix the Moorcock trouble:
- Credit anything on future records, reissues, T-shirts, posters, ads or other merchandise with “Michael Moorcock” featuring Elric, Corum, Hawkmoon, etc.
- Thanks to Linda and Michael Moorcock personally for now and the future.
- Moorcock also get cents if they asked for it.
- The other 3rd party business with Elric T-shirt, Elric poster, etc. is the same. E.g. Keep it True’s Dimitar Nikolov, Brian Cräbaugh, Tim Shagrat, Maegan LeMay, etc.
- If Cirith Ungol and Michael Whelan has everything under control, then anyway it’s nice to mention Moorcock next time. Positive vibe, not negative vibe.
Or other solutions. If it’s still trouble, it’s still a little better in the near future than now.