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I was excited when I heard about Earth, Wind and Fire having a concert here in Manila. I would have loved to watch but the schedule that I had doesn’t permit me so I have to be contented listening to them on my mp3 player. I completely forgot about it until I found a local article about not one but 2 bands claiming themselves as the legitimate Earth Wind and Fire! Here is a quote from Ricky Lo’s Philippine Star Article Dated March 15, 2008:

Two more rejoinders to the Earth, Wind & Fire minor ‘issue’

• From Mark Young, in-charge of publicity, brand management and entertainment of The Fame Factory:

I am Earth, Wind & Fire’s publicist and recently saw your article on-line in The Philippine STAR regarding Al McKay’s revue group “The Experience” (which did a series of shows in the Philippines last week).

Earth, Wind & Fire is certainly honored that Mr. McKay has put together a cover band and revue as a tribute to the great music of Earth, Wind & Fire. They are just as honored when the group is paid a tribute by a high school or college band that often plays EWF hits at their sporting events.

The Original founding members Philip Bailey (lead vocalist), Verdine White (bass player and brother to Maurice White) and Ralph Johnson travel, perform and record as Earth, Wind & Fire under an international trademark.

Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Ralph Johnson and founder Maurice White were recently honored by the Grammy Awards with nominations for their latest Earth, Wind & Fire album, Illumination.

Earth, Wind & Fire continually tours to sold-out audiences around the world, most recently coming off a South American tour in which EWF played numerous sold out engagements to audiences exceeding 20,000 in Chile and Brazil alone, with their extraordinary show sending fans into a frenzy.

EWF is currently on tour in Europe playing to thousands of fans in Germany and to over 30,000 people at a stadium in Amsterdam.

The “EWF Experience” band member quoted in The Philippine STAR as to the real EWF band lip-synching in concert is unfounded. EWF is an example of pure quality and professionalism.
We look forward to you seeing EWF live in concert someday to experience why Earth, Wind & Fire is the legendary band and certainly is the reason that Mr. McKay is paying tribute to them with his cover band revue.

Reading the article, it appears to be that the one that performed here in Manila is NOT the original Earth Wind and Fire! Imagine being robbed of your hard earned money to watch somebody who you didn’t pay to watch. This is alarming because this may happen in real life. Let’s say there is one group having a faction not liking the current policy, running away and creating their own group and stealing the name altogether. They may end up using the name in bad faith. Earth Wind and Fire is known as a group, i don’t even know the name of the band members but I know that the band themselves are one heck of a performer. Think of some members of McDonald’s board members running away and then claim they are McDonald’s also competing against the very same McDonalds that people know. What if you as an individual earned honor you truly deserved and worked hard for and then someone steps in claiming that the very name you are using is not yours and he/she has to take it. These things might sound crazy but it really does happen. The most common incidents of these come from social networking sites.

If only people knows the true meaning of respect.