Pop/Soul Music Group WAR Continues to Battle by Harvey M
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IECN12_Layout 4 2/29/12 10:24 AM Page 1 Page A12 • March 1, 2012 • Inland Empire Community Newspapers Pop/Soul music group WAR continues to battle By Harvey M. Kahn nothing to the rumors that WAR is reuniting. "I'm hoping and asking ith speculation that the all the time," said Brown. "There pop music retro group are issues other than legal. The WAR might be re - personalities would have to be unWited, perhaps a chance at its agreeable. However, all that could rightful place in the Rock and Roll change next week." Hall of Fame would soon follow. By reviewing various YouTube For starters, WAR would be more performances of the two WAR de - than eligible for inclusion into the rivative groups, it showed just how upcoming 2012 Inland Empire much the two need each other. Hall of Fame inductions scheduled WAR with Lonnie Jordan are hard for March 31. working but lack the professional - Before WAR is eligible for any - ism of their counterparts, the thing there must be a cease fire de - Lowrider Band, who capture the clared between the two different authentic sound of WAR. How - bands that are offshoots of the ever, Jordan's vocals edge out original WAR. One group is a those of Howard Scott of the hodgepodge of musicians that Lowriders. It's doubtful that the younger audiences realize that back up Lonnie Jordan, an original IECN PHOTO COURTESY WIKIPEDIA member of WAR whose group has when they are paying to see WAR, War (originally called Eric Burdon and War) is an American funk band from California, known for the that they are not getting the real the legal right to use the name hit songs "Low Rider", "Spill the Wine", "The Cisco Kid", and "Why Can't We Be Friends?". Formed WAR. Another group consisting deal. The group's trademark song, in 1969, War was a musical crossover band which fused elements of rock, funk, jazz, Latin, rhythm of four other former members of "Lowrider" will never be the same WAR are currently known as the and blues, and reggae.[1] The band also transcended racial and cultural barriers with a multi-eth - since its lead singer, Charles Lowrider Band. For 30 years, the nic line-up. Miller was murdered in 1980. two factions have been dragging United as one WAR, the group each other in and out of court phy ranks them high on the histor - Howard Scott, Harold Brown, and of its 1975 song, “Why Can't We would likely be inducted into the rooms to decide trademark in - ical charts of recorded pop music. Lee Oskar. Be Friends.” Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, fringements. Reporter Carl Wiser wrote that The unassuming Dickerson had a If money is awarded, it most whose academy has shied from According to a federal court of Jimi Hendrix performed with them business location at Fifth Street likely would go to Far Out Pro - them due to its heavy legal bag - appeals summary, the group was in England the night he died. That and E, and later at Baseline and ductions, who owns the rights and gage. "Together we'd make the first known as Eric Burdon and Bob Marley cherry picked portions Arrowhead. Friends said that royalties derived from the name HOF," said Brown. "The way it is WAR and played their first com - of their music, and that the Beastie Dickerson never boasted about his WAR. According to reports, Jerry now doesn't look right." Lonnie mercial show at the Mother Boys, Ice T, and Janet Jackson in - pop world accomplishments, in - Goldstein of Far Out Productions Jordan agreed that WAR's legal Lizards Ball in 1969 in San cluded long samples of their cluding co-writing and performing oversees a tight reign over the use problems have made it difficult to Bernardino. Mother Lizards is now music. One of the five remaining on all nine of WAR's gold records of his naming rights. get elected into the Rock HOF. called the Branding Iron. Within a founding members of WAR, BB and on three of its Grammy Award "We can't use the word WAR, Jordan told Matt Munoz of Bako - year, Eric Burdon and WAR Dickerson for years could be seen winning songs. Dickerson helped and we can't say that we are for - topia.com that the chance for a re - struck gold with the single, “Spill in San Bernardino standing out the group gain $50 million in total merly of WAR to promote any of union is always open for the Wine,” and sold another mil - front of one of his gift shops. Dick - recording sales and about another our shows," said Lowrider Band discussion. lion with the album, Eric Burdon erson helped WAR maintain its $50 million from commercial manager Phil Brown. "We are "All I can say that if we do some - Declares War . Within a year, Bur - lasting connection in San soundtracks. watched very closely. There have thing together, it'll have to be don left WAR, which ultimately Bernardino from 1969 to 1996. Currently, the two rival factions been reporters who mentioned short-lived, make a lot of noise and started the legal problems. The other original members of of WAR are in a complicated $10 WAR in their articles which has a lot of money," said Jordan. The group's subsequent biogra - WAR who perform with Dicker - million suit against Pepsi for what caused us to have our shows shut son in the Lowrider Band are they claim to be unauthorized use down." Brown said that there is Burrage Mansion a sanctuary for underprivileged youth grade kitchen was installed, rest - room and shower facilities, not to mention the teepees to accommo - date overnight sleeping. Timothy indicated that the man - sion is certified by the American Camp Association, allowing non- profits the ability to obtain grant funding and food subsidies. IECN PHOTO ANNEMARIE PAXTON The Burrage Mansion is certi - fied by the American Camp As - sociation that will allow nonprofit organizations to ob - tain grant funding and food sub - sidies for their camps. Pictured are teepees for overnight ac - commodations. IECN PHOTO ANNEMARIE PAXTON The sprawling 20-acre estate, owned by the Rochford Foundation, has a two-fold mission: to re - store and maintain one of Redlands historical treasures; and to be exclusively dedicated to the happiness of children by providing them a sanctuary. Local nonprofits that serve underpriveleged children regularly utilize the facilities. By Annemarie Paxton lands, the 20-acre estate is open to other members in the community local nonprofit groups that serve to donate their “time and treasure” hen Tim Rochford children between the ages of six to children in the form of volun - purchased the Burrage and 12. teerism. Mansion in 2007 he According to Dr. Ellen Timothy, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Red - haWd a two-fold mission in mind: to Chief Operations Officer and Ex - lands is the “anchor” nonprofit or - restore and maintain one of Red - ecutive Director of the Rochford ganization that utilizes the Burrage lands architectural and historical Foundation, the focus is on Mansion for the children they treasures; and to dedicate the use younger children while they are serve. Last summer the inaugural of the grounds exclusively to un - still in their formative years. resident camp, Camp Dia del Sol, derprivileged children as a sanctu - She added that Rochford de - took place, a first for both the ary dedicated to the well-being and signed the grounds how he would Rochford Foundation and BGCR. happiness of children in need. want it if he was still a child. A Youth aged 8 - 12 from BGCR Drawing upon the mansion’s purely philanthropic endeavor, the camped out for four days and three beauty and spiritual serenity, they foundation does not solicit and nights. Two weeks were dedicated work to create a place of safety and barely accepts any sort of dona - to the camp, one week for boys loving kindness, where less-fortu - tions or funding. and one for girls. nate children have a chance to play Timothy indicated that an addi - The Burrage Mansion had up - and dream. tional goal of the Rochford Foun - graded its facility to enable such a One of five mansions in Red - dation is to model and facilitate camp to occur. A commercial.