Rock Legend Neil Young Hit With Trademark Drama By Socal Fashion Giant Chrome Hearts

Neil Young’s Latest Battle: Trademark Tussle in Cali Court

Hold onto your vinyl, LA fam - rock legend Neil Young is caught up in some serious legal drama with Chrome Hearts, the luxury fashion brand that’s basically SoCal royalty. According to Rolling Stone, the high-end label - known for decking out stars with bling and threads from Hollywood to Malibu - has slapped Young and his crew with a trademark infringement lawsuit in California federal court.

The suit doesn’t just name Young but also his bandmates Micah Nelson, Corey McCormick, Anthony LoGerfo, and Spooner Oldham, plus his production outfit, The Other Shoe Productions. Chrome Hearts is alleging that Young’s band name, ‘Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts,’ is a straight-up attempt to cash in on their hard-earned rep in the fashion game.

Chrome Hearts Draws the Line: No Collab, No Mercy

The complaint, as dug up by Rolling Stone, states loud and clear that Chrome Hearts never gave the green light for Young or his team to use their trademarked name. They’re arguing it’s not just a coincidence - it’s a calculated move to ‘exploit’ their brand’s clout, especially since they’ve already got deep ties in both fashion and music with collabs alongside heavyweights like Madonna and Drake.

“We’ve built a legacy in both style and sound, and seeing our name used without permission is a slap in the face to everything we stand for,” a Chrome Hearts spokesperson reportedly fumed.

While Young’s merch doesn’t straight-up copy the brand’s iconic logos, Chrome Hearts claims the confusion is already happening. Third-party vendors are apparently hawking band gear as if it’s an official team-up, and the label wants it stopped with a court injunction faster than a Sunset Strip traffic jam.

From Lyrics to Lawsuits: How Did We Get Here?

This legal showdown comes right on the heels of Young and his band dropping their debut album Talkin to the Trees and wrapping a global tour. Fun fact: the band’s name reportedly pulls inspo from a line in Young’s 1976 classic ‘Long May You Run’ - a nod that’s pure Cali road-trip nostalgia. But Chrome Hearts ain’t feeling the love, especially after they say they flagged the issue with Young’s team back in July, only to see the band keep rocking the name on stage and in merch shops.

The fashion brand, a fave among A-listers like Rihanna and Timothée Chalamet, is doubling down on their stance. With their footprint already massive in both style (think edgy jewelry and apparel) and music (they’ve worked with The Rolling Stones, y’all), they’re arguing that this name overlap is a big ol’ problem for their brand identity.

So, will Neil Young switch up the band name, or is this headed for a courtroom encore? We’re keeping our eyes peeled on this Hollywood-worthy clash - stay tuned for updates as this SoCal saga unfolds!