Final Fantasy (The Indie Band) Changes Name
We've mentioned Owen Pallett a couple of times here on GayGamer.net, as the elfin indie musician is both openly gay and openly a gamer. He's been confusing filesharers since 2005 by recording under the name Final Fantasy, and has racked up a long list of accolades and accomplishments. Now Pallett has announced he's going to start using his own name on his records, in part because he's going to start touring and selling records in Japan. He explains:
I began playing solo violin shows in 2004. Although it was essentially a solo project, I named the band Final Fantasy, as the experience--and the tone of the material--was reminiscent of the hours and hours I had spent as an adolescent playing those epic JRPGs.But the laws of trademark infringement exist for good reason, and so I am voluntarily retiring my band name. In the new year, my record Heartland is coming out, and it is my first to be released in many territories, including Japan. With this in mind, I feel it is in my own best interests to definitively distinguish my music from Square/Enix's games.
So, I am no longer playing shows as Final Fantasy. Subsequent releases, including Heartland, will be issued under my own name, Owen Pallett. Prior releases will sometime soon be re-packaged and re-issued.
I thank Square/Enix their kindness and support, and I thank you all for your understanding.
It's not clear as to whether any legal action was taken by Square/Enix, or if this is purely a proactive move by Pallett, but there don't seem to be any hard feelings. Plus it will probably make him a little easier to find on Google without wading through pages of screenshots, fan art, and bad slash fiction. Heartland, his new full length record, is due out mid-January from Domino Records and will be the first under his real name. While you wait for that one, make sure you snap up all his Final Fantasy branded merch before they become collector's items.
Final Fantasy Name Change to Owen Pallett [Domino Records]
[via: the AV Club]
Dawdle
Posted to Music on 19 December 2009
· Comments (7)
Other stuff like this: copyright, final fantasy, indie, name, square enix, violin
It's probably sad that my first thought is what I will do about my Last.fm tags and plays.
Aww... he could've gone with Pallett Town! :D
Tis about time... Finding info on him online has been a nightmare XD
Given the fact that it's Square-Enix we're talking about, I'm assuming they did take legal action. :)
I haven't heard any of his music before, but I'll probably check out Heartland when it's released, just to see what it's like.
I watched his band play at the FFXI Convention in 2007, it was pretty cool. They obviously booked him so maybe it was just voluntary or nicely requested by SE.
amazing artist. i'm sad to see the name change. his songs just had so much in it that made final fantasy a great title.
i saw him live recently, and spent the entire set swooning.
He is cute.