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Light Fingered Skinner? The Streets Hit Back

added 20 July 2004 at 10.40

Following claims that the new Streets single 'Dry Yours Eyes' illegally samples a track by Michael Gagliano, Mike Skinner tells his side of the story.

The Streets a.k.a. Mike Skinner has hit back at the claims of plagiarism explaining he hasn't nicked the strings from 'Dry Your Eyes'  from anyone. Following tabloid reports in which songwriter Michael Gagliano claimed Skinner had used his score without his permission, Skinner has told The Sun he took the strings for his track from a samples CD free for use by artists.

"The strings were taken from a CD which provides royalty-free samples for artists," His management told the paper. "This is standard practice nowadays. Mike has never heard of the other song. But it was apparently released towards the end of 2003, while 'Dry Your Eyes' was recorded as early as March 2003 and CDs of the track have been kicking about the label ever since.

"We've no idea how the other artist thinks Mike heard his music before recording his track and we find it all a bit strange. If the other artist had contacted us before now, we could have explained that. But he didn't."

The paper also says Gagliano had been unable to contact Skinner's representatives though claims he has master tapes to prove he first recorded his track, 'Yesterday And Today Pt 1', two years ago before releasing it last year.

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Jon Ford

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