Sergio García Fernández, frontman of the Spanish band Angelslang, has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against The Rolling Stones, alleging that the band misappropriated elements from two of Angelslang’s songs—So Sorry and Seed of God—to create their 2020 single Living in a Ghost Town.
Originally filed in federal court in New Orleans, the lawsuit has since been transferred to Madrid at the Stones’ request. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have acknowledged working on Living in a Ghost Town during the COVID-19 lockdown, with Jagger noting: “The Stones were recording new material in the studio before the quarantine and there was one song that we thought had a special resonance given the circumstances we’re living in.”
Fernández alleges that Chris Jagger, Mick Jagger’s brother, had previously shown interest in using Angelslang’s songs, fueling suspicions that the band may have drawn directly from his work. The Rolling Stones reportedly admitted that similarities exist between the tracks, though questions remain over which came first and whether inspiration crossed paths unintentionally.
The outcome of the lawsuit could hinge on proving intent, originality, and whether Living in a Ghost Town borrows enough to constitute infringement. For now, the case adds a controversial new chapter to the Stones’ long history in rock and roll.
