There were 23 teenagers of Islington Green School who provided
backing vocals for the 1979 release at the encouragement of their
music teacher. But Headmistress Margaret Maden, on hearing the
lyrics – "We don't need no education / We don't need no thought
control" – barred her pupils from further involvement and,
until now, the children have remained anonymous.
The headteacher was not alone in her shock – the local education
authority described the work as "scandalous". But the song and Pink
Floyd's double album The Wall went on to become massive hits.
The school itself received just £1,000 and a platinum disc; but
to date the children involved in the recording have been paid
nothing.
This may be about to change following the involvement of a
royalties firm run by Scottish musician Peter Michael Rowan.
Rowan has filed a claim on behalf of one of the now
thirty-something singers with the Performing Artists' Media Rights
Association (PAMRA), the trade group responsible for collecting
royalties from broadcasters each time a recording is aired.
Rowan first tracked ex-pupil Peter Thorpe by means of the
Friends Reunited web site and has now made contact with eight of
the singers, now in their thirties. He told OUT-LAW that he now has
the names of the others, but is still trying to make contact with
them.
Rowan's interest is in the fun of finding all the backing
singers and getting them back in touch, as opposed to profit. The
sums involved are small: the backing singers have no claim to
royalties on records sold. It is only since the Copyright and
Related Rights Regulations of 1996 came into force in December of
that year that performers have been entitled to "equitable
remuneration" for the broadcast of their performances. They cannot
claim back to 1979.
So Rowan anticipates that the singers can expect between £100
and £150 for the years since the end of 1996, in respect of
qualifying broadcasts – mainly Europe, Japan and Canada. They can
expect just "tens of pounds" in future years, for as long as the
song is played on TV or radio.
