BoDeans, Boston Beer Company Settle Lawsuit

NEW YORK (Top40 Charts) - Midwestern rock and rollers the BoDeans have reached a settlement with the Boston Beer Company, manufacturers of Samuel Adams beer, over the use of the band's name in a malt beverage dubbed BoDeans Twisted Tea.

The suit, filed Nov. 7, 2000, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, accused the beer company of trademark infringement, trademark dilution unfair competition, and infringement of the band's right of publicity.

By way of settlement, the Boston Beer Company has halted all manufacturing and selling of BoDeans Twisted Tea, and has abandoned its trademark registration application for the product.

"I'm glad this is finally over," said singer-guitarist Kurt Neumann in a statement released late Thursday (Sept. 6). "Fans were asking us about our tea. They had no idea that the band wasn't connected with it."

Meanwhile, the BoDeans, currently working on songs for the follow-up to 1996's Blend for an as-yet-undecided indie label, are continuing sporadic festival dates throughout the fall. Remaining dates include Saturday (Sept. 8) at the House of Blues in Chicago, Sept. 16 at the Cities 97 Summer Festival in Shakopee, Minn., and Nov. 16 at the Rivera in Chicago.