If the Bo Diddley Estate Got Litigious, It Would Make the “Blurred Lines” Trial Seem Petty

Given that Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams have been punished for copying the feel of Marvin Gaye’s “Got to Give It Up,” here’s a list of all the people who owe the Bo Diddley estate money for using the Bo Diddley beat.

In case you’re unfamiliar with the Bo Diddley beat, here’s the 1955 single that introduced it:

1. Buddy Holly for “Not Fade Away” (1957)

2. The Rolling Stones for “Please Go Home” (1966)

3. The Who for “Magic Bus” (1968)

4. David Bowie for “Panic in Detroit” (1973)

5-6. Iggy Pop for “Lust for Life” (1977) and Jet for “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” (2003) (C’mon! They’re essentially the same thing!)

7-8. George Michael for “Faith” (1987) and Limp Bizkit for their 1998 cover, and for being Limp Bizkit.

9. U2 for “Desire” (1988)

10. The White Stripes for “Screwdriver” (1999)

Who else owes for using the Bo Diddley beat? I know there are many more, so please let us have ’em.