Cro-Mags founder Harley Flanagan and current trademark holder has filed a lawsuit against his former bandmate John Joseph McGowan (a.k.a. John Joseph, John Bloodclot) for allegedly ripping off the group’s name. According to a published report from the New York Post and Blabbermouth.net, the federal trademark infringement lawsuit, filed on Monday by Savoia NYC Inc., which is owned by Flanagan, claims that McGowan used the name “Cro-Mags Jam” in violation of a 2019 settlement agreement giving Flanagan the rights to the Cro-Mags name. The suit alleges McGowan used “Cro-Mags Jam” to promote an April 23rd, 2019 benefit concert in the East Village’s Tompkins Square Park, causing confusion about who was actually performing, according to the filing. Just prior to that concert the two parties came to an agreement in which Flannagan retained the name, logos and all legal rights to release music as Cro-Mags, while Joseph and Mackie Jason were to operate under Cro-Mags “JM.” Flannigan released an album – In The Beginning, and an EP, 2020, via the Mission Two Entertainment label in 2020. Continue reading →