Music groups rock Barleycorn with royalty suit

The Schaumburg restaurant John Barleycorn was sued in U.S. District Court Wednesday by the music-publishing firms for the groups Green Day, AC/DC, the J. Geils Band and others alleging unfair use of their songs.

The suit, filed by Chicago attorney Jared Solovay, accuses the bar-restaurant at 1100 American Lane of not paying royalties through the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) for songs performed live last December and January.

The songs included Green Day's "Holiday," AC/DC's "You Shook Me all Night," J. Geils' "Centerfold," Blink 182's "All the Small Things," All American Rejects' "Dirty Little Secret" and Little Texas' "God Blessed Texas."

The suit names the venue's corporate ownership and its president, Samuel Sanchez, and says they "have not sought or obtained a license agreement" through the groups or ASCAP for use of the music and have persisted "despite numerous letters and other contacts."

Sanchez did not immediately return a call for comment.

The suit seeks statutory damages as well as court costs.