Yusuf to Coldplay: Let's Have Tea

And now, here's today's lesson in how to get some attention when you've been out of the limelight (by your own choice) for a long time.

In our last episode of this ongoing saga, Yusuf Islam (whom you will more likely remember as Cat Stevens back when he was well known) was accusing Coldplay of taking liberties with part of his 1973 "Foreigner Suite" in their Grammy winning "Viva La Vida."

At the time, the artist formerly known as Cat said that he would hold off on a decision about pursuing the matter until a suit filed by Joe Satriani (Chickenfoot) claiming the song was stolen from him, is decided. I guess that wasn't happening fast enough for Cat/Yusuf's publicist, and the artist now says that he still thinks Coldplay copied him, but he's decided that it wasn't on purpose. Heck, he tells Rolling Stone, he's done the same thing himself.

This aw-shucks-let's-have-a-cup-of-tea-and-be-pals reversal should please the publicist, as it has resulted in more coverage of the story, and thus more attention for the artist. It also suggests that all concerned realized he didn't have a snowball's chance of winning a lawsuit.

Coldplay have taken the high road through it all. In fact, lead singer Chris Martin said on the band's website that he finds it inspiring. "[I]f everyone’s trying to take away our best song, then we’d better write 25 better ones."

^{Yusuf Islam photo by Andreas Rentz / Getty Images; Chris Martin photo by Dave Hogan / Getty Images}