As many of you know, I recorded a tribute song, a version of Female Trouble from the John Waters film of the same name. I was a huge fan of Mr. Waters and of Divine's. I own all the movies and have purchased all books I could find regarding both of them.

When I recorded the song in Amsterdam with Ana Popovic, I was so excited. I couldn't wait to get back home and send the song to Mr. Waters personally, as I hoped for his blessing. Many of my friends have appeared in his films; James Intveld as the singing voice of Johnny Depp in Crybaby, Dave Alvin, Tab Hunter and the late great Ruth Brown are all friends of mine, some of whom confirmed their thoughts that John Waters would love me. I have been sending him my cds regularly for years.

It seemed like the perfect fit. I often proclaim that I am a "black drag queen trapped in a white womans body" and have been a long time gay activist and supporter. Drag queens worldwide perform my material so why wouldnt John Waters embrace me and my colorful music? Divine was the first drag queen I had ever seen and Divine gave many of us license to be as big and trashy as we wanted to be. White trash girl and Masturbation Blues could be directly taken from a John Waters film. It seemed that John Waters and I were a perfectly suited, trashy match.

Alas, it was not to be.

I sent Mr. Waters a copy of the cd certified mail and called his agents at CAA to find out where to send the publishing and royalty checks. Ill admit this isnt the normal procedure. Usually my record label or publishing administrator BUG music secures all mechanical rights and licenses. Because I had been sending my cds to Waters home in Baltimore since 1994, I felt like I should take different action than usual, and let him know what a fan I am and that I had recorded the song.

I was shocked to receive a ten day cease and desist letter from his lawyers instead. Not knowing where to turn, I did some further research and located Bob Harvey, the former bassist of Jefferson Airplane. Bob is the original writer of Black Velvet Soul which is the song that inspired Female Trouble. Bob, being a musician himself, graciously gave me his immediate permission to record the song. He wanted John Waters to know that he had specifically granted me permission when Waters would not.

I only record songs I write or feel passionate about. I choose songs that have something to say, usually constructive songs about unity or celebrating ourselves and our dreams. I could have kept female trouble on the cd, and pursued the normal channels of paying all mechanical royalties. BUT after receiving this aggressive letter from waters threatening me with TRIPLE damages, it really yanked the rug out from under me. I was soured on the song and felt that if john waters was so adamant in his refusal to allow me to pay him tribute, then I would pull the song from the cd.

It was not an easy decison. It cost me a lot of money to go in and record another song for Guitar'd and Feathered. But I did it, because I dont have the money to spend on lawyers, even if the end result is that I am right. I cant fight the power and money of John Waters who has enough money to sue Nickoleodeon network over their use of the "Odorama" in the Rugrats movie. I am a single mom with a kid who dreams of going to college. I am a struggling blues musician selling stuff on Ebay and working Temp jobs to make ends meet. I cant afford to fight against a millionaire like waters. I gave in and removed the song.

So it hurts to read Mr. Waters comments; that I never asked for permission for the song. He states below that I didnt go through the appropriate channels to secure the rights to the song. This is just untrue and wrong.

I made every effort to go out of my way to secure the rights to this song and hoped that John Waters would be the hero he seemed to be. He could have proven that he was a champion of the underdog, as he likes to portray himself. He could have embraced this drag queen wanna be and allowed me to PAY HIM ROYALTIES to promote his work with my fans. He could have; but he didnt.

I have recorded songs by Bob Dylan, Carole King, Isaac Hayes, Led Zeppelin, Willie Dixon and never had any trouble securing the rights and paying royalties. I never dreamed that by worshipping someone and wanting to pay them tribute that this would happen to me.

I am just a little known blues diva. But many of you here, make me feel like a star. Please write to John waters yourself at

John Waters
c/o Atomic Books
1100 W. 36th Street
Baltimore, MD 21211 USA

or you can contact the email address of the writer below. Please let him know that you want to hear my version of female trouble and that you are disappointed in him and his behavior. I doubt it will make any difference. BUT its still not too late to let him know that I am not just some NOBODY. I am a somebody who loved him, loved divine and loved their work. What a sad development.

From the Baltimore Sun:

John Waters says no way
By Chris Kaltenbach Sun reporter
Originally published March 6, 2007

If only she'd asked.

There'll be no "Female Trouble" on the CD by Hustler magazine cover girl Candye Kane, after director-songwriter-sleaze raconteur John Waters denied her permission to include an update of the title song from his 1974 movie of the same name. Kane recorded the song last year. But Waters, who co-wrote the song with Bob Harvey, said he didn't know about it until he received her e-mail saying it was going to be on her CD.

"She never asked ... permission," he said yesterday from his Baltimore home, "and you don't get permission by writing new lyrics and changing the whole thing."

Waters said there are right ways and wrong ways to use other artists' work. "I spent two years getting the rights to the songs on A Date with John Waters," he says of his album of love songs issued last month. "I know what you have to go through. She has to, too."

chris.kaltenbach@baltsun.com