Easy Life frontman and songwriter Murray Matravers has issued an emotional update explaining more details surrounding the band’s ongoing lawsuit at the hands of easyJet and the easyGroup conglomerate over naming rights.
In case you somehow missed it, earlier this week the Leicester-based five-piece revealed they had been threatened with the prospect of being sued by the company owned by Greek-Cypriot billionaire, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, and best known for its budget airline, easyJet.
As ridiculous as it sounds (because it is), the multinational corporation intends to sue the band — whose name is stylised in lowercase as ‘easy life‘ — for using the word easy in their name, which they claim to have trademarked and have already been collecting royalties from other companies for some time.
Now, the latest according to Matravers is that the band and their legal representation have a clearer picture of how much fighting this in court will cost and when the wheels will really start moving.
Starting off by thanking fans and concerned parties in general for their “outpouring of love, anger, support and compassion” following the news, he labelled the reaction across the music industry and online as both “overwhelming” and “beautiful”.
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Despite multiple groups having “offered to crowdfund” to help the band take on the lawsuit, the singer, lyricist and co-founder reiterated that “this case is going to be extremely expensive to fight in the High Court” and wouldn’t actually begin until 2025.
“We would be undertaking an absolutely massive, potentially two-year-long fight against a billion-dollar corporation”, he continues. “We’re not a limited company: it’s our name on the lawsuit, they could take everything and we could be completely financially ruined — they know that and they are extremely aggressive”.
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With several dozens of ‘easy’-prefix businesses to their name, not mention countless more trademarks in existence (be they defunct, future-proofing or otherwise), the holding group has attempted to monopolise the word and already taken several other companies to court on the same grounds.
The full list of active easyGroup brands at present (Credit: Stelios Philanthropic Foundation)
The 27-year-old also commented on how both the company and other media outlets such as the Daily Mail are trying to discredit the group and “running [his] name through the dirt”.
Adding that he and his bandmates “feel intimidated” and “are going through it” during a very clearly emotional moment in the lengthy video statement, he went on to say that he believes they “have a very strong case” but warned they are going to need “upwards of half a million quid to get a fair trial”.
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Speaking passionately and defiantly, he ultimately declared that the ‘easy life vs easyGroup’ lawsuit is no longer just about the band but is instead “a case about corporate bullying” and merely one in a long line not just by this particular organisation but several others. Many of those commenting have been quick to draw comparisons between this situation and Joe Lycett‘s famous protest stunt against Hugo Boss.
As for the band, they have received a tidal wave of support from others in the music industry, with the likes of Arlo Parks, Mahalia, Professor Green and several others sending messages of solidarity and offering to help fundraise on their behalf. Murray was also praised for proving how the company doesn’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to who came first:
In their latest statement on the looming legal battle, the now deeply unpopular easyGroup labelled Matravers as a “brand thief” and argued that Stelios has owned the ‘easy’ family of brands since 1994, adding that he “needs to understand that he is not being sued by an airline” but its parent organisation.
Warning that the company “has a legal budget of £4 million per year with which to take action against brand thieves, big and small”, they even went so far as to highlight “negative PR about Matravers (for example having to be carried off stage for being too drunk to perform)”, suggesting that this could “reflect badly on easyGroup” and that “confusion is not necessary for such tarnishment to occur.”
They also drew attention to some of Easy Life’s previous merchandising such as tour posters with planes on and band t-shirts, both of which appear to mimic the company’s branding.
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The statement continues to progress in a rather personal manner, claiming that “Mr Matravers has also tried to develop the story that this is a ‘David vs Goliath’ and somehow the ‘little guy’ has the right to use any name he likes because he can’t afford lawyers.” Let’s just say we sincerely hope David wins this one.
Featured Image — easy life (via Instagram)/easyGroup
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Lorde at AO Arena, Manchester – stage times, setlist, tickets and more essential info
Daisy Jackson
Lorde is performing a huge gig at the AO Arena in Manchester this week, as part of her Ultrasound World Tour.
The New Zealand-born singer burst onto the music scene at the tender ages of 16 with her smash-hit single Royals, way back in 2013.
Since then, she’s gone on to break several records with the releases of her four studio albums, and scooped up a handful of GRAMMYs and BRIT awards along the way too.
As well as her gig at the AO Arena here in Manchester, Lorde will also be calling at major UK cities including London, Birmingham and Glasgow.
The tour comes hot off the heels of the release of her latest album, Virgin, which once again topped the Official UK Album Charts.
If you’re heading to see Lorde at the AO Arena, here’s everything you need to know.
Lorde UK tour dates
15 November – AO Arena, Manchester
16 November – The O2, London
17 November – The O2, London
19 November – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
20 November – Utilita Arena Birmingham
Who is supporting Lorde at the AO Arena?
Experimental musician and producer Blood Orange, otherwise known as Devonte Hynes, will be the main support act for Lorde in Manchester.
The British musician has worked with the likes of Florence and the Machine, Mac Miller, Kylie Minogue, and – of course – Lorde, and will be warming up the crowds ready for our headliner.
Also taking the stage before Lorde will be electronic and indie pop star Jim-E Stack, whose solo releases have featured everyone from Bon Iver to Charli XCX.
Tickets for Lorde’s gig in Manchester
Credit: Thistle Brown
At the time of writing, there are just a handful of random tickets left for Lorde’s gig.
These are priced between £48.60 and £161.30.
Otherwise, your best bet is to look at resale tickets from a reputable site.
Stage times for Lorde at AO Arena Manchester
The AO Arena hasn’t yet confirmed the exact stage times for Lorde, but has said that doors will open from 6pm with a start time of around 7pm.
At other shows, Lorde has typically arrived on stage at around 9pm.
You can roughly expect stage times to be as follows:
Doors 6pm
Jim E-Stack 7pm
Blood Orange 8pm
Lorde 9pm
Keep an eye on the AO Arena’s socials for the latest.
Aitch’s brief statement as Moston rapper heads into the I’m A Celebrity jungle
Daisy Jackson
Manchester rapper Aitch is officially taking party in this year’s series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here.
The rumoured line-up had been swirling for days as stars were spotted touching down in Australia ahead of the ITV series restarting for 2025.
And now I’m A Celebrity has officially revealed its line-up, which includes MOBO and Brit Award-winning Aitch, Ruby Wax, Martin Kemp, and Jack Osbourne, to name a few.
Aitch has said on his final post on Instagram before he disappears into the Australian bush that he’s ’bout to go f*ck up the jungle the Manchester way’.
He wrote: “I’ve made songs with most people I grew up listening to, now I’m going on the show I grew up watching.
“Mam this one’s for you. bout to go f*ck up the jungle the Manchester way. Cinnabit.”
Aitch, real name Harrison Armstong, hopes to raise awareness about Down Syndrome while he has the platform of the I’m A Celebrity camp – a genetic disorder his beloved sister Gracie has.
He said: “I feel like I have got this calling to raise awareness for Down syndrome and I feel that’s the perfect place.
“Also, you don’t always want to be stuck in the same world forever. You can branch out and do other things. You don’t have to stick to the code (rap world), because you think that’s cool.
“I did have to cancel some gigs for it. But you are never going to branch out if you do the same thing all the time.”
Joining Aitch in the I’m A Celebrity jungle will be presenter, author and comedian Ruby Wax, who wants the public to see that she’s not as ‘aggressive and pushy’ as her TV persona sometimes seems.
The full I’m A Celebrity 2025 line-up, including Manchester rapper Aitch. Credit: ITV
Also heading in will be Martin Kemp, whose presenter son Roman finished in third place on a previous series.
Martin said: “I’ve had to cancel some jobs, but when Roman was on I’m A Celebrity, I was addicted. I watched it every day and enjoyed it so much. I felt it was now time in my life for an adventure.”
DJ and model Kelly Brook said that she has surprised herself in several ways since being with her husband, including starring on Race Across The World and running the London marathon – now it’s time to see if she can be queen of the jungle.
Jack Osbourne, son of the late, great Ozzy Osbourne, will be starring on I’m A Celebrity and said the hardest thing for him will be being away fro his ‘lots of kids, my wife, and my family still int he wake of my dad passing’.
Also on this year’s I’m A Celeb line-up is former Lionness Alex Scott MBE, who said her partner Jess Glynne thinks she’s ‘absolutely mental’ for signing up for the reality show.
Social media sensation Angry Ginge will be appearing in the Australian jungle this year, saying he’s interested to see how he’ll cope without a phone, having only ever spent a week away from it before.
Joining him is Eastenders star and West End actor Shona McGarty, who is a ‘massive fan’ of the show and is excited for audiences to see what she’s like when she’s ‘completely myself’.
Comedian and radio host Eddie Kadi says he’s been prepping for his stint in the I’m A Celebrity jungle by doing intermittent fasting, but doesn’t know ‘how he will survive’ without flavour.
The final campmate joining Aitch in the I’m A Celebrity jungle is Emmerdale’s Lisa Riley, who finally said yes to ITV ahead of her milestone 50th birthday next year.
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I’m A Celebrity starts Sunday at 9pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV & STV Player.
The full I’m A Celebrity 2025 line-up
Aitch – Rapper
Ruby Wax OBE – Presenter, author and comedian
Martin Kemp – Actor and pop star
Kelly Brook – DJ and model
Jack Osbourne – TV Personality
Alex Scott MBE – Sports broadcaster and former Lioness
Danny Jones -
6th October 2023 
