One Bar At a Time

New Jersey rockers frown upon Penn bar:

“The Boss” doesn’t hit town on tour until December, but a lawsuit filed on behalf of Bruce Springsteen and rocker Jon Bon Jovi has already arrived in federal court.

The rockers, both members of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, are suing a local bar for allegedly playing their music without a license.

The lawsuit, filed Friday by the ASCAP on behalf of Springsteen, Bon Jovi and Universal-Polygram International Publishing Inc., says RPM’s in Bridgeville is not allowed to play music by ASCAP members without paying an annual $2,818 fee.

The lawsuit alleges RPM’s continues to play “Born in the U.S.A.” by Springsteen, and “Wanted Dead or Alive” and “Bed of Roses” by Bon Jovi, despite being warned repeatedly not to do so.

The defendants are J&J 1020 Restaurant Inc., the corporate owner of RPM’s, and its owner, Joan Martin. Martin was out of town and could not be reached for comment Saturday.

The suit seeks $750 to $30,000 in damages and a permanent ban on the use of ASCAP music at RPM’s.

We will make a lesson of you.