Original Cop Sues Village People

Victor Willis, the original "cop" in Village People, is suing the band for $1.5M in royalties. Willis left the band in 1980 and was later arrested several times for drug possession.

The village person penned the band's most infectious hits -- including "Y.M.C.A.," "Macho Man," "In the Navy," and "Go West" -- and deserves his fair share of the funky financial windfall, Willis claims in a federal lawsuit filed last week. Willis is suing Can't Stop Productions, which handles the rights to the band's songs. Willis was inspired to write "Y.M.C.A." after a clueless Morali asked him about why people went to the Y. The lyrical licks described "what it was like going into a new town and not having a lot of money and needing a place to stay," he said. Willis is still blown away by the heavy airplay of the disco ditty.

Ray Simpson has performed as the cop since 1987.

Village Puppets

Terrifyingly amazing.

Evening View - THE Village People

Maybe "party" makes "the" OK. But still.

Village People Want To Know Y

"We are deeply dismayed by today's announcement from the YMCA that they feel a name change and a rebranding are in order after 166 years. Some things remain iconic and while we admire the organization for the work they do, we still can't help but wonder Y." - Village People, responding the YMCA changing their name to "The Y."

UNRELATED PET PEEVE: The group's name is Village People. Not THE Village People. I have the same nomenclature issue with folks who insist on writing THE Pet Shop Boys. See also: Scissor Sisters.