‘Brick in the Wall’ kids seek royalties

A group of former London schoolchildren who sang on Pink Floyd’s 1979 classic “Another Brick in the Wall” have lodged a claim for unpaid royalties.

Twenty-three teenage pupils from Islington Green School secretly recorded vocals for the track, which became an anthem for children with the chorus “We don’t need no education.”

On hearing the song, the Islington headmistress banned the pupils from appearing on television or video -- leaving them no evidence and making it harder for them to claim royalties -- and the local school authority described the lyrics as “scandalous.”

The album sold more than 12 million copies and the single became No. 1 in Britain and the U.S. The school was paid $1,860 and later given a platinum record of the song, but the pupils were paid nothing.

Royalties expert Peter Rowan said he was appealing to a music royalties society on behalf of one former student and was working with other members of the class. He said he was still trying to contact the majority of the group.

If he prevails, Rowan said the money would come from a music royalties society, not Pink Floyd. He expected the 23 students to receive about $380 each.