Procol Harum singer Gary Brooker has filed an appeal against a court ruling granting the band's former organist a chunk of the royalties from their 1967 hit, A Whiter Shade Of Pale. Musician Matthew Fisher, 60, sued Brooker in May 2005 - almost 40 years after they recorded the song - claiming he was entitled to credit and royalty payments for his part in the making of the track.

Fisher was granted a 40 per cent cut of the song profits in December 2006, after a judge ruled the organist's solo of the Bach theme was "a distinctive and significant contribution to the overall composition". But rocker Brooker is now contending the ruling, claiming he was ill-prepared for the case because Fisher's lawsuit came without warning.

Appearing in a London court on Wednesday, Brooker's attorney John Baldwin accused Fisher of only bringing the legal action in 2005 because he wanted to enjoy the benefits of life as a pop star, and knew his claim would end his career with the band.

Baldwin said: "There are advantages in being a pop star. Girls wink at you. There are huge lifestyle benefits from being a pop star and this was Mr. Fisher's dream, and he realized that dream over the last 40 years."

Brooker, 62, maintains the song was written by him and lyricist Keith Reid before Fisher became a member of Procol Harum in March 1967.

-Check out Procol Harum's Discography

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)