Amy Taylor, the electrifying frontwoman of Amyl and the Sniffers, has filed a lawsuit in California against American photographer Jamie Nelson, accusing her of selling images without permission.
According to the court documents, the photos were originally taken for a Vogue Portugal shoot, and Taylor made it clear they were to appear only in that publication. Her legal team argues that Nelson later attempted to sell fine art prints of the images despite being explicitly denied permission.
The filing highlights Taylor’s instantly recognizable persona, describing her as a blend of raw Australian pub rock energy and 1970s punk attitude. It argues that her image is a crucial part of her artistic identity and a major reason for her global fan base.
A letter from the band’s manager, Simone Ubaldi, included in the court documents, reinforces that understanding. The letter states that Taylor would have refused the shoot entirely had she known the photos might be sold. “She does not want you to sell images of her face or her body as fine art prints,” it reads.
A Breakout Year for the Band
The lawsuit comes after a massive year for Amyl and the Sniffers. The band swept the ARIA Awards, taking home Album of the Year, Best Group, Best Rock Album and Best Cover Art for Cartoon Darkness.
Taylor’s high voltage stage presence has become iconic, and one of her outfits now sits on display at the Australian Museum of Performing Arts alongside pieces from Kylie Minogue and Elton John. Her lyrics, often cheeky, political and unapologetically explicit, have cemented her reputation as one of Australia’s most distinctive performers.
The band recently toured with ACDC, with Taylor telling fans in Brisbane how surreal it felt to share the stage with her heroes during what she jokingly called “bogan Christmas.” They also won praise in Melbourne after covering bar tabs across several venues when a show had to be cancelled.
Court filings show that Taylor’s lawyers sent Nelson a cease and desist letter in November. Nelson has not yet responded publicly.
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