In-House Counsel
Kennedy Center general counsel denies allegations he tried to book his band at site
The DePlorables, a cover band that includes the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ general counsel, plays at Law Rocks Washington DC in 2022. (Screenshot from YouTube)
Elliot Berke is the general counsel for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, but he also gigs with the DePlorables, a cover band whose repertoire includes songs from Motörhead, Thin Lizzy and the Clash.
However, Berke denies allegations from Politico that he tried to book his band last fall at the center’s jazz-themed speakeasy, a rooftop bar at the Kennedy Center. Staff rejected the request because they thought that it was a conflict of interest, according to the article.
Berke told reporter Daniel Lippman that he had no comment, according to the article. But he did take his defense to X, formerly Twitter.
According to the article, Berke is an outside counsel to various politicians and the British rock band Yes. The story also noted that Berke did some legal work for Lippman in 2018 and 2019.
“Daniel, my brother … as I told you, I said ‘No’ to the DePlorables but ‘Yes’ to Yes! At no time did I ask to book my band. And shut down staff asks. So stop asking me to be your ‘Music Bro.’ It’s creepy! Will you waive privilege? More to come!” Berke wrote April 11 on X.
Politico reports that a spokesperson for Yes said the band was not booked for the Kennedy Center.
“We ultimately had to decline the offer they made as we received a better offer elsewhere in D.C.,” the statement said, according to the article.
The Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to an ABA Journal interview request.
A video of the DePlorables can be seen here.
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