Unexpected musical partnerships that rocked the charts
The Black Crowes, an American rock band, along with their founder, Chris Robinson, were sued by their original drummer over unpaid royalties. Steve Gorman, a founding member of the band, played with them during their peak in the 1980s and 1990s before departing in 2001. The band reunited for another decade starting in 2005. Throughout Gorman's tenure, they released over a dozen albums and numerous successful singles. In 2022, Gorman initiated legal action, claiming that he had been attempting to evaluate the accounting and validate the accuracy of his royalty payments for several years, but the band failed to collaborate.
"I regret that it has come to this, as I remain incredibly proud of the music we created as a band, but their conduct has left me with no choice but to ask a court to order them to give me this information, which I'm entitled to under our partnership agreement and the law," he stated. Gorman did not file a lawsuit for a specific sum of money as he was unsure of the exact amount he was owed. He explained that his sole intention was to receive the royalties owed to him as per their agreement. They came to a resolution in 2022.
Robin Antin, the founder of the Pussycat Dolls, has taken legal action against Nicole Scherzinger, alleging that Scherzinger declined to join the group's planned reunion tour, which they had previously agreed upon. Scherzinger's attorney dismissed Antin's accusations as "ludicrous and false."
Antin's lawsuit claims that LiveNation is seeking reimbursement of the US$600,000 they invested in the tour. However, Scherzinger's lawyer states that Robin borrowed and spent this amount without Nicole's approval. The attorney asserts that Scherzinger is not obligated to repay the money. Additionally, they argue that Robin's attempt to capitalize on Nicole's success to alleviate her own financial crisis, resulting from her own imprudent business choices, will prove unsuccessful.
Drummer Paul Cook and guitarist Steve Jones, who were once part of the Sex Pistols, filed a lawsuit against their former frontman John Lydon, also known as Johnny Rotten. The reason was to allow the band's songs to be featured in the 2022 TV series 'Pistol.'
Lydon was defeated by a High Court judge, resulting in the inclusion of the songs in the television series. This ruling was based on the principle of majority rules, as stipulated in the band member agreement.
Noel Gallagher stated that Oasis had to cancel their performance at the V Festival in 2009 due to Liam's hangover.
Liam later filed a lawsuit against Noel, refuting the accusations and explaining that his inability to perform was due to laryngitis. Liam only sought an apology from his brother. Noel obliged and consequently, the lawsuit was withdrawn.
In 1970, Paul McCartney filed a lawsuit to end the Beatles' partnership and prevent Allen Klein from managing their finances.
The judge ruled in McCartney's favor, resulting in the dissolution of the Beatles in 1971. "If I hadn’t done that, it would have all belonged to Allen Klein. The only way I was given to get us out of that was to do what I did," said the former Beatle.
In 2019, drummer Joey Kramer experienced an ankle injury. Upon his desire to return and participate in the Grammys in 2020, the band denied him permission and requested that he complete several rehearsals before rejoining them.
Kramer filed a lawsuit against the band, but the judge rejected the drummer's appeal to compel the band to allow him to rejoin. “Given that Kramer has not played with the band in six months and the dearth of available rehearsal time before the upcoming performances, Kramer has not shown a realistic alternative course of action sufficient to protect the band’s business interests,” read the judge's decision.
In 2003, Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek, former guitarist and keyboardist of the Doors, joined forces with Ian Astbury, a former singer from the band Cult, to form a band called the Doors of the 21st Century. John Densmore, the band's former drummer, did not participate in this new venture.
John Densmore expressed his dislike for the disproportionate size of the word "Doors" in the logo, as well as the usage of the image of the late Jim Morrison. Consequently, both Densmore and the Morrison estate filed a lawsuit.
Manzarek and Krieger ended up giving Densmore and Morrison's estate a payment of US$3.2 million, in addition to US$2 million for legal fees. Afterward, they began performing as Riders on the Storm.
In 2009, Ozzy Osbourne filed a lawsuit against his former bandmate, Tony Iommi, claiming that the guitarist had illegally assumed full ownership of the Black Sabbath trademark. By 2010, the dispute was peacefully resolved.
Tensions within the band remained elevated for several years until Roger Waters made the decision to depart from Pink Floyd in 1983. However, upon discovering that the band had begun recording a new album without him, Waters initiated legal action against his former bandmates.
An agreement was eventually reached, allowing David Gilmour and Nick Mason to continue performing as Pink Floyd. Waters and the rest of the group reunited several years afterwards.
In 2018, Lindsey Buckingham, the guitarist of the band, found out that Fleetwood Mac intended to tour without him. Supposedly, this decision arose from scheduling conflicts relating to Buckingham's solo endeavors.
Buckingham filed a lawsuit seeking US$12 million, claiming he was in fact available for touring. While the settlement's details remained undisclosed, the guitarist expressed contentment with the outcome in an interview, refraining from divulging further information.
Scott Weiland was dismissed from the band in 2013, prompting him to pursue solo performances under the Stone Temple Pilots name. Consequently, the band filed a lawsuit against him.
Weiland retaliated by filing a lawsuit on the grounds that he was unfairly terminated from the band. The outcome of the legal dispute remains uncertain, but the band reunited in 2015. Unfortunately, Weiland passed away shortly thereafter.
Tobias Forge, also known as Papa Emeritus, led the Swedish band alongside the masked instrumentalists referred to as Nameless Ghouls. The unidentified musicians filed a lawsuit against Forge, alleging substandard working conditions.
According to Forge, the musicians were merely session musicians and not official band members, which resulted in them being compensated accordingly. In 2018, a judge sided with Forge in this matter. However, the musicians decided to challenge the ruling by claiming that it was influenced by bias, citing the shared membership of both the judge and Forge in the Freemasons. Unfortunately for them, this appeal was rejected. Nevertheless, the ongoing legal battle continued in 2019, leaving the question of its ultimate resolution still uncertain.
In 2019, bass player Gregory "Greg K." Kriesel filed a lawsuit against his former band the Offspring, claiming that his previous bandmates conspired to kick him out and withhold his rightful share of earnings.
The band responded with a countersuit, where Bryan "Dexter" Holland and Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman asserted that they had attempted to negotiate his departure conditions.
Former Live lead singer Ed Kowalczyk departed from the band in 2009 and began doing shows under the name "Ed Kowalczyk of Live." Naturally, his ex-bandmates were displeased.
In 2012, Chad Taylor, Patrick Dahlheimer, and Chad Gracey sued Kowalczyk for US$2 million. The suit was settled one year later, and things got back to normal when in 2017 they reunited as Live again.
In 2007, Brian Ritchie, the bass player, filed a lawsuit against Gordon Gano, the singer, seeking royalties. Ritchie contended that he co-wrote the majority of their songs.
The status of any ongoing legal action remains uncertain, but the band reunited in 2013 and brought forth a fresh album in 2016, implying that the situation has been resolved.
In 2018, Don Brewer and Mel Schacher sued former bandmate Mark Farn, alleging that how he billed himself violated an injunction that specified how the band's name could be used.
He also performed under the name "Mark Farner's American Band," which shares similarities with the title of Grand Funk Railroad's song 'We're an American Band.' A judge determined that he could continue using this name.
Sources: (Grunge) (The Guardian)
See also: Bandmates who were romantically involved
It is widely known that some bandmates don't get along, and some have even gone so far as to take legal action against their fellow musicians, or the entire band! These lawsuits, however, are not always motivated by a desire for millions of dollars in unpaid royalties. In fact, some musicians have sued their own bands over rather petty disputes.
Curious? Click through the gallery to learn more about these musicians and the lawsuits they filed against their own bands.
Belligerent bandmates who sued each other
Band members who took their in-fighting to the courts
MUSIC Bands
It is widely known that some bandmates don't get along, and some have even gone so far as to take legal action against their fellow musicians, or the entire band! These lawsuits, however, are not always motivated by a desire for millions of dollars in unpaid royalties. In fact, some musicians have sued their own bands over rather petty disputes.
Curious? Click through the gallery to learn more about these musicians and the lawsuits they filed against their own bands.