Cheap Trick have recorded a new song for the upcoming charity album, "A Very Special Christmas - 25 Years," which benefits the Special Olympics.
Original Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos says he was not invited by the band to participate in the recording.
Carlos posted the following message to fans on his website this week:
“Bun E Carlos, Cheap Trick's founding member and longtime drummer joins all Cheap Trick fans in supporting the Special Olympics, but wants all his fans to know that he was not invited to participate in the track attributed to Cheap Trick scheduled to be on the Special Olympics Christmas album. Bun E stated, "There are no Led Zeppelin records without John Bonham and there's no Leave It To Beaver without Jerry Mathers! I remain humbled and grateful for the support of Cheap Trick's fans and please support www.specialolympics.org and their very important initiatives.”
Carlos tells Billboard that his exclusion from the project came as "a real shock."
"The Special Olympics was as surprised by this as I was,” he says. “They had no idea I wasn't on the record. And, I don't want them to lose an opportunity to support this great cause because of this. But Tom [Petersson], Rick [Neilsen], and Robin [Zander] simply can't make a recording without me and call it Cheap Trick."
It's unclear whether Carlos intends to take legal action to stop the song - a rep confirms it's "possible" - but he asserts he's "looking after my interests in Cheap Trick and doing my best to make sure we stand for what is great about rock 'n' roll."
Carlos has been on a hiatus from touring with the band for a couple of years; guitarist Rick Nielsen's son Daxx has handled drum duties in his absence.
Read more at Billboard here.
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