Original Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos is suing fellow band members over claims that they have refused to compensate him based on existing agreements amongst the group.
Courthouse News reports Carlos and former band manager David Frey says the band owes them hundreds of thousands of dollars in tour proceeds and unpaid loans.
David Frey, Silent Partner Management, Brad Carlson (aka Bun E. Carlos) and Cheap Trick Unlimited Inc. sued Richard Nielson, Thomas Peterson and Robin Zander in Cook County Court.
"Plaintiffs Carlos and Frey are, respectively, the drummer and manager for the world-renowned rock band Cheap Trick," the complaint begins. "Plaintiffs are forced to bring this action against the three defendants (who are the other members of the band) due to defendants' outright refusal to account for, or pay, hundreds of thousands of dollars which are owed to each of the plaintiffs, or to otherwise comply with their obligations to plaintiffs."
The lawsuit claims that according to consent agreements signed by all four members of the band, "Carlos is no longer required to participate in live performances by the band, but remains a full member of the band, and is entitled to 'continue to receive all remuneration due to him under the [Cheap Trick Companies'] Agreements (including, without limitation, all remuneration that would have been paid to him had he fully performed at all of the Live Performances) without delay, penalty or offset."
Guitarist Rick Neilsen’s son, Daxx, has been handling drum duties for Cheap Trick since 2010.
Carlos claims the other members of the band have failed to honor the agreement, and owe him hundreds of thousands of dollars "by, among other things, refusing to allow Carlos to participate in any of the activities of the band (including the recording of a new studio album), entering into numerous contracts on behalf of the Cheap Trick Companies without Carlos's consent, and otherwise preventing Carlos from participating in the management and operations of the Cheap Trick Companies."
In June 2012, the three other band members also "purported to terminate Frey as the band's manager," the complaint states. "However, pursuant to the terms of the unanimous consent agreement, this purported termination is null and void because Carlos did not consent to it. Further, at the time of this purported termination, the band owed Frey and SPM $160,000 in deferred compensation, which defendants have improperly refused to pay."
Frey adds that "following a horrific accident in July 2011 which occurred while defendants were performing (Ed. Note: the Ottawa Bluesfest incident – read more here), Frey graciously advanced $362,996 of the band's expenses with his own personal American Express credit card, in exchange for the defendants' express agreement that they would pay this money back in installments. Initially, the defendants made several installment payments in partial satisfaction of the repayment agreement. However, after purporting to terminate Frey, defendants sent American Express a check on behalf of Frey which was drawn on insufficient funds, and was rejected by the bank. Following defendants' transmission of this 'bounced' check, they have failed to make any further payment to American Express whatsoever, or to otherwise acknowledge their obligation to Frey under the terms of the repayment agreement. At the time they ceased complying with the repayment agreement, the amount of $71,790 remained due and owing on Frey's American Express credit card. This wrongful conduct has forced Frey to personally make payments to American Express to satisfy the remaining balance of $71,790, and has caused serious harm to Frey's credit rating.
Frey and Carlos seek an accounting and punitive damages for breach of contract, trademark infringement, false designation of origin, false advertising, unfair competition and breach of fiduciary duty.
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