What would you do?

[ExodusinFlames]

And then once you do that, don't be friends with them anymore.

Thats what makes it so damned difficult. The bass player is one of my best friends. To top that off his g/f is my g/f's best friend. Makes it really tricky. He had no say in the booting me out/denying me money thing. That was 100% the drummer and his g/f.

 

[Plauged1]

Kill your band mates.
Its the only way

Norwegian Black Metal

Word.

I remember hearing a story about one dude who went around burning down churches. Another black metal guy tried to take credit for them so the actual perpetrator killed him.

I think I heard about that. Didn't politicians try to blame Black Sabbath for the murder? Then the actual dude got arrested and sentenced to life and his band broke apart? I might be thinking of something else...

Anyhow, I would sue, but only if ALL members refuse your pay and your rights. If only one or two disagree, beat their asses until they think otherwise. If they only do one of the two things, at least TRY to meet in the miidle somewhere, such as letting them use your voice for 10% of the sales cut or somewhere along there. Just push and see how much they will give, basically. Not much else you can do. I suck at giving advice anyhow.

 

[KittywifaMohawk]

And then once you do that, don't be friends with them anymore.

Thats what makes it so damned difficult. The bass player is one of my best friends. To top that off his g/f is my g/f's best friend. Makes it really tricky. He had no say in the booting me out/denying me money thing. That was 100% the drummer and his g/f.

Take a sledge hammer to the drummer's drum set?

 

[internutt]

Sue.

This is a great case. There are stupid lawsuits out there, but this isn't one of them. If you are not part of the band they should pay you for any songs you wrote/sang. Especially if they still use your voice to get noticed. They are stealing and conning you out of your money/talent. Simple.

 

[Sronpop]

Get legal advice, explain to the band that you are willing to take legal action, ask for your share back nicely(say it to the bassist first, to try and persuade them), if nothing comes out of that go medieval on their ass. Sue them, message the tour promoter, spread bad stuff about the band. No one wants to buy the music of dicks, tell people on metal forums etc whats happened, gonna tear down the bands reputation. Worst scenario, you don't get your money back, and they continue to do barely mediocre. Best scenario, you get your money back and they get booted off the tour with a huge dent to their egos, drummer mostly. Its dirty work but its only fair.

 

[ExodusinFlames]

Does anyone know of a good copyright lawyer in Ontario?

 

[chefassassin2]

If they don't have your permission to use your likeness, including your voice, I'd say you got a viable lawsuit for a cut of the profits. If they do have your permission, you got nothing.

 

[ExodusinFlames]

If they don't have your permission to use your likeness, including your voice, I'd say you got a viable lawsuit for a cut of the profits. If they do have your permission, you got nothing.

When I was involved I think it goes without saying. However since that time they have profitted off of my voice, and to make it more of a cock-slap, their advertisement for the "Be our new singer" shit, is a picture of the four of us, with my face edited out. Just my face, anyone who has seen me ever, can tell who I am by the way I stand, carry myself and long ass hair. It was only the face. And lets add to it more, my goatee was still in the shot >.<

 

[garfoldsomeoneelse]

Kill your band mates.
Its the only way

Norwegian Black Metal

Word.

I remember hearing a story about one dude who went around burning down churches. Another black metal guy tried to take credit for them so the actual perpetrator killed him.

To OP: Legal recourse definitely seems to be the best course of action in this case. Take these cockbandits down, and take 'em down hard.

 

[AbsoluteVirtue18]

Sacrifice their souls to the dark Pagan gods.

If you don't want to do that, threaten that you will.

 

[George Palmer]

Do you have anything in writing? A contract of some kind? ANYthing?

And, hate to ask it, but are you a dick? LOL I mean if things were going along all great then why the hell would they toss you? Im not saying you are or anything like that, just wondering.

Advice to all future bands: Treat it like a business (because it is one) from day one and you wont have many of these types of problems in the future. Get the paperwork out of the way up front, then you can concentrate on being creative and getting groupies.

 

[StarStruckStrumpets]

Sue 'em for all they're worth. Then go solo and make millions, and laugh at them. Then give me half your money.

Even better, turn them against each other first, break their spirits, crush their egos to the size of peas, and then do what Optimus has said.

Revenge is sweet if done correctly.

 

[CriticallyAcclaimed]

this situation is very simple to fix, all you need is some flammable liquid, a small torch or match, and a chainsaw. Problem solved.

 

[ExodusinFlames]

And, hate to ask it, but are you a dick? LOL I mean if things were going along all great then why the hell would they toss you? Im not saying you are or anything like that, just wondering.

I appreciate the frankness of the question. Like I had tossed up there at one point, my requests for direction were summarily ignored. Being someone who has studied and worked in various fields of marketing, I understand how to A. Get a product out there and B. Appeal it to the target demograph in such a way that they'll buy more.
Ignored

On stage I was a bit of a prick, but only if people deserved it, or were friends who knew I was calling them out. I did once beat some guy up in one of our own pits, but the reasoning was sound. He got a bit too carried away with his throwing down and windmilling and ended up clocking my g/f and my bass players g/f both in the head. I saw it first, dropped my mic, and went to town. We weren't allowed back there anymore

then you can concentrate on being creative and getting groupies.

Groupies ... awesome but ackward.

 

[chefassassin2]

If they don't have your permission to use your likeness, including your voice, I'd say you got a viable lawsuit for a cut of the profits. If they do have your permission, you got nothing.

When I was involved I think it goes without saying. However since that time they have profitted off of my voice, and to make it more of a cock-slap, their advertisement for the "Be our new singer" shit, is a picture of the four of us, with my face edited out. Just my face, anyone who has seen me ever, can tell who I am by the way I stand, carry myself and long ass hair. It was only the face. And lets add to it more, my goatee was still in the shot >.<

See, now that's just mean. And lazy on their part. And stupid. if ye need any knees cracked, I'm your man.

 

[ExodusinFlames]

See, now that's just mean. And lazy on their part. And stupid. if ye need any knees cracked, I'm your man.

I <3 the escapist