At The End Of The Day It Really Is All About Taking Care Of Your

[JAUQO III-X]

Business. Posers and those caught up in the glamor should take note.


http://thegauntlet.com/article/391/2...r#.USeFGK73zEY

[Rickett Customs]

That sucks. Just shows you how cutthroat people can be, but also makes me wonder what the other side of the story is too.

[Marial]

Can't access the link at work, the net-nanny has it blocked. Synopsis?

[smogg]

That just plain out and out bites.Welcome to the machine.

Originally Posted by Marial

Can't access the link at work, the net-nanny has it blocked. Synopsis?

Dave Lombardo Kicked Off SLAYER Tour

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Statement From Dave Lombardo Regarding Slayer Australian Tour 2013

I want to personally apologize to all of our fans in Australia who have bought tickets for the tour expecting to see me in my usual place on the drums.

So that you all know the truth, as of the end of the business day on February 14th, I was notified that I would not be drumming for the tour in Australia. I'm saddened, and to be honest I am shocked by the situation.

Last year, I discovered 90% of Slayer's tour income was being deducted as expenses including the professional fees paid to management, costing the band millions of dollars and leaving 10% or less to split amongst the four of us. In my opinion, this is not the way a band's business should operate. I tried rectifying it by letting my band mates know, and Tom and I hired auditors to figure out what happened, but I was denied access to detailed information and the necessary back up documents.

I spent the Christmas and New Year holidays realizing I had toured all over the world in 2012, but yet, had not been paid (except a small advance) or provided a proper accounting for a full year's sweat and blood. On top of this, I was told that I would not be paid until I signed a long form contract which gave me no written assurance of how much or on what basis management would deduct commissions, nor did it provide me access to the financial budgets or records for review. It also forbade me to do interviews or make statements having to do with the band, in effect a gagging order.

Last Monday, I sat down with Kerry and Tom to rehearse for Australia and to propose a new business model that I felt was the best way forward for Slayer to confidently protect itself so we could do what we do best . . . play for the fans. Kerry made it clear he wasn't interested in making changes and said if I wanted to argue the point, he would find another drummer. On Thursday, I arrived at rehearsals at 1 pm as scheduled, but Kerry did not show. Rather, at 6:24 pm I received an email from the lawyers saying I was being replaced for the Australian dates.

I remain hopeful that we can resolve our issues. But once again, I sincerely apologize to all of our fans in Australia who spent their money expecting to see the 3 of us original Slayer members.
I look forward to seeing you in the future.

Sincerely,
Dave Lombardo

[Rattman]

This sounds like the 1950's all over again. I thought touring music pros these days were more careful with business commitments and contracts. This is very sad.

[Smokin' Toaster]

Happens over and over again. Take a look at the Terry Knight / Grand Funk Railroad saga. Those guys were huge in the 70's and a money machine, but the band saw little of it. At the first glimpse of any meaningful financial success, as soon as you can afford it get a lawyer you can trust on retainer. And never sign anything you don't 100% fully understand without having a lawyer look at it and advise you. That means, if you yourself are not a DAMN GOOD lawyer, get a damn good lawyer.

[rubbadubdub]

The music industry is a law unto itself. It's about time legislation was passed to put an end to the crooks and bandits getting fat off the backs of musicians.
Simon Napier Bells book Black Vinyl White Powder spelled it out for me. He raises a lot of questions about the way the industry abuses musicians.
When I'm busking freezing on the street wondering why I do it I try to remember that poverty is the price of freedom.
It sounds like Slayer are yet another band getting stiffed by the businessmen. Why should any musician ' put up or shut up'. Maximum respect to the man for standing up for himself. I hope that he can afford to tell them where to stick it.

[VanillaThundah]

Originally Posted by rubbadubdub

The music industry is a law unto itself. It's about time legislation was passed to put an end to the crooks and bandits getting fat off the backs of musicians.

While I too am outraged by this event and feel that he was done wrong, the last thing on Earth that would help musicians would be involving government legislation.

Bottom line is, the record companies are just like any business and they want to maximize their profits and protect their hides. An example would be wages that a business pays to its employees. If a company has $1000 to spend on labor that week, they are GOING to spend a max of $1000 no matter what because that is what they have. If 10 people are making $100 that week but 5 of them complain and want more money, they are either going to fire those 5 people and hire 5 others at $100 a week or they'll pay them more and fire whoever they can't afford (or cut pay to those people).

It sounds (this is a hunch) like Kerry had something to do with this termination since he wanted to hear nothing of them confronting the label on this issue. If they were all on the same page, they could have threatened to walk or take some other measures to get the label to give them their due.

The advice about getting good legal consultation is absolutely imperative. A 3rd party lawyer and manager would be a must for my band if we ever take off big time. That's just common sense IMO

[rubbadubdub]

My comment about legislation is in relation to issues highlighted in the book. Musicians are not protected in many ways wheras as people working in other industries are (at least in the uk). Read Simon Napier Bells book and you'll see what I mean.
You raise some good points in general but I don't think that your analogy is sound. Musicians are not just labour.
Anyone who has had a recording contract will tell you that no matter how good your lawyer is you will get stiffed somewhere in the deal. The 'thick' as a contract is sometimes called is often a masterpiece of subterfuge whereupon you get something on say page 7 but lose it again on say page 10. Nothings perfect but the average record contract is so detailed complex and inscrutable that even the lawyers can't get everything in the bands favour. What chance does the average musician stand of understanding this?
The critiscisms in the book referred to are far too many and to complex in nature to discuss here but if you read it I am sure you will see what I mean. Sometimes legislation is a good thing. Business will always try to exploit people and would quite happily ignore the requirement for sick pay, maternity pay, adequate rest
time etc etc. Legislation defines the means to prevent such abuses.
If the band knew that they were only going to get 10 percent from the outset then thats one thing but not letting the individual have access to the accounts and so on is another entirely.