Praetorian380
Super Freak
Hello my fellow freaks friends
I really need help guys and gals
I am in need of some legal advice and have no idea where to start. I figured what better place to ask for some advice than from my friends on the Freaks boards which I frequent so much
I know there is a lot to read, but if you could bare with me I would really really appreciate.
My problem is this:
Basically I was in a 3 piece band. 1 guitarist who sings, one bassist and myself playing drums. We are currently in the process of recording a full length album. So far the drums, guitars, and half of the bass tracks have been completed. that was until last Wednesday when our the guitarist/vocalist decided to kick myself and the bassist out of the band.
He now plans on continuing to finish the album without us by attempting to record the bass parts himself then finish with his vocal tracks and master the CD. After finishing the CD he plans on getting a new drummer and bassist, then sell the CD, market it, and shop it around to music labels in hopes of getting signed.
As Im sure you would guess, I am definitely NOT ok with this. I am not ok with him taking my creative influence and what I came up with musically and try to make money off of it and get signed by a label with it. As far as I am concerned, if he wants to continue playing the music he can start over without any of the music I or the bassist recorded or had influence on. It just makes plain sense to me. If the band is breaking up, then the music is too. Plain and simple.
What I want, is to require him to remove the drum tracks from the album and not use anything that I have come up with on drums, nor reproduce it, recreate it, or have anyone else step in and play what I played. If that is not possible then I would like to require him to give me a percentage of anything he makes off of the music that I helped create, whether that be from CD sales, or if he were to get signed, I’d receive royalties or residual income from the signing and use of the music. I realize that the music may never go anywhere, but in the slight chance that it does, I want to protect myself and my investment that I made for the last 4 years of my life.
What I want to get advice is how to go about getting this done. Is it even possible? Is it just wishful thinking for me to think that I can do these things? I don’t know if I should have a contract written up specifying this and have myself and him sign it? Would that work? I have no idea of how to go about protecting myself. Ive done the poor mans copyright by mailing all music, photos, and videos we’ve been involved in, back to myself with through registered mail with time/date stamps on it sealed by the post office.
The other thing is, well, quite frankly, Im pretty broke, so spending as little money as possible would be very helpful. But I do realize that this may not be something I can avoid.
Sorry if I rambled on too much, Im just really upset about this whole thing and have no idea where to start and what my rights and his rights are concerning this. I really appreciate any help, advice, or direction any of you can offer.
I just overall need some advice from a legal source who has experience with this. And I would like to get some feedback from all of you, my friends, here on the boards.
Thank You you all so much
I really need help guys and gals
I am in need of some legal advice and have no idea where to start. I figured what better place to ask for some advice than from my friends on the Freaks boards which I frequent so much
I know there is a lot to read, but if you could bare with me I would really really appreciate.My problem is this:
Basically I was in a 3 piece band. 1 guitarist who sings, one bassist and myself playing drums. We are currently in the process of recording a full length album. So far the drums, guitars, and half of the bass tracks have been completed. that was until last Wednesday when our the guitarist/vocalist decided to kick myself and the bassist out of the band.
He now plans on continuing to finish the album without us by attempting to record the bass parts himself then finish with his vocal tracks and master the CD. After finishing the CD he plans on getting a new drummer and bassist, then sell the CD, market it, and shop it around to music labels in hopes of getting signed.
As Im sure you would guess, I am definitely NOT ok with this. I am not ok with him taking my creative influence and what I came up with musically and try to make money off of it and get signed by a label with it. As far as I am concerned, if he wants to continue playing the music he can start over without any of the music I or the bassist recorded or had influence on. It just makes plain sense to me. If the band is breaking up, then the music is too. Plain and simple.
What I want, is to require him to remove the drum tracks from the album and not use anything that I have come up with on drums, nor reproduce it, recreate it, or have anyone else step in and play what I played. If that is not possible then I would like to require him to give me a percentage of anything he makes off of the music that I helped create, whether that be from CD sales, or if he were to get signed, I’d receive royalties or residual income from the signing and use of the music. I realize that the music may never go anywhere, but in the slight chance that it does, I want to protect myself and my investment that I made for the last 4 years of my life.
What I want to get advice is how to go about getting this done. Is it even possible? Is it just wishful thinking for me to think that I can do these things? I don’t know if I should have a contract written up specifying this and have myself and him sign it? Would that work? I have no idea of how to go about protecting myself. Ive done the poor mans copyright by mailing all music, photos, and videos we’ve been involved in, back to myself with through registered mail with time/date stamps on it sealed by the post office.
The other thing is, well, quite frankly, Im pretty broke, so spending as little money as possible would be very helpful. But I do realize that this may not be something I can avoid.
Sorry if I rambled on too much, Im just really upset about this whole thing and have no idea where to start and what my rights and his rights are concerning this. I really appreciate any help, advice, or direction any of you can offer.
I just overall need some advice from a legal source who has experience with this. And I would like to get some feedback from all of you, my friends, here on the boards.
Thank You you all so much
