

Think rock bands are like democracies with each band member holding equal say about where to tour, creative decisions and who to hire? Think again. Today's lesson in intra-band politics comes from Third Eye Blind, which hit it big in the '90s with chart-topping songs like "Semi-Charmed Life," "Jumper" and "How's It Going to Be."


Our legal history of Third Eye Blind begins in 2000.

That was the year that band members voted to fire guitarist Kevin Cadogan, according to court documents. At the time, frontman Stephan Jenkins asked Fredianelli if he would consider touring with the band as a utility musician. Fredianelli was involved with Third Eye Blind at its start in 1993, but was initially passed over for Cadogan, who after being fired, sued the band. Fredianelli thus got his second shot.

As lead guitarist, Fredianelli earned $1750 per week with a $1000 retainer for weeks when there was no work. But he allegedly was promised greater rewards ahead. According to a deposition he gave in his lawsuit, the other band members told him that he would have to "pay [his] dues" during a two-year "probationary period," and then he would officially be a full fledged member and co-owner of the band.

Eventually, a dispute erupted as to the nature of the purported agreement. But we'll get to that soon.

In early 2003, the Cadogan litigation had been resolved, and Fredianelli said he was told that his shares were being worked out. Eric Godtland, the band's then-manager, walked him through the dynamics of the band's pass through corporations, and how the band members were both employees and owners. After becoming a full-fledged member of the band, Fredianelli stopped receiving a weekly retainer and began getting 25 percent of touring revenue, as per an interim agreement.


That didn't seem to be a problem until 2008.

By then, Jenkins was said to have all but abandoned the band with Fredianelli stepping up to be a leader, creating the band's social media pages and communicating with the band's fan base. Bassist Arion Salazar had left the band, meaning that the remaining three band members were each sharing a third of touring revenue equally.

In 2008, Jenkins replaced Godtland as band manager and reduced Fredianelli's share back to 25 percent. Fredianelli said he was fine with it so long as it would be the only change and his income wouldn't go below the $292,000 he earned in 2007.






Fredianelli won. The jury appeared to be sympathetic to the guitarist's plight. During deliberations, the jury's foreperson asked the judge whether they could consider awarding royalties too. Since the judge had already ruled it out, the jury was told no.

This story was first published by The Hollywood Reporter

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