The former drummer of Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti is suing the band for $1 million, claiming he was illegally “squeezed out” of the band.
NME reports Aaron Sperske is seeking “punitive damages” and has filed a claim in a Los Angeles federal court, accusing the band’s other members of violating their “oral partnership”. According to the details in the lawsuit – which were published on Entertainment Law Digest, Sperske said he was axed from the band despite performing “diligently and completely”.
The drummer claims he helped write a handful of songs on the band’s forthcoming album Mature Themes, which is set to be released this week. He believes he is entitled to 25 percent ownership of the tracks along with the band’s three remaining members, and is also demanding “profits from royalties and future shows”.
Earlier this week, the band offered a free stream of their new album Mature Themes. Pink told Spin Magazine the record attempts to embark on a wide variety of sounds and themes.
“It’s so diverse but so different from anything I’ve done before,” Pink said.
“In a sense, it’s really the record I wanted to make back when I made Before Today, but couldn’t due to pressures and different factors… We had time to let our hair down and try new things.”
