Aaron Sperske, former drummer with Los Angeles-based indie band Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, is suing his former band mates for $1 million after he was fired from the band last May.
Aaron wants to stop his former band from continuing on without him. The drummer has filed a lawsuit in California federal court against his former bandmates, alleging that they can't simply oust him from the critically praised group thanks to an oral partnership they agreed to in 2008. Aaron's seeking a declaration of his partnership rights and assets.
As Ariel Pink gets ready to release its second albu, 'Mature Themes', later this year, which Aaron says he co-wrote, he's challenging whether the band can survive without him on partnership grounds.
According to the complaint filed in court (pdf), Aaron along with Ariel Pink (real name: Ariel Rosenberg), Kwang Nam Koh and Kenneth John Gilmore formed the group and entered into an oral partnership in 2008, which was breached when he was fired. Aaron insists that he performed "diligently and competently" throughout his tenure with the band.
The drummer demands a statement from the band assuring that he is still a full-fledged member, granting him a share of future profits from royalties and performances, and seeking $1 million in punitive damages.
Since the band tried to kick their drummer out, Rosenberg, Koh and Gilmore have continued to use the partnership's name to sell tickets to shows, collect income and make arrangements for a national tour to begin in September, Aaron claims.
