Co-Founder Of Emmure Calls Band & Label Out, Threatens Lawsuits

February 19th, 2014

Kriston McConnell

Yesterday, Emmure announced the details for their upcoming full-length album, Eternal Enemies. The group has come under fire in the past for releasing offensive merchandise, and now they are receiving criticism for one of the song titles on the new album. This time though, the band has offended their ex-founding member, Ben Lionetti. It seems that he could no longer keep to himself about the direction the band is heading, and released a statement calling out the band and threatening legal action against them and Victory. It’s not apparent right away why he would seek litigation, however, he does mention he was stiffed $10,000 when he parted ways with the group. You can read all of what he had to say by taking a look below the jump.

Shortly after his post, he made an additional statement clarifying a few things and confirming his stance on what the band stands for now. That statement is below as well.

First post:

I feel a little need to speak out. Let’s get this straight … Emmure is MY blood sweat and tears ..MY band born from my thoughts and my hard work and writing (I’m sure you can see the change from early Emmure to now so if they say they wrote it you know it’s a lie; I was actually forced to say it was an even split wether it was money or writing credits) it will never be theirs as much as they can fake it that’s all it is .. fake. To see what Frank [Palmeri] is doing to me and my family’s hard work is absolutely disgusting. I love Mark [Davis], we hang all the time and have always been friends with Mike since the old Recon days and I still love seeing Jesse [Ketive]. But Frank is a disgusting human being and I’m also a little let down that the band members would even let that piece of garbage call a song ‘Bring a gun to school’ not to mention their management, But they just see dollar signs ..and you kids keep buying it, so sad… But I guess any publicity is good publicity .. Frank’s a demonic genius … ‘Ask your girl what my dick tastes like’ was one thing but this shit is just out of hand. To see me and my brother’s [Joe Lionetti] work and my family’s support over all those years be ripped from our hands and turned into this breaks my heart. I never said anything negative and never wanted to make it public or go after them for money owed to us, like the time they said they magically lost 10k and couldn’t pay me and Joe after we left the band. At least now I’ll have no regrets when I slam them, their management and Victory Records with lawsuits from now until the end of time. Whether I win or not, My mission is now to take what is rightfully mine. #lawyerup

Followup:

Should have kept this posted. Besides for the few expected idiots, i do appreciate the overwhelming support!

Here’s the thing, Wether they, I, or you like it my name will always be attached to that band and unfortunately it is a very big part of my life, and if it weren’t for me and my family these kids would be working in walmart.

Right now with IdreAM, Creative we have some serious industry heavy weights backing us and a collective called Beat Street, which goes into schools and speaks to kids about bullying, depression and giving these kids alternative options such as music production, music business, artist development etc.

We have a band called Before Ciada from Australia embarking on the BAM Tour (Bringing Awareess to Mental Illness) this summer they are going into schools as well speaking to classes about anxiety and depressions, trying to give kids hope and inspiration to better the world so we don’t end up with more school shootings and violence.

We manage all these bands and develop their careers all non contracted, just going about it knowing that this love and passion for this music thing will work itself out and inspire others.

Emmure is not just some band playing in front of a hundred kids a night they are known around the world, hundred of thousands of records sold. They have generated through sales, tickets etc millions if dollars. They have an influence in this world. So to have this band that I worked so hard for when I was a kid now be so desperate to sell records or get attention that they name their first track “bring your gun to school” I find disgusting and pathetic. I don’t care if it’s just a title, to a young boy or girl who doesn’t know the difference, it’s poison.

Inspire,Dream,Create

And the world goes round.