Firehouse News

(5/22/98) - Hair-metal band Firehouse has filed a $70 million damages suit against New York-based Sony Music Entertainment, Inc., alleging the company stole a portion of the band's royalties.

The suit, filed in New York's district court, said that since as far back as 1965, Sony Music has reported less than the full amount of overseas-based royalties entitled to its client musicians by deliberately inflating amounts paid in overseas taxes.

The suit charged that Sony Music has paid only about 70% of the total royalties guaranteed by contract to its some 1,500 client musicians and bands. The suit also said a class action suit against Sony Music could take place in the future.

In 1990, Firehouse released their self-titled debut album, which sold more than two million copies and won the group an American Music Award for Best Hard Rock/ Heavy Metal Band of 1991. They then vanished without a trace.