(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Recently reincarnated rock legends INXS are being sued by band’s former managers for damages of at least AU$7.75 million ($5.7 million US).
Sydney-based David Edwards and Michael Murchison claim that they devised the reality-television series “Rock Star: INXS” in 2004, but were left out of the deal without remuneration.
The managers filed the suit in New South Wales Supreme Court against Sydney-based INXS Productions and individual band members Kirk Pengilly, Garry Beers and Tim, Andrew and Jon Farriss, according to Billboard.biz.
Edwards and Murchison claim they were to be credited as executive producers of the show, entitled to 18% of gross revenue from the series and subsequent tours, and entitled to 15% of earnings from related projects including a book, Web site and merchandising, according to the papers filed.
“We say that (Murchison) and (Edwards) took them through the whole ‘Rock Star’ concept and as soon as…the program started to generate real revenue, (they) were unceremoniously sacked,” said attorney Mark Williams, according to Billboard.biz.
INXS attorney Sean Docker argued that the Australian case should not proceed until a case filed by the band against the managers before California’s State Labor Commissioner in October of 2005 was resolved. That case accused Edwards and Murchison of acting as agents to the band, which oversteps boundaries set by California law.
The band is currently on a world tour in support of their new album, “Switch,” and is expected to play Australia in April. –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
