Ex-Papa Roach Drummer Suing Band

12/15/08 2:06pm

by Mandy Savoie (CHARTattack)

Ex-Papa Roach drummer David Buckner is suing his former bandmates for alleged unpaid royalties.

Buckner also named Universal Music Group and Cherry Lane Music Publishing in the lawsuit, which was filed on Dec. 9 in Sacramento, Calif.

The drummer was fired last December after he stopped touring with the nu-metal band in April because of substance abuse problems. Buckner remained a partner in several companies the group had formed, including Papa Roach Touring Inc. and PR Realty LLC.

In court documents obtained by TMZ.com, Buckner claimed he was left out of business decisions about loans and profits. He's asking that Papa Roach and its companies be dissolved.

None of the people or companies named in the suit have publicly responded.

Singer Jacoby Shaddix and Buckner formed Papa Roach in Vacaville, Calif. in 1993. Their Infest major label debut was released in 1999 and sold more than three million copies in the U.S. The band released three more albums with Buckner before replacing him with former Unwritten Law drummer Tony Palermo.

Papa Roach's fifth album (yeah, we're surprised at this, too), Metamorphosis, will be released in March by Geffen Records. Lead single "Hollywood Whore" is available on iTunes and the band's MySpace page, for those of you who still sag your pants and wear backwards red ball caps.

Papa Roach toured with Motley Crue in the summer and just finished a tour with Seether and Staind. They'll hit the road in the U.S. with Avenged Sevenfold, Buckcherry and Saving Abel in January and February.