My Chemical Romance faces a beat of division

By Eriq Gardner

Question: What do you call someone who hangs out with musicians?

Answer: A drummer.

Question: What do you call someone who used to hang out with musicians?

Answer: A disgruntled plaintiff

Matthew Pelissier, the original drummer for the mega-selling rock act My Chemical Romance, is suing Eyeball Records and his former bandmates for breaching an agreement made upon his departure from the group. In a complaint filed in New Jersey County Court, Pelissier claims that in 2005, the band agreed upon his split that he "shall have an undivided twenty percent income interest in Net Master Income and the Group Masters."

Pelissier claims he hasn't received royalties due to him, including from the band's debut album, "I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love." The complaint states that the album sold more than 285,000 copies in retail outlets, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and more via iTunes. 

However, the 2005 agreement also gives Pelissier no right to audit or inspect Eyeball Records' books. The lawsuit claims this provision is not valid or enforceable. This puts Pellissier in a tough position:  Trying to enforce the validity of one part of a contract and render another part as unlawful. Tis the life of a drummer.