Machine Head Settle Lawsuit With Former Bassist Adam Duce

Things did not end well for Machine Head and their former bassist Adam Duce, as the musician eventually took the band, their manager, their record label and even his replacement to court in a million-dollar lawsuit. But apparently the two sides have found some middle ground as the band reports that the case was settled out of court on Wednesday (July 2).

Duce had filed an $800,000 claim against the band for breach of fiduciary duty and interference with prospective economic advantage and tacked on an additional $1,000,000 defamation claim against frontman Robb Flynn based on a blog post he wrote about Duce’s departure from the band.

Duce had argued in his complaint that Flynn had directly attacked his work ethic and he also pointed out that his likeness was continually used in promotions on the band’s website without his consent even after he was let go.

The bassist was eventually replaced by Jared MacEachern in the band and the group will release their first album with MacEachern in November. See Machine Head’s full statement on the settlement below:

A $1.8 million dollar litigation suit filed against heavy metal recording artist Machine Head, manager Joseph Huston, record label Nuclear Blast, and current-bassist Jared MacEachern by former-Machine Head bassist Adam Duce was settled yesterday in San Francisco, CA. The terms of the deal will remain confidential but both sides were able to reach a satisfactory agreement.

All claims in the dispute have been dropped against all parties named including but not limited to the $800,000 dollar suit against the band for breach of fiduciary duty and interference with prospective economic advantage, as well as the bizarre $1,000,000 dollar defamation suit against singer / guitarist Robb Flynn regarding a blog the guitarist posted.

It was mediated by Gail Migdal Title, with the litigation team for Machine Head handled by Kari Keidser, Dawn Coulson and Randall Rich of Epps & Coulson, along with long-time Machine Head entertainment lawyer Scott Harrington.

Machine Head will hit the road in the U.S. July 8th with Anti Mortem on the Killers & Kings tour, and will release their as-yet untitled 8th album (their first with new-bassist Jared MacEachern) in November.

Photos- Mark Metcalfe / Jo Hale, Getty Images