As regular readers may be aware, all is not well in the land of Wilco.
Formed from the ashes of Uncle Tupelo, the band have always had a fractious internal dynamic. Members come and members go, but Jeff Tweedy’s vision of a modern American music goes unhindered.
The band released ‘Yankee Hotel Foxtrot’ in 2001, but the process of making it took its toll on Wilco. Group member Jay Bennett departed, with subsequent Wilco documentary ‘I Am Trying To Break Your Heart’ showing him in a bad light.
However it seems that Bennett is now set to fight back, and yesterday (May 5th) launched legal proceedings to recover royalties he claims he is owed. Part of the legal suit also blasted ‘I Am Trying To Break Your Heart’ with Bennett stating that he never gave permission for his role to be included in the film.
You can read the entire suit by clicking HERE. It appears that while Bennett never signed an official contract with the band he was held under its terms during his tenure with Wilco.
Jeff Tweedy is never one to be lost for words, and the songwriter swiftly responded with a damning statement issued to American magazine Paste. It reads:
“I know exactly as much as everyone else does. I’ve read the news and I honestly have no idea what these claims are based on. It was such a long time ago. Aside from everything else, I’m being sued for not paying someone for appearing in a movie I didn’t produce.”
“Go figure. I am truly sad it has come to this. I am equally convinced, however, that I have done nothing wrong and that this will be handled fairly and swiftly.”
In brighter news for Wilco, the group are set to release their new album later this year. Titled ‘Wilco (The Album)’ it features a much discussed – and potentially awesome – duet with Canadian singer Feist.
British fans will be able to see for themselves what the fuss is about later this summer when Wilco play a headline set at the Green Man festival.
The court case is ongoing.
