Booking Agent Sues David Lee Roth
By
Sefany Jones,
Contributing Editor
Wednesday, March 20, 2002 @ 11:37 AM
Roth Is Accused Of Owing Perfo
As reported by the Houston Chronicle:
A Harris County tour manager and booking agent is suing singer David Lee Roth, saying the performer has reneged on paying fees.
Louis J. Gavrel filed the lawsuit Wednesday claiming Roth, singer of the band Van Halen before leaving in 1985 for a solo career, owes him more than $50,000 in fees.
Gavrel stated he booked Roth, known for the remakes of “You Really Got Me” and “California Girls,” in a tour featuring Bad Company in the fall and winter of 1999.
Gavrel claimed he was entitled to 10 percent of the gross for each performance, according to an agreement among him, Roth and Diamond Dave Touring, Inc. He estimated Roth, now 46, received about $300,000 for those performances.
But Roth was having "cash flow problems," and Gavrel accepted as compensation the right to promote four concerts to be performed in Texas by Roth, the lawsuit stated.
Gavrel said he agreed to the compensation because he was aware of Roth's "perilous financial condition." But Roth canceled the concerts, the lawsuit stated.
Then Roth asked Gavrel to help in his touring for 2001. Gavrel said he agreed and booked Roth into several venues, including Kansas City, Mo., which had an artist guarantee of $75,000, the lawsuit stated. Again, Gavrel said he did not receive the agreed 10 percent.
In early 2001, Gavrel suffered a stroke and became "somewhat physically impaired," the lawsuit stated. He then entered into an agreement with International Creative Management, Inc. authorizing it to book Roth for a period of 90 days. The fee would be split in half, with Gavrel receiving 5 percent.
From that agreement, Roth performed in Las Vegas for $100,000 in July 2001, and again Gavrel was never paid, the lawsuit stated.
Gavrel's lawyer, Robert Durbin, said they have contacted Roth and his attorney with a demand letter but had not received the fees.
"Roth has revenues coming in from royalties with Van Halen. We don't know why he won't pay," Durbin said.
Roth's attorney in California could not be reached for comment.
The lawsuit is requesting a total of $51,200 from Roth, Diamond Dave Touring and ICM for Gavrel as well as an additional $17,081 in attorney's fees.
hayley - 2/25/2008 5:31:24 AM I KNOW Louie. I also have known Dave. Together they make a Great Mess of a Team. They do both have their own ISSUES,... especially, regarding each owns- HEALTH! But, I hope they work it out. They were once, VERY GOOD FRIENDS; taking care of eachothers B.S., and then SOME!( over, and over, etc. ...for a long time).
Boy's,... I am still on the team. I'll make contact, hopefully SOON. Later, Princess H.
intimidator1492 - 3/26/2002 10:29:44 AM i think it's about time dave gotta break and the promoter got it in the ass this time daves ass is about to fall oput to bad a gimp got it in the ass this time
sal67 - 3/25/2002 1:33:06 PM C'mon Dave, give us a break!
Fogbay - 3/25/2002 12:53:19 PM Bozy, bozy, bop, didy bop....I ain't got no body, cares for me no bahhhhhhhhhdy.......
sal67 - 3/25/2002 8:42:33 AM This lying, scumbag, screw-you-in-a-second promoter is now a gimp and he all of a sudden decides to sue Dave over some perceived promise of doing some shows! This guy's brain must be toast because he forgot that verbal contracts are as good as the paper their written on. When it comes to these low-life leeches that don't give a shit about music except for how they can line their pockets and not have to pay the artists you gotta remember one thing: Fuck them before they fuck you. This drueling Depends-wearing vegetable needs to go to the rest home and stay there.
Let's get something else straight--Eddie is the dickhead, not Dave. I'm not saying Dave is the Dalai Lama but ask yourself this: Why has Michael Anthony decided to join Dave and Sammy on tour this summer?
'Nuff said.
Hurls34 - 3/24/2002 3:21:17 PM DOn't worry Louie, once Dave and Sammy hook up for this tour thereill be plenty of money to divy up. No more buying weed on credit, Dave's back in the dough. Somewhere right now, Sammy and Dave are hanging out GETTING STONED.... while jamming.... with the Mambo Slammers!!!
HmmWell - 3/23/2002 2:40:58 PM Hey People, Music should be for free anyways! Someday
David Lee Roth and all the rest of the rock stars, actors and actresses will be doing their thing for us the way it's supposed to be done.
Thunders - 3/23/2002 11:17:24 AM I'm a huge fan of the dave era halen,but man this guy has not aged well,and I can't blame eddie for passing on the reunion.
bgee - 3/22/2002 4:37:02 PM Obviously Dave needs a Sharon Osbourne type wife to keep tabs on his accounts payable. Diamond Dave is a selfish, stupid fuck...no wonder Eddie wants to stay away from that freak.
Thunders - 3/21/2002 2:02:47 PM Mr.Balding Pate Roth.God he sucked live in 86 when he was playing arenas,and somebody pays him 75K for 1 gig?
Fogbay - 3/21/2002 10:55:53 AM How pathetic.
madmikey - 3/21/2002 10:13:21 AM "Mr. Roth, clean up in aisle 7."
firebird116 - 3/21/2002 10:01:00 AM So this fucking industry suit get's $50,000 for making some phone calls!!? Ain't that some shit. Vultures!
GeneralRoachkof - 3/21/2002 9:38:16 AM just go to Crazy Girls in Hollywood, he may be smoking J's out back.
chsmith - 3/21/2002 8:49:59 AM Mark this spot...first time in rock music history that a performer ripped off a promoter (instead of the other way around).
