A war of words has erupted on social media recently over who should rightfully own the rights to the defunct horror punk band Murderdolls. Originally started as a side project for late Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison alongside vocalist Wednesday 13, the outfit would eventually go on to recruit a number of member throughout their career, from convicted sex offender Tripp Eisen to Acey Slade of Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, The Original Misfits, ex-Dope, etc. fame.
While the group have largely been inactive since 2011, Slade and former bassist Eric Griffin recently announced that they would be taking part in a signing at this past weekend’s Silver Scream convention. The pair were there to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the band’s 2002 debut album “Beyond The Valley Of The Murderdolls“—an record neither of the aforementioned pair actually performed on, though they did partake in the touring cycle for it. Both Slade‘s and Griffin‘s tenure with the band ran from 2002 to 2004.
In the wake of that signing, Wednesday 13 has taken to slamming his former bandmates online, accusing Slade of stealing the trademark for the band out from under himself and Jordison.
In a statement shared online yesterday (August 28th), Wednesday 13 commented:
“Hello everyone, I want to take a moment to explain my comments this week on this Murderdolls situation.
My issues have nothing to do with any ex members celebrating the 20th anniversary of that album. I have been celebrating the anniversary as well on my tours this year. However I have been celebrating it as Wednesday 13, not Murderdolls.
The first album released in 2002, all music was written by Joey and I. The only other member to contribute to this record was Tripp with a few guitar solos. All other instruments/vocals are performed by Joey and Wednesday. We assembled the touring lineup after the recording was finished consisting of Eric, Ben and Acey.
The band went on hiatus eight years after this and returned in 2010 with the sophomore Murderdolls album. This album and touring lineup did not feature any of the touring members from the first album. This was decided by Joey, as his decision to only have he and I photographed on that album.
This was Joey’s band, he invited me into this world, and I am able to do what I do today because of him and the Murderdolls name, and that’s what this whole situation is about.
Murderdolls trademark had lapsed. This was unknown to Joey or I as the band was inactive and no one was watching for this. However it seems Acey was watching for it, and applied for the MD trademark to take the name behind our backs. Acey succeeded in gaining the trademark. He applied for this trademark 1 year before I was notified and a year before Joey’s passing. He never notified Joey about this, as he knew he would be furious and not approve.
There’s no other way I can view this other than he stole the name from Joey. He is now launching websites, merchandise, and our first album as Official Murderdolls, erasing my name out of the bio/ history of the band.
It’s sad that I’ve had to make this a public discussion, but that’s where we are. I’m not involved with this situation because I chose not to be involved with it. It doesn’t sit well with me and I cannot get behind it.~Wednesday 13“
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