It hasn’t exactly been a secret that ex-Hatebreed bassist Chris Beattie‘s November 2024 ousting from the stalwart metalcore outfit wasn’t amicable. Hatebreed have been relatively quiet on the situation, outside of announcing they had parted ways with him “for the foreseeable future” back in February of this year. Beattie himself would later go on to state in May of this year that attorneys were involved in the lingering dispute between himself and the band.
Now Billboard are reporting that Beattie filed suit against the band and vocalist Jamey Jasta yesterday, July 30th. In that complaint, Beattie alleges the band ejected him due to financial gain.
Beattie also disputes Jasta‘s claims that he was fired because he had harassed a Live Nation security guard during a November 09th, 2024 show at the Toyota Oakdale Theater in Wallingford, Connecticut. Beattie has stated that Jasta‘s claims over that matter were “patently untrue.”
The complaint reveals that Jasta abruptly fired Beattie over the alleged incident. Beattie further claims Jasta had “structured a false narrative” to tell the other band members regarding what went down at the show in question. Beattie alleges that narrative was concocted to dissuade the other members of the band from supporting Beattie remaining onboard as a member.
Beattie went on to posit that his dismissal was instead financially motivated, with his complaint stating:
“[James] Shanahan [aka Jamey Jasta] stood to profit from Beattie’s termination, as he would be entitled to a larger share of band proceeds and profits without Beattie in the band. In addition, Beattie and Shanahan were the primary songwriters for the band and together earned the majority of publishing proceeds for their work. With Beattie out of the band, Shanahan likely believed that he could stand to recover significantly more in the way of publishing proceeds.”
Beattie‘s suit further goes on to allege that Jasta had increasingly become “more secretive” regarding the band’s finances in recent years and that he suspected him of not paying the full 25% of the band’s profits he was entitled to. He also alleged that Jasta refused to let Beattie view the band’s accounting.
Beattie is seeking financial damages over the dispute, claiming the firing has negatively impacted his “career, reputation and health and mental well-being.” He also stated he has been cut off from any touring profits generated by the band since his ousting, while further having lost brand deals.
