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Bad Wolves and manager Allen Kovac hit back at lawsuit from former vocalist

By Andy Malt | Published on Tuesday 27 July 2021

The former vocalist of American metal outfit Bad Wolves, Tommy Vext has launched a lawsuit against the band’s manager, Allen Kovac.

Vext accuses Kovac of forcing him out of the band earlier this year due to disagreements over politics, while also making allegations of racist conduct against his ex-manager. Kovac strongly denies the allegations, calling the lawsuit “bogus and spurious”.

Vext claims that his departure from the band came after he criticised the Black Lives Matter protests that took place in the US last year and then endorsed Donald Trump for re-election. In his lawsuit, Vext, who is African-American, says that he was pushed out of Bad Wolves by his bandmates and Kovac because, ultimately, he “was not black enough” for them.

According to TMZ, the lawsuit makes various claims about the lead up to Vext’s exit from the band in January this year, saying that Kovac had used his “pull” in the music industry to stop radio stations and streaming services from playlisting their music. When Kovac’s efforts to stop Vext from airing his political beliefs of social media failed, he adds, he was sacked.

The lawsuit also makes claims about racist conduct on Kovac’s part, saying that he would use the n-word around Vext “with impunity” as a way to show his superiority.

In a statement to TMZ, Vext says: “For several years I’ve poured all of my energy and passion into building Bad Wolves. We’ve toured the world several times and charted six billboard number one singles. All the while I’ve had to endure disparaging, manipulative and at times racially charged misconduct from my former manager Allen Kovac and his record company Better Noise Music”.

“Allen has forced me out of my own band and is now attempting to slander and cancel me”, he goes on. “After several failed attempts to settle amicably, I’m now forced to place this in the hands of the courts”.

However, in a joint statement, Bad Wolves drummer John Boecklin and guitarist Doc Coyle defend Kovac, saying: “In all our dealings with Allen Kovac, he has never used any derogatory racial slurs. Tommy is making all of this up. Period”.

Kovac himself also strongly refutes the allegations made against him, stating: “I am disappointed to see these accusations from Tommy against me, 10th Street Management and Better Noise Music. They are categorically false”.

“In 40 years in the music business, I have never made any derogatory racist comments, been accused of doing so, or been sued by an artist”, he goes on. “Tommy Vext, a self-proclaimed QAnon supporter, has dragged us into a ridiculous, unfounded narrative that falsely paints him as a victim”.

“Tommy quit Bad Wolves in January 2021 after being abusive to his band members, and he has since waged an all-out assault against the band and its members on social media”, he says. “Behind the scenes, he and his team of lawyers have been trying to extort the band and the record company for a big payout. Because these tactics were not successful, he upped the ante and filed this bogus and spurious lawsuit to get leverage in contract negotiations. But this strategic ploy won’t work. We will not be extorted; and will defend and defeat these phony claims in court”.

“As a management company and record label, we pride ourselves on working with artists from all different walks of life and encourage them to speak their minds creatively and authentically”, he continues. “I have never forced political beliefs or values on any of our artists or employees, but I also will not tolerate when people create a hostile environment. Bad Wolves has always been a collaborative effort between its members, its management and our label, and no single member is responsible for the creation of its art or its success”.

“Putting this distraction aside, Bad Wolves is continuing to focus on its music and will release its best record yet in October with new lead singer Daniel ‘DL’ Laskiewicz”, he concludes. “I am very proud of the band”.

Bad Wolves, who first formed in 2017, recently released behind-the-scenes footage of the recording of their new album, ‘Dear Monsters’, which features the there mentioned Laskiewicz.