The dispute between emo rockers Hawthorne Heights and their (former, they'd say) label Victory Records continues. As previously reported, the Heights announced they were quitting legendary rock independent Victory back in August, accusing the label and its boss Tony Brummel of all sorts of stuff - in particular putting his ego before his artists, and not paying up on royalty shares. The band subsequently launched legal proceedings against Victory.
The label finally responded to those allegations through legal papers filed last week in which they accuse Hawthorne Heights of making stuff up about Victory in order to justify backing out of their contractual obligations to the label, in order to enter into a new deal with a major record company. The legal papers say: "The plaintiffs are now willing to say anything - no matter how untrue or defamatory - as a strategy designed to free themselves from their legal obligations to the independent record label that made them famous, in favor of the 'greener pastures' and financial inducements offered by so-called 'major' record distribution companies. Unfortunately, it is a common story in the music business."
Given how acrimonious this split has been, it should be really good fun if and when the whole thing reaches court - expect lots of bitchiness.