Booking Agent Sues David Lee Roth
By
Sefany Jones,
Contributing Editor
Wednesday, March 20, 2002 @ 11:37 AM
Roth Is Accused Of Owing Perfo
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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.
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