I keep yammering on about the importance of band agreements — not just for what can happen to you if you don’t have one, but what can happen if you don’t honor one. Two former members of the Doors found out the hard way this morning that they have to fork over all of the profits of their recent tour for violating their original agreement.
Turns out, the three surviving members and the Morrison estate all have veto power over any use of the Doors name for touring and merchandise. When the keyboardist and guitarist recruited Cult singer Ian Astbury to hit the road, the drummer insisted that the live act was devaluing the band’s name and legacy.