'This is how SLAPSHOCK disbanded': Bassist bares alleged years of 'friction,' embezzlement
MANILA, Philippines — Slapshock bassist Lee Nadela encouraged other band members to voice out their own statements regarding the rock group's disbandment.
In the band's Facebook group page, Lee posted an article from The Daily Tribune regarding his statement confirming the band's disbandment and alleged unauthorized withdrawals from other members.
“This is how SLAPSHOCK disbanded. JAMIR GARCIA, LEAN ANSING, at CHI EVORA may mali ba dito sa statement ko? Hinihintay din ang mga statements ninyo ng buong Slam Armies,” Lee posted on the Facebook group, which has over 100,000 members.
In his statement sent to the Tribune, Lee said that while the pandemic brought a lot of challenges to the band, the friction among its members had been brewing for years.
“The pandemic brought a lot of challenges and taught us a lot of lessons. Friendships, loyalty, intentions, and our sense of brotherhood were tested,” Lee said.
Lee added that Slapshock released “Sana Pag Gising” last May 16, but he and guitarist Jerry Basco were not part of the song's recording.
“This was the first time that Slapshock has released a song without Jerry playing guitar and I playing bass. I understood, because I thought, maybe, it was because of the pandemic,” Lee said.
“But the three–Jamir, Lean and Chi–wanted to change everything. Jerry and I found out that they had finished recording a six-song EP that was already in the mixing and mastering stage. They deliberately did not let Jerry and me record our guitar and bass parts. That was unfair, because, in the first place, they never informed us about the whole thing, not even bothering to ask if we were agreeable with the setup they wanted,” he added.
Lee echoed Jerry's statement earlier that other band members withdrew band royalties without their permission.
“And then they committed the grave mistake of withdrawing band royalties from our account in Tunecore without our permission. Royalty money is a sensitive issue for artists. It is a basic right and every band member is entitled to receive it,” he said.
“Jamir, Lean and Chi admitted to me and Jerry that they took and withdrew the royalties all for themselves. To add insult to injury, they reiterated that they were the only ones entitled to it,” he added.
Lee said he and Jerry propose to just retire Slapshock as they wanted a graceful exit. According to him, the group agreed but hesitated because of their one-year obligation to their major corporate sponsor.
“Jerry and I, in good faith, proposed we will all just sign a Disbandment Agreement now, and then put the validity date effective a year later. That allows the three of them to fulfill Slapshock’s obligation to our corporate sponsor,” he said.
Lee claimed that he opened up because of rumors saying that he quit Slapshock and brainwashed Jerry to join him in leaving the band.
“Jerry and I cannot accept this version of the story because this is a total lie. Jamir, Lean and Chi are trying to put the blame of the disbandment of Slapshock on me and Jerry — when, in fact, Jamir, Lean and Chi instigated this whole thing. When they took the royalties for themselves, it was like they pressed the disbandment button. The Disbandment Agreement that we signed was a formal ending of our partnership as Slapshock,” Lee concluded in his statement.
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