Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
During a roundtable discussion and photo show at the Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas over the weekend, it was revealed that veteran guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Eric Melvin is allegedly suing NOFX frontman Fat Mike, as per Loudwire.
Prior to the scheduled roundtable discussion, fellow original member drummer Erik Sandien made the announcement in a prepared statement, effectively explaining to the audience why inquiries about his longtime bandmate would not be covered. This is how Sandien began the Punk Rock Museum conversation as he set up a panel in front of the audience.
I’m the spokesperson for the band and the most level-headed one, I would like to address the elephant in the room. Eric Melvin is not here today with us because of the following reason: at 8am on Monday morning, after the final NOFX show ever, Eric Melvin’s lawyers served Fat Mike legal papers accusing him of legal financial malfeasance.
Ten hours earlier we finished playing the final show of our 42-year career. It was the most amazing and emotional send-off ever, nothing but love, family, tears and love. That letter broke my heart, as well as the rest of the band and the crew. It still hurts today and it hurts right now saying it. Melvin has made it clear, and perfectly clear, on this matter that to talk about it with him or anybody, it must go through his counsel.
I’ve known Mike for 43 years — I knew him for a year before NOFX: Mike is a lot of things, we all know that, he’s a complicated person, but he is not a thief. I will go on record saying he is not a thief. We hope this gets resolved soon, but until then, here we are, and it is what it is. And for the obvious reasons we can not, and will not, discuss this any further.
