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The show goes on for Hawthorne Heights
Hawthorne Heights isn't slowing down its relentless touring pace, despite the emo/hardcore rockers' trials and tribulations with its former record company.
Following a handful of dates in the coming weeks--including a slot at Memphis' Beale Street Music Festival--the band kicks off its appropriately titled "The Show Must Go On Tour," which hits US cities from coast to coast beginning June 12 in Urbana, IL.
Up-and-comers From First to Last, Secondhand Serenade , Brighten , and Powerspace will be on board through July 14, after which Hawthorne Heights will jump on the Warped Tour from mid-July through late August. Dates are listed below.
Last August, Hawthorne Heights announced it was leaving Victory Records and proceeded to wage a bitter legal battle against the label and its chief, Tony Brummel. Last month, a judge in the case decided that Victory's deal with the band was non-exclusive, meaning Hawthorne Heights can record for another label, according to Billboard magazine. However, the court refused to dismiss or rule on claims about copyright ownership of the band's recordings, trademark infringement and invasion of privacy.
In a posting on its website, Hawthorne Heights tells its side of the story, describing Brummel as a greedy man who "cares more about his ego and bank account than the bands themselves." It says the straw that broke the camel's back came when Brummel sent out letters "calling rock supporters to arms and [a] virtual declaration of war on hip-hop and [hip-hop act] Ne-Yo done under the guise of a band message [from Hawthorne Heights]."
The musicians also said Brummel sent out a "street-team" letter instructing people to re-arrange Hawthorne Heights CDs, putting them in higher-visibility areas of record stores. The letters, which the band members said they had nothing to do with, caused the group to be branded as racist by some.
The bandmates also claim that, after selling more than 1.2 million albums, they have never seen a single dollar in artist royalties from Victory.
Victory Records filed a countersuit against Hawthorne Heights last September, accusing the band of breach of contract and libel, and a court previously dismissed the band's claims of fraud, as well as its claim that its contract with Victory was non-binding, according to MTV News.
Hawthorne Heights' first album, 2004's "The Silence in Black and White," shipped platinum and became Victory's most successful debut. The band's latest set, "If Only You Were Lonely," includes breakthrough hit "Saying Sorry" and has achieved gold status since its February 2006 release.
In December, drummer Eron Bucciarelli told the Toledo Blade that Hawthorne Heights is working on its third record, which the band hopes to release this year on another label.
