Bassist Chris Beattie, a co-founding member of Hatebreed, who faced removal from the band in late 2024, has initiated a legal battle claiming he is owed unpaid profits from the band’s earnings.

Understanding the Hatebreed Lawsuit: Key Details and Implications

Both Chris Beattie and vocalist Jamey Jasta were the only original members remaining from the band’s inception in 1994. However, Beattie was unexpectedly removed from his position in the band in November of last year, which has now led to a contentious lawsuit.

Beattie is currently suing the band for allegedly withholding payments he believes he is rightfully entitled to.

Billboard has reported that the lawsuit, filed on July 30, asserts that Jasta, whose real name is James Shanahan, orchestrated Beattie’s removal from Hatebreed in a bid to secure a greater share of the band’s overall profits.

According to Blabbermouth, which has also reviewed the lawsuit, a mutual agreement was made in September of 2015 among Beattie, Byrne, and Shanahan, stating that each would receive 25 percent of the proceeds from merchandise sales, while the other two members were allotted 12.5 percent each, totaling the remaining 25 percent of the sales. Furthermore, it is alleged that Shanahan and/or band manager Steve Ross controlled a specific Hatebreed bank account, overseeing the band’s income distribution to members, including Beattie.

The lawsuit alleges that Beattie, along with other members, had “no insight” into how finances were being allocated, despite numerous requests for detailed financial information being ignored.

Additionally, the lawsuit emphasizes that both Beattie and Shanahan were the primary songwriters for the band, collectively earning the bulk of the publishing revenue from their songwriting efforts. With Beattie now out of the band, it is suggested that Shanahan likely believed he could significantly increase his earnings from publishing royalties.

Beattie has asserted that Jasta exhibited “erratic behavior” leading up to his dismissal from the band. The lawsuit details that Jasta’s actions included “berating and belittling” the tour and road crew, as well as publicly expressing feelings of being overwhelmed and burnt out on social media.

What Led to Chris Beattie’s Dismissal from Hatebreed?

According to Beattie’s lawsuit, he was officially dismissed from Hatebreed in November of 2024.

This dismissal became public knowledge in February of this year when Hatebreed announced through their Instagram that Matt Bachand of Shadows Fall would be taking over bass duties “for the foreseeable future.”

Unfortunately, the announcement did not provide any additional insights regarding Beattie’s status within the band. Shortly thereafter, he took to social media to express his thoughts, hinting at a miscommunication regarding the announcement’s coordination.

In his statement, Beattie mentioned, “I was under the impression a joint announcement would be agreed upon in advance, but since that was not the case, I wanted to address your concerns in my own post.”

He clarified that his “departure” from the band was made official on November 13, 2024, emphasizing that he did not choose to leave and that the circumstances surrounding his removal were unjustified, stemming from misleading and erroneous statements that he intends to address in future legal actions.

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Moreover, reports from Blabbermouth indicate that the lawsuit mentions an incident that allegedly took place during a Hatebreed performance in Connecticut, just four days prior to Beattie’s dismissal. The lawsuit contends that Beattie was terminated following a “false report” from a venue security guard who claimed he had harassed her before Hatebreed took the stage that evening.

To date, neither Jasta nor Hatebreed have issued any public statements regarding Beattie’s ongoing lawsuit.

As of now, the band is actively engaged in a European tour, continuing their musical journey despite the unfolding legal matters.