RUMOR MILL
Tuesday, May 2, 2000
YOUNG SUED OVER BIO
Former Village Voice Writer Files $1.8 Million Suit, Alleges Breach Of Contract
Neil Young is being sued for $1.8 million by a writer who says his plan to publish Young's authorized biography is being foiled by the singer.
Former Village Voice writer Jimmy McDonough filed a $1.8 million suit against Young in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday (5/1), alleging Young has refused to allow the publication of a biography written by McDonough that the singer-songwriter originally authorized.
The book in question, "Shakey: The Biography of Neil Young," began to materialize in 1991 with Young's "assistance and blessing," according to the suit.
A contract was entered into by Young, McDonough and Random House Inc., who were to publish the book.
The suit reads, "Over a period of eight years, McDonough devoted himself to writing the biography. While doing so, he was repeatedly assured by Young that Young would abide by his agreements with McDonough, and that McDonough should trust that Young would allow the biography to be published. Young repeated these assurances to McDonough, even after the initial time period for delivery of the manuscript under the contract with Random House Inc. had passed, and even on the day McDonough delivered the manuscript to Young.
"In December 1998, however," the suit continues, "Young revealed himself to be a contradiction in terms, using the wealth and power he had accumulated from his musical and business success to squelch publication of the biography. Unilaterally and without contacting McDonough, Young, through his handlers, repudiated his agreements with McDonough and with Random House Inc. Young did so without ever stating a single specific objection to any material in the biography... The loss of almost a decade of [McDonough's] creative life has been devastating to him."
Young and McDonough were to split the profits from the book, and that Young had approval rights over only passages dealing with his immediate family, according to the suit. McDonough is suing for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, declaratory relief and injunctive relief.
Former Village Voice writer Jimmy McDonough filed a $1.8 million suit against Young in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday (5/1), alleging Young has refused to allow the publication of a biography written by McDonough that the singer-songwriter originally authorized.
The book in question, "Shakey: The Biography of Neil Young," began to materialize in 1991 with Young's "assistance and blessing," according to the suit.
A contract was entered into by Young, McDonough and Random House Inc., who were to publish the book.
The suit reads, "Over a period of eight years, McDonough devoted himself to writing the biography. While doing so, he was repeatedly assured by Young that Young would abide by his agreements with McDonough, and that McDonough should trust that Young would allow the biography to be published. Young repeated these assurances to McDonough, even after the initial time period for delivery of the manuscript under the contract with Random House Inc. had passed, and even on the day McDonough delivered the manuscript to Young.
"In December 1998, however," the suit continues, "Young revealed himself to be a contradiction in terms, using the wealth and power he had accumulated from his musical and business success to squelch publication of the biography. Unilaterally and without contacting McDonough, Young, through his handlers, repudiated his agreements with McDonough and with Random House Inc. Young did so without ever stating a single specific objection to any material in the biography... The loss of almost a decade of [McDonough's] creative life has been devastating to him."
Young and McDonough were to split the profits from the book, and that Young had approval rights over only passages dealing with his immediate family, according to the suit. McDonough is suing for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, declaratory relief and injunctive relief.
