Max Cavalera, former lead singer and founding member of the legendary Brazilian metal band Sepultura, has filed a lawsuit against his former bandmates. The legal action, which was officially submitted last week, accuses the current members of the band of exploiting his private life, particularly in the context of their ongoing use of the Sepultura name and legacy. This legal battle threatens to further divide a once unbreakable bond, casting a shadow over the band’s long and storied history.
Cavalera, who left Sepultura in 1996 after a tumultuous split with the band, claims in the lawsuit that the band’s continued use of their iconic back catalog, particularly material that he heavily contributed to, has been done without his consent and under misleading pretenses. He alleges that his private life, including personal struggles, has been used for promotional purposes in ways that he did not agree to. This includes references to his tumultuous departure from the band and his personal issues being used to create a narrative that served the band’s commercial interests.
In the court filings, Cavalera accuses the current lineup—composed of guitarist Andreas Kisser, bassist Paulo Jr., and drummer Eloy Casagrande—of using his image and the band’s legacy to increase ticket sales and album streams, while providing him with little to no compensation. He goes on to describe instances where band promotional materials referenced his departure and personal life in a manner he found “exploitative” and “disrespectful.”
Cavalera’s legal team argues that the current iteration of Sepultura has been “siphoning” off the success and recognition created by the band’s original lineup, including a long list of iconic albums such as Chaos A.D. and Roots. Despite the band’s success without him, Cavalera’s lawyers maintain that the profits earned from his contributions, particularly those made during his tenure, continue to be disproportionately distributed. The lawsuit states that his association with the band, even after all these years, has not been sufficiently compensated, especially given his role in the band’s creation and worldwide success.
For his part, Cavalera has expressed frustration that the “exploitation” began almost immediately after his departure, with the band’s new direction being framed as a clear-cut evolution that disregarded the contributions of the original members. While he has expressed respect for the musicianship of Derrick Green, who replaced him as lead vocalist in 1998, Cavalera’s lawsuit contends that the current version of Sepultura has benefitted financially from his earlier contributions without proper acknowledgment or reimbursement.
Further complicating matters, the lawsuit also includes accusations of defamation. Cavalera claims that band members made statements in the press that damaged his reputation, particularly when discussing the reasons behind his exit. These statements, he argues, painted him as the villain in the narrative of Sepultura’s evolution, when, in reality, he maintains that the decision to leave was a result of personal and professional differences that had been exacerbated over time.
The lawsuit has already begun to draw attention from fans and media alike, with many questioning the future of the band and the lasting effects this legal action will have on the Sepultura brand. Some fans of the original lineup have rallied behind Cavalera, calling for the recognition and compensation he deserves. Others, however, express disappointment at the public clash between the once unified members of one of metal’s most influential bands.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the music world waits to see whether this dispute will be resolved in court or through some form of reconciliation between Cavalera and the remaining members of Sepultura. What is clear, however, is that the tension between the two sides will only continue to escalate as both the lawsuit and the band’s legacy take center stage in the battle over one of metal’s most iconic brands.
This lawsuit not only threatens to open old wounds but could fundamentally alter the way fans and critics view the long-running conflict between Max Cavalera and Sepultura. Whether or not Cavalera’s legal action will lead to a settlement or a more public confrontation remains to be seen, but it is certain that the outcome will have ramifications far beyond the courtroom.
