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Eddie Money Accused Of Sexual Harassment And Age Discrimination In Lawsuit Filed By Ex-Drummer

By Victoria Miller
Published on: 05:52 PST, Jun 2, 2016

Eddie Money may have to cough up some cash to settle an amended wrongful termination lawsuit filed by his former drummer. Eddie Money’s longtime drummer, Glenn Symmonds, filed a lawsuit last fall claiming the rocker wrongfully terminated him due to his age and physical difficulties. And now the suit has been amended to include even more shocking allegations, according to Billboard.

The suit, filed in California state court, alleges that Eddie Money mocked Symmonds’ disabilities onstage and made lewd advances toward his fiancée, Tami Landrum. In the updated filing, Symmonds, who battled bladder cancer and a back injury, stated that he suffered emotional distress from the “constant ridicule and harassment” he endured from Money during his illness. Symmonds claims his “decades of friendship” with Eddie Money were irreparably damaged after the singer allegedly mocked him onstage for urinary incontinence caused by chemotherapy for bladder cancer. Eddie reportedly told a concert crowd that his tour with Symmonds was sponsored by Depends adult diapers.

In addition to Money’s alleged insensitive comments about Symmonds, the suit against Eddie claims that he repeatedly made suggestive comments to Landrum and tried to kiss her on the mouth. The suit also claims that Eddie Money dedicated his 1982 hit, “I Think I’m in Love,” to Landrum during a private party in 2013, then unzipped his pants while facing her onstage and proceeded to perform a lewd act.

According to the lawsuit, Money “unzipped his pants, and put his thumb through his zipper (intending his thumb to look like his penis) and began to gyrate his hips and dance while he wiggled his thumb.”

In addition, in May, 2015, Money allegedly dragged Landrum into a bathroom during an argument and blocked her exit. After Symmonds confronted his longtime musical partner about the incident, the band was “laid off” the following week. Eddie Money then toured with his adult children last summer, and everyone in the band except Symmonds and Landrum were called back to work soon after. Money’s attorney, Dina LaPolt, claims the reason Symmonds was not hired back was due to the fact that the plaintiffs trashed talked the rock star with bogus claims.

As for the amended lawsuit, Money’s lawyer says Symmonds is fabricating bogus claims because he realizes his previously filed age discrimination lawsuit has no merit.

“Eddie intends to take vigorous and aggressive legal action to counter these outrageous and blatantly false allegations against him,” LaPolt said. “The fact that Eddie did not invite Plaintiff to rejoin the band had nothing whatsoever to do with his age. Nor did it have anything to do with any illness or disability that he suffered. It was based entirely on how inappropriately Plaintiff reacted upon hearing that Eddie wanted to tour with his adult children during the summer.”

Eddie Money was a radio staple in the 1970s and 80s, with hit songs like “Two Tickets to Paradise” and “Baby Hold On,” but he hasn’t released an album in nearly 15 years. In an interview earlier this year with Smash Magazine, Money said he battled with drug and alcohol addiction, but has been clean for more than six years. He also said he was grateful that his distinctive voice has held up after decades in the business and thousands of shows.

“I thank God every day, the voice has been good, still strong. I’m thankful to still be working,” Eddie said.

Take a look at the video below to see Eddie Money and Glenn Symmonds in happier times.

[Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images]

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