Lee claims that James made off with $800 that was allotted for band payment. She also claims that James habitually abused his privileges, spending 335 minutes on long-distance calls to Chicago and taking monthlong vacations. She promises to take him to court, and James welcomes the opportunity. "Saying that I stole money is just absurd," says James. "As for the rest of it, I didn't have set business hours and I never took vacations -- except for four days during Christmas." James does admit that earlier this year he took a month off to go out of town on business, but that his assistant was in the office every day to take care of any problems that might have arisen. James has a countersuit in the works and, given the Boomerang's history of employee lawsuits, he has no doubt that "they are going to lose." Oh, to be a fly on the wall for that mudslinging match. ... Says Lori Perkovich of Right Arm Productions -- which books some 20 bands including the Screaming Bloody Marys, Ain't, Phantom Rockers, and Link 80 -- "None of my bands will ever play the Boomerang again. With Michael gone, I think that only brand-new bands would be willing to play that club." Musicians wanting to play the Boomerang should contact Robert at 387-2996. As for Michael James, his new blues booking agency, American Legends, is already up and running with offices in both San Francisco and Los Angeles. That was one productive month.
By Silke Tudor
