Ex-Third Eye Blind-er set to take stage

JUST when tonight's Bay Area Music Awards were all but written off as a meaningless event -- two years ago the familiarly known Bammies morphed into the California Music Awards and last June the awards founding magazine, BAM, folded -- things finally got interesting.

Earlier this week, former Third Eye Blind guitarist Kevin Cadogan spelled out both his intention to play at the gala as well as what caused the rift between him and his former band.

Cadogan and his new band, bully, are scheduled to play two songs at the 23rd annual California Music Awards at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. San Jose's Smash Mouth headlines a bill that includes Ledesi, Oleander and Stroke 9.

"We've been practicing up at my house," said Cadogan, taking a break at a cafe in Berkeley. "We just got our first neighbor complaint last night. I was like, finally. We're not rockin' enough."

Cadogan hasn't performed in public since his January dismissal from Third Eye Blind. His old band is tied with Rage Against the Machine for most nominations -- seven; Cadogan is nominated as outstanding guitarist.

No reason has ever been given for Cadogan's termination, even though he shared songwriting credits with front man Stephan Jenkins on 16 songs on the band's two albums.

"Stephan said in an interview that I was a 'great guy,' and it was a "music biz" thing," said Cadogan, 29. "And it was."

The two had a tempestuous relationship for some time despite a record contract signed back in 1996, Cadogan said. Problems started when the band's lawyer set up a corporation in Jenkins' name without Cadogan's knowledge. At the same time, Jenkins was branching out, acting as the producer for a women's group, the Braids, and looking into starting other projects.
"He was looking into getting into some more glamorous things," said Cadogan. "And that was like buying a boat with a friend, and then when the pink slip comes in the mail, finding out it's only in his name."

Cadogan said things came to a head between the two when Elektra approached the group and offered a reported $1 million advance to record an EP. Cadogan refused to sign off on the deal, and Jenkins said he would go ahead and take the money without him. "I didn't want to sign because I wanted to work out our legal position," said Cadogan.
"I didn't want to sign what is in essence a loan, be liable for that, and have Stephan go and set up a record company with it."
Cadogan's stand resulted in his being stranded after the second of two gigs in Park City, Utah, as part of the Sundance Film Festival. Jenkins, drummer Brad Hargreaves and bassist Arion Salazar ditched Cadogan there and flew to Los Angeles to perform on "The Tonight Show." Cadogan was replaced by Tony Fredianelli, one of the band's early members.

The band and the record company were asked to comment on the breakup. "There's no comment on anything," Amy Meyer, tour publicist, said. "They're gone. They're on the road." Jenkins has refused to comment on the situation in interviews promoting Third Eye Blind's "Dragons & Astronauts" tour -- a billing that causes Cadogan to roll his eyes and take a long drag off his cigarette.

After his ouster, Cadogan teamed up with former Third Eye Blind drum technician Cooldoe and backup musician Adam "Messiah" Johnson to form bully. The band's first album should be released in August on Cadogan's label, Tossed Out Records. Cadogan is looking forward to tonight's awards, and not just because it's bully's live debut. Cadogan will be the only representative of Third Eye Blind at the show, an interesting development should the fractured band win in the outstanding rock/pop album category for "Blue."
"Oh, I'm sure Third Eye Blind's manager Eric Godtland would do a video acceptance for the band, if it came to that," said Cadogan, adding that he wouldn't care if he weren't allowed to step on stage on behalf of Third Eye Blind. "But I'm more excited bully is playing. As long as there's music in my head, I'm never going to be down. I believe in serendipity."
~Candace Murphy