SF Chronicle
Jan. 25, 2000
It is, after all, only a semi-charmed life: Third Eye Blind, one of the most successful San Francisco bands of recent years, has fired guitarist Kevin Cadogan.
The band, which recently released its second album, "Blue," gave Cadogan his notice this week after a performance at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. A terse statement released by group's manager, Eric Godtland, gave no reason for Cadogan's dismissal.
"(Drummer) Brad Hargreaves, (singer) Stephan Jenkins and (bassist) Arion Salazar wish him every sucess," it states.
Tony Fredianelli, one of the band's early members and a continuing client of Godtland's, was chosen as Cadogan's successor. He was scheduled to perform with the band last night on the "Tonight" show.
Yesterday, Cadogan and his lawyer were seeking an injunction against the "Tonight" show appearance, citing unlawful termination.
Fredianelli, a guitar prodigy from Las Vegas, had a minor guitar track on "Semi-Charmed Life", Third Eye Blind's huge 1997 hit.
"He's certainly more talented than all of us", Jenkins recently told The Chronicle.
"I have nothing but praise for the guy," said Chris Coyle, who runs Industrial Management in San Francisco and once handled Fredianelli's career.
"He could knock out songs right and left".
Sources say Fredianelli may have written the hook that made the song "Semi-Charmed Life" such a big sucess. Cadogan, meanwhile, has co-songwriting credits with Jenkins on 10 of 14 songs rom the self-titled first album and six songs from "Blue." Jenkins has the sole songwriting credit on "Semi-Charmed Life."
"Third Eye Blind," released in April 1997, has sold 3.2 million copies in the United States, according to SoundScan, which tracks album sales. "Blue," released in November, has sold 400,000 copies.
Third Eye Blind is set to embark on a national tour dubbed "Dragons & Astronauts". A tentatvie San Francisco date has been set for early March at the Warfield.
~James Sullivan: CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER
Added: January 29, 2000
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