MACHINE HEAD kicked out bassist/co-founder Adam Duce just before signing a new record deal then falsely claimed he had quit the metal band because he was "sick of it," Duce claims in court.

Duce sued the band, its three current members and manager in Federal Court, alleging trademark infringement, breach of partnership agreement and defamation, among other things. 

Head has sold more than 3 million albums and done four tours that grossed several million dollars, according to the lawsuit.

For the first 10 years the band had various members, but from 2002 until February 2013, Machine Head consisted of Duce, Flynn, and defendants David McClain and Phil Demmel, Duce says.

The band formed a general partnership - Machine Head - and a corporation - Head Machine Touring Inc. - under which each member owned 25 percent. But despite this, Flynn got a larger portion of the band's income, Duce claims.

Duce says he questioned Flynn and the band's manager, defendant Joseph W. Huston, but never got a satisfactory answer.