In 2014, label co-founders Johnny Jewel and Mike Simonetti went their separate ways, with the latter stepping down to start a new imprint called 2MR.
Now, in a series of tweets, Simonetti explains that the split was far from amicable. Specifically, he accuses Jewel of stealing his song "The Magician" and rereleasing it under the name Symmetry.
From there, he says Jewel and his manager Alexis Rivera have been trying to scrub Simonetti from the history of Italians Do It Better. He accuses them of everything from editing the label's Wikipedia page to attempting to hack his email.
You can read the lengthy list of accusations below. We'll update if and when Johnny Jewel responds.
In related news, Jewel just revealed that he'll be scoring the upcoming Belgian film Home.
Johnny Jewel Padgett from Chromatics stole my song The Magician and released it under the name Symmetry
— Michael Simonetti (@MikeSimonetti) August 16, 2016
He re-recorded and took my version off the After Dark 2 compilation.
— Michael Simonetti (@MikeSimonetti) August 16, 2016
The Magician was easily the most popular song on the compilation. It was used in movies, fashion campaigns and tv commercials
— Michael Simonetti (@MikeSimonetti) August 16, 2016
The song made a lot of money. When I left Italians do it better (by my own doing) he tried to wipe any evidence of me from the label
— Michael Simonetti (@MikeSimonetti) August 16, 2016
He deleted the Capricorn Rising lp (still available thru my new label 2MR), and he deleted all the videos off YouTube
— Michael Simonetti (@MikeSimonetti) August 16, 2016
He then had his managed Alexis Rivera @echoparkrecords delete all evidence of me from the IDIB Wikipedia. We later added it back.
— Michael Simonetti (@MikeSimonetti) August 16, 2016
Then Johnny and Alexis attempted to enter my gmail account and Facebook account in order to try to remove what I wrote about them.
— Michael Simonetti (@MikeSimonetti) August 16, 2016
https://t.co/bPvzzPIAHS this shows the history of the label from day one. When it was a label releasing mix cdrs. Johnny didn't invent shit
— Michael Simonetti (@MikeSimonetti) August 16, 2016
I was left with the bill. He has his accountant send me a threatening email when I asked to get paid.
— Michael Simonetti (@MikeSimonetti) August 16, 2016
the email his accountant mentioned my "wife" by name (I'm not married), her job, my parents address , and other personal information
— Michael Simonetti (@MikeSimonetti) August 16, 2016
This was all an attempt to scare me and keep me away. The email is available if anyone wants to see it.
— Michael Simonetti (@MikeSimonetti) August 16, 2016
Along the way he told all his band mates and wife not to take my calls.
— Michael Simonetti (@MikeSimonetti) August 16, 2016
His threats are sad and sneaky. And his bullying through lawyers and accountants does nothing but make me steadfast in telling the truth
— Michael Simonetti (@MikeSimonetti) August 16, 2016
When I sent him the song he told me he wanted to add some instrumentation to give it "the Johnny jewel shimmer". (His words)
— Michael Simonetti (@MikeSimonetti) August 16, 2016
He added instruments to all the tracks on there so they all sound the same. My version was dirty, grimy and amateurish
— Michael Simonetti (@MikeSimonetti) August 16, 2016
One last thing - check out mr padgetts pitchfork article where he claims he starred the label. Dude is such a wannabe.
— Michael Simonetti (@MikeSimonetti) August 16, 2016
