Kittie

Canadian all-female metal band Kittie are facing a multi-million dollar lawsuit from the producers of America's Hot Musician over their former bassist's involvement in the reality TV show.

Non-profit organization American Youth Symphony (AYS) - which produced the talent contest for instrumental musicians - is suing the rockers for $5 million for a variety of claims including tortuous interference, fraud and libel. The complaint stems from ex-bassist Talena Atfield's appearance on the program - the group accused TV network Oxygen, now owned by NBC, of using Kittie clips and music in the opening titles without permission and threatened legal action if the show ever aired.

However AYS has hit back, with the lawsuit claiming they had full permission to use the Kittie footage, and the band's motives for obstructing the show's broadcast were aimed at inflicting harm on the organization and Atfield - who left the group in 2005.

America's Hot Musician was never shown by NBC and has been run as a weekly webcast with plans to air the finals on television later this year.