Former Cake drummer Pete McNeal is going to prison for a long time. The percussionist was recently given a 15-years-to-life sentence for molesting a three-year-old in 2009. According to the Los Angeles Times, McNeal will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life in addition to the prison sentence.
Drum! magazine reported that McNeal was found guilty in March of 2013 after an initial mistrial. He also received a misdemeanor for a separate case where he molested a six-year-old while volunteering at a school on Los Angeles. He received three years probation for that incident.
McNeal joined the Sacramento band back in 2001, replacing Todd Roper, Billboard notes. His stint only lasted until 2004. He did not play on any Cake albums, but he can be seen in the video for "Love You Madly" from Comfort Eagle. McNeal also worked with artists like Norah Jones, Mike Doughty and Brett Dennen.
Frontman John McCrea talked with Music Times about the band's follow-up to 2011's Showroom of Compassion in September.
"I have been thinking about maybe just not releasing a recorded album and just release the album by playing new songs live. That might be an interesting way," he said.
"Recorded music is just kind of garbage. It's just for promoting products nowadays, so I just wonder if it might be more special to not record an album and not let Google monetize it with advertising. I mean I saw a Newt Gingrich ad in front of one of my songs, and I just thought, 'Wow, the tech companies are just as sh*tty as the old major labels in their disrespect for music.'"
