AceShowbiz - Village People star Victor Willis is heading back to court once again after suing his former bandmates for $1.5 million (GBP890,000) in royalties. The singer, who played the cop role in the camp group, left the line-up in 1979, but claims he is owed a larger slice of the proceeds because he helped to write hits including "Y.M.C.A.", "Macho Man" and "In the Navy".

He filed his lawsuit in federal court in California last week (ends May 1). Stewart Levy, a lawyer for Can't Stop Productions, which now owns the rights to the tracks, insisted Willis' legal action is "without merit".

Willis is no stranger to suing over his Village People past - in 2009, he settled a legal battle with the organizers of a college football half-time concert, which featured an offshoot of the Village People. He insisted a group using the band's name had no right to include his image while performing under the moniker at the 2009 Brut Sun Bowl, which was broadcast across America.

He has not performed with the Village People since 1984.