The Who guitarist Pete Townshend – along with other quick tempered celebs out there – might need to watch what they say from now on now that social media gives fans who have been insulted by stars a platform that can reach many.
During a concert in Ontario, Canada, the legendary guitarist saw a banner in the crowd that read, “Smash your guitar, Pete!” and to say the least, Townshend was not impressed.
In fact, he walked up to the man with the banner, along with his seven-year-old daughter, and asked them to “go away with that sign,” adding "I want to tell you two words but I can't because you've got a child there." Although that didn’t stop him from mouthing the words.
After receiving tons of criticism from online communities, Townshend decided to pen them an apology, although I’m sure he would have done that regardless of the backlash. The apology reads as follows:
"Apologies and condolences from my side, and very best wishes to you and your family.
I asked my friend Mike Tyler to find you so I could tell you that I am so sorry the story about us blew up the way it did, but also to tell you that I sympathize with you both, and your daughter's mother, and that I am most certainly not angry. I was not angry on stage either. I was in rock star mode, the big mouth.
I could have handled it differently. I thought of sending someone to find you both and telling you I was not upset, but we were flying to New York straight after the show, and had no time to spare. I wish things had been different. It would have saved you from all this furor.
I thought your placard was fun. I had a job to do (to announce our musicians) and I didn't want to lengthen the show by trying to deal with you directly and in detail. I was also worried that your daughter looked a little frightened as the crowd started to follow you down the aisle. The ushers should not have let you leave your seats and walk forward. All that said, you did nothing wrong.”
And in other news, looks like Against Me! have been forced to cancel their plans to hit the road with Bad Religion and Polar Bear Club due to lineup issues.
The tour is set to kick off on Friday in Costa Mesa, Ca but the band announced that they will have to pull out. They released the following:
Unfortunately we have to cancel all of our appearances scheduled for the upcoming tour with Bad Religion and Polar Bear Club.
Canceling a tour is definitely not a decision we would make lightly. At this moment, due to our current uncertainty over who is going to be playing drums with us, we feel like we are lacking the ability to put on the show our fans deserve and we think that the best thing for us to do right now is take some time to regroup and finish a record.
Our most sincere apologies to Bad Religion, Polar Club and all of the agents and promoters involved with the tour but most importantly to the fans who were coming out to see us.
If anyone who bought tickets doesn't want to go to the show now or walks away from the show feeling disappointed we'll definitely do our best to accommodate some spots on our guest list next time we pass through your town, which hopefully won't be too long from now.
Sincere apologies. – Against Me!
Dates:
03/08 – Costa Mesa, Calif. @ OC Fair & Event Center, Musink Tattoo & Music Festival
03/09 – San Diego, Calif. @ SOMA San Diego
03/12 – San Antonio, Texas @ Backstage Live San Antonio
03/13 – Houston, Texas @ House Of Blues
03/14 – Dallas, Texas @ House Of Blues
03/16 – Tampa, Fla. @ The Ritz Ybor
03/17 – Lake Buena Vista, Fla. @ House Of Blues
03/19 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Heaven At The Masquerade
03/20 – Nashville, Tenn. @ War Memorial Auditorium
03/22 – Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club
03/23 – Montclair, N.J. @ Wellmont Theatre
03/24 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ Electric Factory
03/26 – New York, N.Y. @ Terminal 5
03/28 – Boston, Mass. @ House Of Blues Boston
03/29 – Portland, Maine @ State Theatre
03/30 – Montreal, Quebec @ Metropolis
03/31 – Toronto, Ontario @ Kool Haus
04/02 – Detroit, Mich. @ St. Andrews Hall
04/04 – Columbus, Ohio @ Newport Music Hall
04/05 – Chicago, Ill. @ Congress Theater
04/06 – Sauget, Ill. @ Pop's
04/08 – Lawrence, Kan. @ Granada Theatre
04/10 – Denver, Colo. @ Fillmore Auditorium
04/11 – Salt Lake City, Utah @ In The Venue
04/13 – Vancouver, British Columbia @ The Vogue Theatre
04/14 – Portland, Ore. @ Roseland Theater
04/15 – Seattle, Wash. @ Showbox SoDo
04/18 – Hollywood, Calif. @ Hollywood Palladium
04/20 – Mesa, Ariz. @ Mesa Amphitheater