Jeff Tweedy's Not Afraid Of You And Will Beat Your Ass
So you may know a lot more about Jeff now than you did before Monday's Springfield, MO show; specifically, he does not like stage-crashers. This clip is from that concert where, a few songs into the show, a super-fan exploited the venue's lax security and triumphantly hopped on stage. From what we know, Jeff seems like an affable dude, but he didn't take kindly to the unexpected come-from-behind, fan-to-Tweedy contact. Let it roll to 1:10 to see Jeff's roughhousing retaliation.
Of course, Tweedy felt like shit about the altercation; you can watch his onstage apology here, where he says:
I feel terrible! I don't like to fucking punch somebody in the face! Why would I? Sucks, man ... Now I feel like going and sitting down somewhere ... but we're not gonna let the bastards win!Awesome applause line. And then this, from an official response and explanation of the incident, affectionately dubbed "The Springfield Massacre," on Wilco's website:
During the first encore a young man jumped onto the stage and did the requisite salute to his pals. While we certainly do not encourage that kind of behavior, we were prepared to let it go, as he was, it seemed, heading back into the crowd. Just when it appeared he was walking off the stage he turned around and moved towards Tweedy from behind. Jeff did not see him approaching, but felt the guy’s hands on his head. To this, Jeff reacted. As Jeff put it... "I really regret what happened last night. I wish it had gone another way... and i suspect had i felt safer on that stage, had security been doing a better job all night long, well things would have gone differently. He approached me from behind... and I reacted in defense to get him away. I didn't know what his intentions were... and I had to get him off of me. I'm sad that it happened at all."
If this week is teaching us anything, it's that you don't fuck with Wilco, just like you don't fuck with Juan Maclean. Still, the band rolls on, with Wilco playing the 9:30 Club in D.C. tonight. You can listen to the live webcast on NPR, thus reducing the likelihood you'll get punched in the face.
Posted at 1:31 PM
Tags: Wilco
Seriously!? Hit a dude!? That's really uncool. There are plenty of other ways to get a guy off stage. Punching a dude in the face isn't one of them.
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Seriously!? Hit a dude!? That's really uncool. There are plenty of other ways to get a guy off stage. Punching a dude in the face isn't one of them.
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dude, you totally stole the title of my post about the same thing!
much love though, still
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I can see where Jeff is coming from on this one. After the Dimebag Darrell incident, you just don't know what could happen anymore when a fan goes onstage and approaches a performer.
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I'm not even a Tweedy fan, but good for him. Stupid jock shithead jumps up on stage to get his pathetic 15 seconds of look-at-me. Fuckers like that ruin the concert-going experience for the thousands of people who are content to sit in the fucking audience and watch the band they paid $30 to come see.
Don't let the stupid jock bastards win!
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I'm not even a Tweedy fan, but good for him. Stupid jock shithead jumps up on stage to get his pathetic 15 seconds of look-at-me. Fuckers like that ruin the concert-going experience for the thousands of people who are content to sit in the fucking audience and watch the band they paid $30 to come see.
Don't let the stupid jock bastards win!
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By the way, y'all hear about that Sigur Ros promo CD they sent out under a different name?
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Tweedy was totally right to hit him.
The guy was coming at Tweedy from behind.
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By the way, y'all hear about that Sigur Ros promo CD that they used a fake name for?
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I don't think you can judge Tweedy on this one - it's too bad when you have a visceral freak out (which is what this appears to be) in front of a crowd. It feels weird and out of control and isn't fun for anyone, I'm sure. Least of all Tweedy. I take his explanation at face value , that you're a bit on edge when you get in front of a bunch of strangers and "sing your heart out". He was obviously embarrassed by his reaction. I hope that douchebag that ran onstage got heckled mercilessly by the crowd when he returned to his friends. I hope some pretty girl that he was trying to hit on laughed in his face and called him pathetic. I hope he woke up the next morning with that horrible sinking feeling.
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Why does Jeff need to apologize? I get it that he did apologize because he's a nice guy, and good for him for being the bigger person. But why would he feel like he HAD to apologize? A guy broke the rules, and physically touched the lead singer of a performing, major-label band. Anyone would've had the same, instinctive reaction.
I actually heard the guy who jumped up on stage was jumped after the show by some angry, drunk fans.
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More musicians need to beat the crap out of their "fans" onstage. It will send a message.
Seriously, it's not even like an out of control and inappropriate moshpit where the fools WANT to get hit. This guy just wanted to show off and violate the personal space of someone else. Totally deserves a beat down by the musician.
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takk that
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I have very little sympathy for people who jump on stage during shows.
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The guy was lucky he wasn't at a Rolling Stones show, Keef will hit you with his freakin stratocaster if you jump up on his stage...
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Fred, I think pete townsend actually did something similar to that years ago. Jeff was actually intelligent and articulate about the whole incident, which makes me like him a lot more, if that was even possible.
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Best part is when Tweedy has to start the song up again like a complete jackass. "uh, seriously we'll kick everybody's ass in here until you shut up and listen to our music. you're lucky to be here, don't disrespect us." I thought it was supposed to be rock and roll.
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Maddizzy - are you serious? It IS rock and roll - but since when is it "cool" for fans to jump up on stage? Since Dimebag? Was that okay? Was that "rock and roll" enough for you?
What that fan did wasn't a matter of "disrespect." It's safety. And if there's no room for that in rock and roll, then that's just sad.
Go grease your hair and listen to... shit. What is it that you fuckers listen to? What's "rock and roll" enough? I suppose you could go ask the guy who shot Dimebag Darrell - you apparently have a lot in common.
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damn...no apologies necessary Jeff. If someone grabbed my neck from behind while in the middle of a performance I'd be swinging away myself. I think just about anyone would in that situation. There's no cognitive, "hmmm...should I punch this guy?" here, adrenaline kicks in and shit just happens.
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not only did he grab jeff, it almost looks like hes goin in for a little peck on the cheek.
douche.
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I saw Chris Cornell spear a guy with his guitar neck once...it was hilarious. Just because you pay admission doesn't mean you can paw people--I say fuck 'em.
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what with these rising ticket prices you should at least get a good swing at those you've paid to see.
or a blowie, at least, where sigur ros is concerned.
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Saw Wilco the next night(last night) at WVU. There was no booze and about 300 folks total. Tweedy seemed uncomfortable at first. Then like six songs in he turns into this funny, gracious, cheerleading rock frontman. He shook his fist at the audience and joked a bit about how polite we all were. For the encore, he comes out in a Mountaineers jersey, really hamming it up. I guess not as "rock" as on onstage beat-down, but a great time/show. Dude deserves to feel safe onstage. Btw, Nels Cline is god.
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This just speaks to a culture where everyone feels entitled to do whatever they want, regardless of how it negatively impacts others. That's bullshit. People in the audience have no business on stage during a live set, period. At the very least, it's distracting and rude to the band and to everyone in the audience who--gasp--actually came to see them play their music live. Ultimately, it can be a physical danger to the band, the audience or the idiot who crashes the stage, trips and cracks his head open, or something similar. And of course, it opens up the venue to plenty of legal liability, because you know that idiot boy will not hesitate to sue the club, band, security, etc. for negligence in preventing him from acting like an asshole. Just what we all need--another live music club getting shut down or sued out of existence.
I don't criticize Jeff Tweedy's actions at all, and it don't think there's any reason for him to be P. C. or apologetic about it. I would have done the same thing to protect myself. Or even just to get the asshole off stage.
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And for our encore, please enjoy "I Am Trying to Break Your Face."
luv,
wilco
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Ah. Carrying on the tradition of stage crashing in Springfield MO. I went to college there in the 80s and a friend won tickets to see Chicago(the band) so we got drunk and went. After about 4 songs we realized the only way to make the night interesting was to rush the stage from the side and see what would happen. It would have been cooler if we got punched in the face by Peter Cetera's replacement singer instead of escorted out by security.
Wilco was great at 9:30 last night btw. You should listen to the show on npr.
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Tweedy should have smashed his guitar over his head after he hit him. Security shouldn't have let him be put in a situation where he felt insecure. He's up there completely exposed and shouldn't have to suffer drunk idiots trying to plant kisses on his face.
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I think I hate Jeff Tweedy even more after this. What a pussy. First off, that was one of the lamest swings I've ever seen, and to top it off, he has to apologize?
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"Mark" don't be a duechebag. Sorry Jeff Tweedy isn't skilled in the martial arts and could only throw "one of the lamest swings" you ever saw. Because it sounds like you are super tough cage fighter and have been through some real shit man. Tweedy couldn't last 10 seconds in the cage. Clearly you have seen so many brutal and technically sound swings that no 40 year old singer in a Alt-Country/Rock/Noises Band can stack up. Nerd.
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Well, let's be honest, why do they call it a punch ?
All I can see is just Jeff Tweedy pushing back the idiot with his hand on the neck. That's fucking it.
I like Jeff Twedy and I'm happy he didn't *really* punch the guy right in the face like, er, this
german guy who hit Liam Gallagher and have him spit his front teeth out.
http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2004/11/2207.cfm
Samuel
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What a fucking idiot,I cant believe that jerk.Where I'm from if you do something that idiotic you dont walk away unharmed.I'll put it this way "if you want to jump up on stage go to a blink182 concert or something in that genre they love that crap and the staff-pro meat heads love it to cuzz they get an excuse to beat your ass.You got off easy dickhead & stay in MO.Even the Music lovers in L.A.have better manners. just a fan-D.C
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When the fan jumped up on stage, he violated a silent agreement between the fans and performers during any concert. If some idiot would like to potentially ruin the show for himself and all those involved, he deserves the swiftest kick (or in this case, punch) possible. I don't like being approached from behind and being touched by a stranger, and I can only imagine the feeling while trying to perform for a group of people who weren't really respecting the band's performance. Violence doesn't solve anything, but I certainly don't blame Mr. Tweedy for his actions.
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This is now old news but in case anyone missed this one...
I highly endorse the ass-kicking of "entitled" fans.
This is Maynard from Tool doing a hip throw on a drunk moron.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CLXK4ctVwI
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This is now old news but in case anyone missed this one...
I highly endorse the ass-kicking of "entitled" fans.
This is Maynard from Tool doing a hip throw on a drunk moron.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CLXK4ctVwI
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oh come on "he hit him", what the hell was jeff meant to do? let that guy do whatever he wants with jeff's poor head? jeff really isn't the kind of brutal person who'd hit people without a reason. i do think this was very reasonable though i do not understand why there was no security there (who would probably have been much more brutal than jeff in first place)...
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This is what we in the UK call "the Prescott manoeuvre"...
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