The Dickies Frontman Issues Statement About Warped Tour Incident
Music News | Jun 29th, 2017
Another year, another year Warped Tour is in the news for some controversial thing. I’m actually surprised it’s The Dickies and not Gwar. Well the tour just started, give it time before Gwar make headlines. The Dickies played a handful of tour dates on the Vans Warped Tour and have been getting flack for what frontman Leonard Graves Phillips said to a few female viewers in the crowd giving him shit for something he says in his act.
There’s video of it on Alternative Press and elsewhere, but after sick of seeing signs and hearing stuff from the people in the crowd, Leonard let them have it with a bit of a rant. While others cheers, others cringed with what he said. Here’s the thing, if you’re going to say something to a band while they are trying to play, don’t be surprised when they come back with some vicious shit right back. Sure, he could have definitely said something else or just ignored it but the same goes for the people in the crowd. You don’t like what you hear, you go to another stage if you want to feel “safe.” There’s plenty of different options for you to watch.
After they left the tour after their run had ended, Leonard got news of it and issued a statement on the band’s Facebook page:
It has come to my attention that a snippet from a recent incident during the Van’s Warped Tour is floating around the internet, indeed here in every comment section on The Dickies page.
This is the context: While doing our show a handful of people took it upon themselves to express their ire with my routine–a routine that includes apish antics, a penis puppet, and often ends with me saying, “You’re a great looking bunch of kids. We’d love to go down on each and every one of you but we just don’t have the time.”
Apparently this group thought I meant it literally as they were holding a sign on the side of the stage (which was then thrown at me) that read:
“Our teenage girls don’t need to be subjected to derogatory jokes by a disgusting old man”
“Punk isn’t predatory”It appears the audience and myself were to be lectured about common decency as well as the very raison d’être of Punk Rock by this woman and her friends during the entire set.
I finally let my anger get the better of me. I let her know what I thought of her ageist, nasty, Leonard-hating behavior. I used very rude language. I understand the word “cunt” is inflammatory and that many women have been abused by this word. I should have called her an “asshole.”
It wasn’t my proudest moment … but neither was the time I urinated on the audience. I wasn’t there to “prey” on anyone’s child. In all honesty, as fine as most of my audiences are, I’ll pass on having oral sex with each and every one of them.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to affix my groovy new “I *heart* Beaver” magnet (that I picked up in Beaver, Colorado) to the refrigerator and listen to “Beat On The Brat” by The Ramones. If some of you kids haven’t heard of them yet, check ’em out! They’re pretty cool.Leonard Graves Phillips
Update
Kevin Lyman has updated the situation with some facts:
Dear Music Community,
I thought it was time to put the facts out since I have watched false information floating around. A video has been circulating of a confrontation between Leonard from the Dickies and a Fan.
Fact- it was not a Fan, but a member of the touring party.
The member of the touring party was standing next to the PA with a sign protesting some of the things they found offensive about the bands jokes, and props on stage. During one of the last songs they went towards the barricade and directed the sign at the band.
After a verbal barrage from Leonard, the member of the touring party threw the sign at Leonard, and left the area. I do not condone verbal or physical violence, whatsoever.
The Dickies, last day of the tour was that Sunday, which had always been scheduled.
These are the facts of what took place and this is why I ask anyone who has an issue with anyone else on tour, to come sit under my tent with me and express their views diplomatically. On this years tour we have many people who may not agree with each other, but as humans we should be able to express our points of view in a civil manner.
If we have any hope to progress as a society, communication will be key in moving forward.
Regards,
Kevin Lyman
