The band frontman was arrested Tuesday, July 1 at the Maryland Heights, Missouri, stop of this summer's Warped Tour after allegedly struck a member of the audience in the head with his microphone.
- Jul 3, 2008
AceShowbiz - After announcing the release date of their new album "The Quilt", Gym Class Heroes has other news to share with fans which, sad to say, is a bad one. The band's lead singer Travis McCoy was arrested Tuesday night, July 1 during a performance at the Maryland Heights, Missouri, stop of this summer's Warped Tour after allegedly struck a member of the audience in the head with his microphone.
Was booked and charged with third-degree assault, McCoy was released on Wednesday morning, July 2 on $500 bond. No words just yet on his next court hearing.
Chronicling the incident, the Rolling Stone reports that Gym Class Heroes "had just finished the first song of their Warped Tour set, 'Peace Sign,' when a black audience member near the front row called the New York-based singer a 'fucking ignorant nigger.'"
McCoy then asked the person, "What did you just call me?" It was when the security was removing the fan from the crowd that McCoy reached down and hit the man's head with his microphone.
McCoy, who was arrested onstage at the end of his performance, soon thereafter issued an apology, emphasizing that his action "wasn't representative of him as a person." He said, "I'm sorry. But when someone calls you something that ignorant and that offensive, you have to bash their head in with a microphone."
Following McCoy's release from the prison on Wednesday, the band's manager, Bob McLynn, issued a statement, saying "Somebody in the crowd was taunting Travis with racial slurs. Travis invited him onstage with the intent of calling him out in front of the crowd, with absolutely no intention of a physical altercation. When he tried to help him onstage, the guy hit Travis in the knee area (which has been in a brace because of a recent sprain), forcing Travis to defend himself. At this point, a scuffle broke out. This whole incident is unfortunate. Travis McCoy and Gym Class Heroes are anything but violent. Their message is about racial unity and having a good time. It's amazing that in 2008 there are still people out there that would say such ignorant things."
As for their latest music effort "The Quilt", the set has been scheduled for a September 9 release date.
