Modest Mouse Drops Guitarist Simon O’Connor From Upcoming Tour
Modest Mouse announced on Friday that guitarist Simon O’Connor will not join the band for their upcoming tour. The decision follows recent accusations on Reddit that O’Connor sent inappropriate messages to a minor on social media.
“Simon O’Conner will not be joining us on the upcoming tour,” the band said in a statement shared on Instagram. “The good news is that Seth Jabour of Les Savy Fav will be jumping in to play guitar.”
O’Connor’s tenure with Modest Mouse began in 2021, and he plays on the group’s recently released album An Eraser and a Maze. He is also a touring guitarist with MGMT. The allegations against him surfaced when a 17-year-old Reddit user posted screenshots of a conversation, claiming O’Connor sent an erotic image and commented on bikini pictures while she was 16 years old.
Simon O’Connor Responds to Allegations
O’Connor responded directly within the Reddit thread to address the situation. He wrote that he unequivocally opposes any sexual behavior toward minors and stated that it disgusts him as a human and a parent.
The guitarist explained that he mistook the user for someone who had previously targeted him online. “Throughout my adult life, there has been a person who has popped up from time to time with the intention of, for lack of a better term, messing with me,” O’Connor wrote, adding that the individual repeatedly creates and deletes social media accounts while posting similar photos.
According to O’Connor, after a long night, he noticed a profile interacting with his Instagram posts and stories. Believing it was the same individual, he admitted to reaching out with a tasteless meme, a sticker reading “Simon calls your bluff,” and an attempt to call out the barrage of likes. He stated that he realized his mistake after a few minutes, unsent the messages, and ceased communication.
“I’m genuinely sorry to the person who received those messages,” O’Connor added. “They didn’t deserve to be put in that position, and I’m sorry for the stress and attention this has brought them.”
Tour Schedule and Status
Despite the explanation and apology, Modest Mouse opted to leave O’Connor off the upcoming tour lineup. A representative for the band declined further comment beyond the group’s Instagram statement.
Modest Mouse’s tour is scheduled to kick off on August 4 at the Libbey Bowl in Ojai, California, and conclude on October 23 in Sacramento. The band concluded their statement by writing, “We look forward to being out there with you all.”
Paul McCartney Surprises Liverpool’s Magical Mystery Tour with Ringo Starr FaceTime
Beatles fans aboard Liverpool’s Magical Mystery Tour experienced a surreal moment this week when Paul McCartney pulled up beside their bus at a traffic light and revealed he was on a FaceTime call with Ringo Starr.
The encounter took place while the tour bus was stopped at a red traffic light on Hope Street. Neil Morton, the driver and tour guide for the excursion, spotted McCartney in the adjacent vehicle. Morton described the encounter to the BBC as surreal, noting that the passengers could not believe what they were seeing.
Leaning out of his car window, McCartney made sure the fans could see his screen, which featured his former bandmate Ringo Starr. Though the meeting was fleeting and didn’t allow for a proper conversation, the passengers managed to snap photos.
A Memorable Moment Shared Online
Starr later took to Instagram to share a photo of McCartney captured by Morton during the impromptu appearance. The drummer captioned the post, “How about that for a Magical Mystery Tour in Liverpool? Peace and Love, Ringo.”
McCartney was visiting his hometown for events surrounding the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), the performing arts school he co-founded. His trip also follows recent musical projects reflecting on his upbringing in the city, including his LP The Boys of Dungeon Lane and a recent duet with Starr titled “Home to Us.”
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