It is a little bit like a band getting booked to play at a wedding and then insulting the bride’s dress.
Members of the San Fransisco band Third Eye Blind, hired to play at an event at the Republican National Convention, are at the centre of no small controversy after apparently refusing to pay any of their hits, mocking many of the Republicans’ political positions and poking fun at people who complained on social media.
One Twitter video showed the band’s lead singer, Stephan Jenkins, speaking out in favour of gay rights before the beginning of a song, according to Yahoo News.
Another clip showed him being booed by the crowd. “You can boo all you want, but I’m the motherf***ing artist up here,” he replied. Elsewhere, in an apparent jab at Donald Trump’s denial of climate change, he asked the audience: “Who here believes in science?”
The band was performing at Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was sponsored by the Recording Industry Association of America, which lobbies for the record industry.
Many of those in attendance were apparently angry that the alt-rock band did not play probably its best known hit, the 1997 single Semi-Charmed Life.
In the aftermath of the invitation only concert, many took to social media to voice their frustration. The band did not appear to be intimidated.
One twitter user, Liza White, wrote: “I have never been more disappointed.”
“Good,” replied the band.
The band was also asked why it was playing at an event where there was so little ethnic diversity. It replied: “Darling, we would never play the RNC. We played a charity event for musicians on call at the Rock and roll hall of fame.”
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