July is known as the most patriotic month of the year for Americans, but it’s also been known as a pretty dramatic month over the years when it comes to music-related controversies. Let’s take a look at some examples of controversial music moments that happened in July, although there are actually many more incidents than these four examples.
1. Gym Class Heroes’ Travie McCoy punched a fan in 2008
On July 1, 2008, Travie McCoy of the alternative hip hop band Gym Class Heroes got into trouble after assaulting a fan at the start of the band’s performance at the Warped Tour in St. Louis. He was arrested later that night and charged with third-degree assault.
Shortly after the band finished playing “Peace Sign,” a member of the audience hurled racial slurs at the singer, who responded by hitting the audience member over the head with a microphone. McCoy later apologized but did not deny his actions, saying, “When someone says something so ignorant and offensive, I have to hit them over the head with a microphone.”
2. The Chicks performed despite threats in 2003
On July 6, 2003, The Chicks (then known as The Dixie Chicks) played a concert at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The event would not have been so controversial had the band not been subjected to death threats shortly before their performance for expressing their dislike for former President George W. Bush.
Chicks member Natalie Maines received a particularly frightening threat that she would be shot if she performed, but the group refused to back down and continued playing, receiving police escorts to and from the stage.
3. David Bowie caused controversy by performing “Starman” in 1972
David Bowie rose to fame when he performed “Starman” on the famous British music TV show Top of the Pops in July 1972. It was one of the most iconic performances of his career, but it angered many conservative British viewers. The uproar began when Bowie simply placed his arm on guitarist Mick Ronson’s shoulder while performing the song.
4. Roger Waters assaulted a fan over fireworks in 1977, which inspired the film “The Wall”
This was one of the most controversial July events in music history. It also inspired one of Pink Floyd’s greatest albums. On July 6, 1977, Pink Floyd performed at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada. No stranger to controversy, band member Roger Waters became upset at a particularly rowdy fan who climbed over the fence separating the band from the audience, and spat on him. Waters also yelled abuse at the crowd for using fireworks.
Years later, Waters would say that the experience made him realize that the band’s newfound fame had erected a kind of “wall” between them and their fans – and thus “The Wall” was born.
Photo credit: Wide Open Spaces / Album cover art
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