NOFX singer, bassist, Michael John Burkett, told an audience during a recent performance that he believes there’s a bright side to the Route 91 Harvest Festival mass shooting.
As a reminder, the 2017 Las Vegas massacre left at least five-dozen dead and injured more than 500 music lovers, many permanently.
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Burkett, 51, aka, Fat Mike, made the shocking comments while appearing at this year’s Punk Rock Bowling & Music Festival in Las Vegas:
“Like most touring acts, NOFX engaged in a little local stage banter with the audience during their set, noted consequenceofsound. Frontman Fat Mike then took things way too far. What began as a tasteless joke about Muslims quickly escalated. Fat Mike started by saying, “We played a song about Muslims and we didn’t get shot. Hooray,” to which NOFX guitarist, Eric Melvin chimed in, “I guess you only get shot in Vegas if you are in a country band,” speaking of the 2017 mass shooting.
“At least they were country fans and not punk rock fans,” added Mike.
After a deafening silence followed by groans from shocked audience members, Mike replied, “Come on! You were all thinking it!”
In response to the comments, Stone Brewing Co. — which sponsored NOFX’s upcoming Punk in Drublic Music Festival — has cut ties with the band:
“We at Stone Brewing are aware of NOFX’s insensitive and indefensible statements this past weekend. As a result, we are severing all our ties with NOFX, including festival sponsorship and the production of our collaboration beer,” the company said in a statement.
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