Third Eye Blind Lectures Republicans About Science, LGBT Rights At Cleveland National Convention Event
90's rock band Third Eye Blind stuck it the man Tuesday night when frontman Stephan Jenkins opted to express his frustration with Republican values during a charity concert held at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland instead of performing his hits as he had initially agreed to do.
The concert hosted by the Recording Industry Association of America and AT&T was billed as a pro-America event for GOP voters attending the nearby Republican National Convention. But Jenkins soon began lecturing the crowd about LGBT rights.
"We believe in tolerance, acceptance," he said, as the crowd booed, according to multiple media reports. At another point, he taunted the crowd: "Raise your hand if you believe in science."
Jenkins also refused to play many of Third Eye Blind's hits during the 10-song set list, including its alt-rock anthem "Semi-Charmed Life."
"You can boo all you want, but I'm the motherf****** artist up here," Jenkins told the crowd.
"Third Eye Blind is playing new s--- and I am not pleased," tweeted Elizabeth Harrington, a writer for the Washington Free Beacon, a conservative website.
After Twitter user Liza White tweeted at the band’s account, "I have never been more disappointed," the verified band’s account snipped back: "Good." the New York Daily News reported.
Jenkins did perform the band's hit "Jumper," a story of a gay man committing suicide, while sharing the story of his cousins, who are gay.
"To love this song, is to take into your heart the message and to actually, actually have a feeling to arrive and move forward and not live in fear and imposing that fear onto other people," said Jenkins.
Republican nominee Donald Trump promised a star-studded Republican convention this year, but the star power that showed up was not exactly A-list material. There was Antonio Sabato Jr., a former Calvin Klein model, and golfer Natalie Gulbis. Trump supporters Mike Tyson and NASCAR chairman Brian France decided to skip the event.
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