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Brand New’s Touring Guitarist Drops Out, Band Cancels Tour Dates
Following allegations of sexual misconduct against Brand New frontman Jesse Lacey, his touring bandmate, guitarist Kevin Devine, has decided to leave the tour, prompting the band to cancel upcoming tour dates.
"Due to the events of the last few days, Brand New will be postponing its upcoming three shows in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Ticket refunds will be accepted at the original point of purchase," they wrote in a Facebook post.
Devine has been on the road with the band for their Science Fiction tour, and the singer-songwriter was scheduled to open their Dublin show. In a Facebook message posted on Sunday, Devine announced his plans to leave. "I’ve decided I won’t be making the trip to the UK & Ireland this week, neither to play in Brand New nor to do my own set in Dublin," he wrote. "I’m sorry to anyone who was looking forward to seeing me play. I will make every effort to make it up to you as soon as possible."
His decision follows a lengthy Facebook message about Lacey that he wrote on Saturday. "I want to address the allegations against Jesse," he wrote. "I believe that it is critically important to really listen to & hear people who speak out about abuse of power & sexual misconduct. I fully support that decision in this situation, which I’m sure was incredibly difficult, and I hope she is supported in the next part of her journey toward healing. I had not heard the story prior to it being made public yesterday. I’m heartbroken for her & for every person who absorbs & subsequently has to figure out how to live with this type of trauma. We all need to do a lot better, myself very much included."
But Devine went on to offer some support for his bandmate, and hopes that Lacey will work toward recovery. "I’m a recovering alcoholic and drug addict who has been sober for 9.5 years. My life experience has indicated to me that rehabilitation, through accountability, through owning & learning from the worst things about yourself, and through accepting & facing the consequences of your actions, is a real & possible ideal. I hope that my friend continues to do what he needs to do to get & be better. I completely understand it is not incumbent upon anyone else to see situations like this through that lens, and I mean to inflict no harm in presenting my experience."
The situation began to unfold when a woman posted on Facebook that Lacey had “solicited nudes from me starting when I was 15 and he was 24," as well as "manipulated" her and made her "watch him masturbate on Skype.” Lacey responded to the allegations via Brand New's Facebook page, saying "The actions of my past have caused pain and harm to a number of people, and I want to say that I am absolutely sorry,” he wrote. “I do not stand in defense of myself nor do I forgive myself. I was selfish, narcissistic, and insensitive in my past, and there are a number of people who have had to shoulder the burden of my failures. I apologize for the hurt I have caused, and hope to be able to take the correct actions to earn forgiveness and trust.”