Photo by Kirstie Shanley

Earlier today, we pointed out some British press reports that MGMT drummer Will Berman had left the stage in Manchester, England Sunday night after being attacked by a piss-throwing audience member. We also reported that the band had said in an interview that Columbia Records, their label, was planning to grant them less freedom in recording their follow-up to Congratulations. But according to an email from MGMT co-leader Andrew VanWyngarden, neither report is true.

According to VanWyngarden, the liquid that hit Berman was not piss but, in fact, "hearty Manchester ale." Writes VanWyngarden: "As we understand, thrown cups of beer are a sign of affection over here, whereas thrown bottles of urine mean the opposite. So, thank you Manchester for your affection."

Wyngarden also writes that "label-relations are currently quite friendly" and that they're "not even close" to making another album. We've got the full text of the email below.

We should also mention that one Dan Deacon has emailed Pitchfork News with his own report. His email subject line: "I threw the piss." Text: "It was me."

Message from Andrew VanWyngarden:

*What's up dude!?

All accounts of this alleged piss-throwing/shirt-piss-catching incident as well as the "label not giving them as much freedom" are false and maliciously embellished, as an indirect result of the Malicious British Journalistic Freedom Act (1666) which entitles gobshot writers for shitty British tabloids to make up whatever the fuck they want about whomever they choose (citation needed).*

Although we're sure everyone's life could go on just fine without an "official clarification" of something that happened to that band MGMT somewhere in England, things have gotten to a point where we feel obligated to defend our selves and tell people the real story: witches, this: At the start of "Kids", MGMT's most popular song to date and the second-to-last song in the set, a celebratory cup of hearty Manchester ale, NOT URINE, was hurled into the air in the direction of the stage, thereupon landing in the lap of William Berman, the current world's best drummer. As we understand, thrown cups of beer are a sign of affection over here, whereas thrown bottles of urine mean the opposite. So, thank you Manchester for your affection.

*Will Berman then left the stage to dry off and the band **finished the set without him, a nice non-percussive version of MGMT's current smash single "Congratulations." EVERYONE then returned for a steamy full band encore of "Future Reflections" and "Brian Eno", the latter of which induced a moist circular moshing type pit in the center of the floor. Johnny Marr was in attendance, the Dum Dum Girls sounded great, plenty of clotted cream and fresh berries in catering, Liverpudlian youths with dandy style, and no one got hurt. All in all it was a great show, and, on a scale of one to ten counting by tenths, I would give it a strong 7.1.

As for the whole label-not-giving-them-artistic-freedom thing, we aren't even close to starting the process of making a new album, label-relations are currently quite friendly, we are very proud of "Congratulations" and the new videos, looking forward to making more music on Columbia, and the (mostly sold out) world tour has been going splendidly THANKS FOR ASKING. Don't believe everything that you read (even on Pitchfork.com).

taking the piss=bad idea in interviews,

kittens,

MGMT

big upsSPECTRUM,TAMEIMPALA,VIOLENS,DASRACIST,DEERHUNTER

*MGMT realizes its slow wit in not playing "Someone's Missing" when Will left the stage. IT APOLOGIZES.