Five months after the now-legendary SXSW incident in which Screeching Weasel frontman, Ben Weasel, roughed up a female in an on stage melee, resulting in public outcry, the departure of the remaining band members from the band, the cancelling of Weasel Fest and a LOT of shit talking, Ben is ready to set the record straight. Five months seems like a long time to wait before speaking out, but from looking at the size of his official statement it’s possible it took 4 and a half months to write it.

Like I said, it’s f’ing long so I’ll put a couple bullet points down for you lazy readers:

– The other members of Screeching Weasel didn’t quit out of shame for the SXSW incident, Weasel fired them.

– Screeching Weasel is reformed with new, more bad-ass members and playing a show in Chicago on October 29th with a documentary crew in attendance.

If you follow the punk scene at all, I highly recommend reading the statement. It’s really interesting/entertaining with a whole lot of shit talking about punk scene personalities you’ll surely know. I think this quote towards the end of the novel-like statement sums up the overall aesthetic nicely:

Think of it this way – I’m taking back the reins from the classless, spineless, frightened children who dragged Screeching Weasel’s name through the mud with their dishonest, ass-covering press release; and all the cheap shot cowards who kicked me while I was down are getting a horseshoe straight up the ass!

Former members of Screeching Weasel have in the meantime started a new band of their own.