Music News

27 Jul 2023

Which Is Your Favorite Song From Madonna’s Debut Album? Vote!

Madonna‘s debut studio album arrived on July 27, 1983, and pop music hasn’t been the same ever since. The icon, then a budding star, released her self-titled set, Madonna, to critical success. In celebration of the album’s 40th anniversary, Billboard wants to know which track is your favorite.

Madonna had a hefty climb on the charts following its arrival. The set debuted at No. 190 on the Billboard 200 in Sept. 3, 1983, and would scale its way all to the top 10 (No. 8) by the following calendar year. The set, released by Sire/Warner Bros. Records, ultimately went on to spend a whopping 168 weeks on the chart, the most weeks of any of Madonna’s albums.

The pop star’s album success could be attributed to to its three major singles — “Borderline,” “Holiday” and “Lucky Star.” “Borderline” and “Holiday” scored Madonna two top 20 singles, charting at Nos. 10 and 16, with each track spending a total of 30 and 21 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. “Lucky Star,” however, managed to crack the chart’s top five and peaked at No. 4, with a total of 16 weeks on the all-genre tally.

Considered one of the best pop debuts of all time, Madonna’s self-titled album holds a special place in the heart of longtime fans. Billboard ranked each of the album’s eight tracks in honor of its anniversary (which you can read here), but which song on Madonna is your favorite? Vote in our poll below.

27 Jul 2023

Arctic Monkeys, Jessie Ware, Fred Again.. Among Finalists for 2023 Mercury Prize: Complete List

Arctic Monkeys’ The Car was named one of the 12 albums of the year by the 2023 Mercury Awards on Thursday (July 27). It’s the band’s fifth album to be shortlisted for the honor, which puts them in a tie with Radiohead for the most shortlisted albums since the award was introduced in 1992.

Arctic Monkeys won the award in 2006 with Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not and were finalists with Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007), AM (2013), Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (2018) and now The Car. Radiohead was shortlisted with OK Computer (1997), Amnesiac (2001), Hail to the Thief (2003), In Rainbows (2008) and A Moon Shaped Pool (2016). Radiohead has yet to win the award.

Should Arctic Monkeys win again, they will join PJ Harvey as the only two-time winners of the award. Harvey won in 2001 with Stories form the City, Stories from the Sea and in 2011 with Let England Shake.

Two of the shortlisted albums — The Car and Fred Again..’s, Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022) appeared on Billboard’s list of The 50 Best Albums of 2022: Staff List.

The Mercury Prize — officially known as The Mercury Prize with FREENOW — celebrates the best of British and Irish music across a range of contemporary music genres.

The 2023 awards show will take place on Thursday, Sept. 7, at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London. The event will feature live performances from many of the shortlisted artists and the evening will culminate in the announcement of the overall winner.

The shortlist was revealed at a launch event. It was also announced live on BBC Radio 6 Music by Tom Ravenscroft as part of a Mercury Prize special. BBC Music, The Mercury Prize’s broadcast partner, will provide coverage of the event across BBC TV, radio, online and social media.

The shortlist was chosen by an independent judging panel chaired by Jeff Smith, head of music, 6 Music & Radio 2. Unlike judging panels for the Grammy Awards, where the members’ names are not revealed, the Mercury Prize publishes the names of all of the committee members. In addition to Smith, this year’s committee consisted of: Anna Calvi – musician, songwriter & composer; Danielle Perry – broadcaster & writer; Hannah Peel – musician, songwriter & composer; Jamie Cullum – musician & broadcaster; Jamz Supernova – broadcaster & DJ; Lea Stonhill – music programming consultant;  Mistajam – songwriter, DJ & broadcaster; Phil Alexander – creative director, Kerrang!/contributing editor, Mojo; Sian Eleri – broadcaster & DJ, Tshepo Mokoena – music writer & author; Will Hodgkinson – chief rock & pop critic, The Times.

Here’s the complete list of 2023 Mercury Prize albums of the year:

  • Arctic Monkeys, The Car
  • Ezra Collective, Where I’m Meant to Be
  • Fred Again., Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022)
  • J Hus, Beautiful and Brutal Yard
  • Jessie Ware, That! Feels Good!
  • Jockstrap, I Love You Jennifer B
  • Lankum, False Lankum
  • Loyle Carner, hugo 
  • Olivia Dean, Messy 
  • RAYE, My 21st Century Blues
  • Shygirl, Nymph
  • Young Fathers, Heavy Heavy

27 Jul 2023

Post Malone Reveals His Use of Shrooms Has ‘Really Affected’ His Short-Term Memory

As he gears up to release his new album Austin Friday (July 28), Post Malone wants to set the record straight. In his Wednesday (July 26) interview with Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe, the 28-year-old singer-rapper opened up about his drug and alcohol usage, emphasizing that — while he may have gone a little wild in the earlier days of his career — it’s definitely not what it used to be.

“I mean, first off, I shouldn’t have to really justify anything to anyone, but I appreciate the concerns,” he began, sitting casually on a couch with Lowe. “But then the rumor starts that I’m doing hard drugs, which I’ve never done in my entire life.”

“Yeah, I take shrooms … I like shrooms,” explained the musician, confirming he made his last album, Twelve Carat Toothache, while taking the psychedelics. “I like shrooms. Not as much as I used to. It’s really affected my short-term memory. … Maybe it was just a stint of habitual overuse. Daily.”

“But now I take a little bar of chocolate with my buddies, a little square chocolate and just laugh and laugh and laugh,” he added. “It’s interesting because it’s improved. It has improved my view on things. Making the last record, I was so, so, so … Well, writing it, I was so, so sad. But now I’m so happy and it’s definitely improved my viewpoint on life.”

The “White Iverson” artist also gave an update on his current relationship to alcohol, which he noted is “very much” a weakness for him. “It’s very frustrating,” Post admitted. “I have a very hard time expressing myself via recording if I’m not a little f–ked up. It’s a good spot now because if I’m not recording or I’m not talking to people or if I’m not doing shows, I really do drink just to have fun. It’s having a beer with my dad or with my bud.”

Posty also acknowledged that family life with his fiancée, with whom he welcomed a daughter last year, has helped to keep him grounded. “I really love hanging out with my baby, hanging out with the lady, playing video games, and in my garage working on projects,” he told Lowe. “That’s what I love to do. And so it hasn’t been that hard, but there’s times to where you have … It’s that one drink that sets you over.”

The interview comes just a couple months after the “Circles” singer took to Instagram to deny he was using drugs, which fans speculated was the reason behind his recent weight loss. “I’m having a lot of fun performing, and have never felt healthier,” he said at the time. “i guess dad life kicked in and i decided to kick soda, and start eating better so i can be around for a long time for this little angel.”

“The difference is I don’t rage in social settings,” Post told Lowe. “It’s usually me and a buddy. And we just stay up super late until the sunrise and we’re just drinking and sitting out on the car and just hanging out listening to music. I used to go nuts, and this is significantly better. There used to be a time, especially at the beginning of our relationship, that I would just disappear and just go for a week. And I was like, oh man, that’s so sh–ty.”

Watch Post Malone’s interview with Zane Lowe above.

27 Jul 2023

Harry Styles Grosses $105M in June With Love On Tour, Tops Billboard Boxscore for First Time

Harry Styles is No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Tours chart for June. It’s the first time that Styles has claimed a monthly victory, and it comes just in the nick of time, as Love On Tour came to a close on Sunday (July 22) after launching as one of the first major post-pandemic tours in September 2021.

According to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore, its last full month of shows earned $105.4 million and sold 967,000 tickets.

That makes Styles only the second act to earn a nine-figure monthly gross, after Bad Bunny raked in $123.7 million in September 2022 on World’s Hottest Tour. Further, the pop star nabs the highest monthly attendance total since the charts launched in February 2019, soaring above Ed Sheeran’s 750,000 in June 2022 and Coldplay’s 736,000 in March of this year.

These shows are part of a late-in-the-game advance to stadiums in Europe, after primarily playing arenas for most of the two-year tour. Typically, stadium acts play fewer shows due to complex production logistics and high nightly attendance.

Styles packed 15 stadium concerts into June, pushing him to the top in a competitive month. Other acts in the top 30 with high show counts — The Cure (20), Matchbox Twenty (16), Shania Twain (16) and Dead & Company (15) — mixed arenas and amphitheaters, while Styles’ stadium peers such as Beyoncé and Coldplay, at Nos. 2-3, played 12 and 11 shows, respectively.

The combination of a packed schedule and larger-than-ever crowd counts fueled Styles’ record-breaking month. His four concerts at London’s Wembley Stadium grossed $36.4 million and sold 335,000 tickets on June 13-14 and 16-17. Those figures secure him the No. 1 spot on Top Boxscores as well, once again fending off Coldplay and Beyoncé at Nos. 2-3.

Multi-night engagements in Amsterdam and Paris earned $16.5 million and $14.2 million, respectively, with two dates at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, grossing $12.2 million. Those reports follow on Top Boxscores at Nos. 8, 12 and 15, respectively.

Though it’s Styles’ first month at No. 1, he’s been a consistent player on Top Tours over the last two years. June is his 12th month in the top five, including three appearances at No. 2 and another five at No. 3. Previously, he had peaked in attendance with 419,000 tickets this month last year, and in gross with $54.4 million in September 2022.

These June concerts push Love On Tour’s total gross to $566.2 million, plus a few July shows nudging it to $590.3 million. With four shows left to report, Styles has the fourth highest grossing tour in Boxscore history, likely to become the fourth $600 million tour.

Styles was No. 3 on May’s Top Tours tally. His rise to the top pushes that month’s top two acts — Beyoncé and Coldplay — down a peg to Nos. 2 and 3, despite both artists’ significant gains in June. Beyoncé earned $86.9 million (up 29% from last month) while Coldplay grossed $71.5 million (up 30%).

Styles, Beyoncé and Coldplay register three of the seven biggest monthly grosses in the chart’s history, all above $70 million. Another three of those $70 million grosses – Bad Bunny, Def Leppard & Motley Crue and The Weeknd – occurred in August 2022, with Bad Bunny’s September ’22 gross at the top of the heap.

The June Top Tours ranking is record-breaking beyond Styles’ attendance and the top three’s gargantuan grosses. There are 27 tours with a gross of $10 million or more, surpassing the previous record of 24 from just last month. There are almost more $20 million tours than ever before, with 14. Further, June either sets a new record or ties an old one for tours above thresholds of $30-, $40-, $50-, $60-, $70- and $80 million.

Some of those $10 million earners represent genres outside of Boxscore’s typical pop, rock and Latin headliners. Hans Zimmer is No. 32 with $12.3 million and 116,000 tickets sold, acting as one of three non-vocalists on the chart. He tours with a large symphony orchestra, re-creating some of his most iconic scores, from The Lion King to Inception to The Dark Knight.

At No. 26, Illenium is the only dance/electronic artist on the list, bringing in $10.1 million and 132,000 tickets sold from 15 shows. His June routing began in San Francisco on June 1and traveled through the West Coast, Midwest and down to Texas for a show at Austin’s Moody Center on June 30.

And rounding out the tally at No. 30, violinist and composer Andre Rieu grossed $8.7 million and sold 90,000 tickets. Quietly one of the most consistent headliners, this marks Rieu’s 21st month on the chart, having reached as high as No. 5 in January 2020.

27 Jul 2023

Madame Tussauds Gives New Beyoncé Wax Figure an Edgy Debut in New York

Please do not be alarmed! No, that’s not actually Beyoncé reigning 1,100 feet above New York City, but it is the latest wax figure created in her image from Madame Tussauds! On Thursday (July 27), the new Beychella-inspired Beyoncé wax figure made its debut atop The Edge, the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere.

The new likeness features a stunning recreation of Beyoncé’s Nefertiti-evoking ensemble from her historic 2018 Coachella performance, where she became the first Black woman to headline the music and arts festival. The figure wears a replica of Queen Bey’s iconic Balmain bodysuit and cape, along with a cane, a gaudy headpiece, a pair of diamante earrings and an eye-popping statement necklace. Beyoncé’s latest wax figure is the progeny of a team of 20 Madame Tussauds studio artists, sculptors and designers, and the project took six months to complete. Fans will be able to visit the new wax figure at Madame Tussauds New York starting July 27.

Beyoncé’s latest tribute from Madame Tussauds arrives just two days before her Renaissance World Tour graces the tri-state area. The “Break My Soul” singer is set to perform two shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Saturday, July 29, and Sunday, July 30.

The Renaissance World Tour is currently making its way through its North American leg. The elaborate show pulled in $154 million from its 21-show European leg, the biggest leg of any Beyoncé tour yet. The icon’s latest worldwide trek is in support of her Billboard 200-topping seventh solo studio album, which spawned the Grammy-winning Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits “Break My Soul” (No. 1) and “Cuff It” (No. 6).

27 Jul 2023

Billie Eilish’s ‘What Was I Made For?’ Crowns Hot Alternative Songs Chart

Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” soars in at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Alternative Songs chart dated July 29 following its first full week of streaming, sales and airplay.

In the July 14-20 tracking week, “What Was I Made For?” earned 11.4 million official U.S. streams and 699,000 radio audience impressions and sold 4,000 downloads, according to Luminate.

The song was released July 13 and accumulated 1.6 million streams, 989,000 impressions and 2,000 in sales that day.

Eilish adds her third No. 1 on Hot Alternative Songs, which began in 2020. She first led with “My Future” in 2020 and followed with “Happier Than Ever” in 2021.

She also tops Alternative Streaming Songs, scoring her record-extending seventh leader since the list’s 2020 inception. That’s the most of anyone by far; only Taylor Swift, with two No. 1s, also has more than one.

Hot Rock & Alternative Songs finds “What Was I Made For?” leaping 35-3, Eilish’s best rank since “Happier Than Ever” led for four weeks.

On the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, “What Was I Made For?” debuts at No. 34. It’s Eilish’s 14th title to hit the top 40, and the ninth to begin in the region.

“What Was I Made For?” also enters the all-genre Streaming Songs chart at No. 18.

The song, which is now being promoted to radio, is on the soundtrack to Barbie, which premiered in theaters July 21. Barbie: The Album also features music from Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice, Fifty Fifty, Karol G, Ava Max, Sam Smith and more.

27 Jul 2023

SZA’s ‘SOS’ Claims Most Weeks at No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart Since 1990

Sure, SZA’s album is the one called SOS, but it’s everyone else’s projects that need help.

The singer-songwriter’s titan returns to No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart (dated July 29) to capture a 21st week at the summit. With its latest chart-topping frame, SOS sails into further historic territory, breaking from a tie with Pop Smoke’s Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon as the chart’s longest-leading No. 1 of the 21st century thus far, and the album with the most weeks atop the list since 1990.

SOS rebounds from No. 2 through 43,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending July 20, according to Luminate, down 1% from the prior week. The set had weathered the arrival of several heavyweight albums – Lil Durk’s Almost Healed, the Metro Boomin-helmed Metro Boomin Presents: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse soundtrack, Gunna’s A Gift & a Curse, Young Thug’s Business Is Business and Lil Uzi Vert’s Pink Tape – in the seven weeks since it last ruled.

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As SOS collects a 21st leading frame, it breaks from a tie with Pop Smoke’s Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon for the most weeks at No. 1 for any album since M.C. Hammer locked up 29 weeks at the top with Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em in 1990. In addition to passing Pop Smoke’s posthumous LP and its 20-week run at No. 1, SOS also climbs above two other 20-week champs – Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life and Rick James’ Street Songs – for sole possession of fifth place on the overall leaderboard.

Here’s a look at the albums with the most weeks at No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums since the list began in 1965:

Weeks at No. 1, Album, Artist, Date First Reached No. 1

  • 37, Thriller, Michael Jackson, Jan. 29, 1983
  • 29, Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em, M.C. Hammer, April 28, 1990
  • 26, Just Like the First Time, Freddie Jackson, Dec. 6, 1986
  • 23, Can’t Slow Down, Lionel Richie, Nov. 26, 1983
  • 21, SOS, SZA, Dec. 24, 2022
  • 20, Songs in the Key of Life, Stevie Wonder, Oct. 16, 1976
  • 20, Street Songs, Rick James, June 6, 1981
  • 20, Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon, Pop Smoke, July 18, 2020
  • 19, Purple Rain, Prince and The Revolution, July 28, 1984

Plus, SOS extends its record for the longest-running No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums by a female artist, adding another frame between it and the second-place title, Aretha Franklin’s Aretha Now, which ruled for 17 weeks in 1968.

SOS traces its historic feats both to feverish anticipation in the project’s lead-up and executing a consistent string of hits before and after its arrival. The album, released in December 2022, came five years after SZA’s Ctrl, which arrived in June 2017 to critical acclaim and industry praise, including five Grammy nominations, and commercial success, having remained on the all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart every week since its release.

Three pre-release singles also found strong reception on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, “Good Days” (No. 3), “I Hate U” (No. 1) and “Shirt” (No. 4), with the foremost pair also reaching the top 10 of the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. Upon the album’s arrival, instant fan-favorite “Kill Bill” exploded into the biggest hit of SZA’s career, topping both the Hot 100 and setting a new record – 21 weeks – at No. 1 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Seven months after its release, the album is still spinning off hits: Current single “Snooze” hits No. 3 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs this week and is just outside the Hot 100’s top tier, sitting at No. 12.

27 Jul 2023

Sinead O’Connor Was Completing New Album, Plotting World Tour at Time of Death

Two weeks before hear death,  Sinead O’Connor revealed to fans that she was working on her 11th studio album and contemplating a world tour in support of the untitled work. In her last public post on Facebook, on July 11 O’Connor informed fans that she had recently moved back to London after 23 years and was “very happy to be home.” She also wrote that she finishing an album slated for release next year and plotting a world tour, including stops in the U.S., Europe, New Zealand and Australia. 

O’Connor died on Wednesday morning (July 26) at age 56. In a statement from the London Metropolitan Police — which did not refer to O’Connor by name, as is official policy, but which was confirmed by British press reports to be in reference to the singer — officials said a woman [O’Connor] was found unresponsive at her South London home on Wednesday morning and pronounced dead at the scene. The Police noted that the deceased’s next of kin had been notified of her death and that it is not being treated as suspicious; a coroner’s inquest is to follow.

In a note on Thursday morning (July 27), O’Connor’s management sent their condolences to O’Connor’s family and thanks to their peers for the support over the years. “To our business partners in the industry who have been nothing less than devoted to Sinead and again have shown nothing but love and compassion for her throughout our tenure, that cannot be overstated. Sincere and heartfelt thanks. You know who you are,” they wrote.

“To the wonderful musicians, artists and supporting teams who have been nothing short of incredible in the time that we knew Sinead. Incredible as musicians and incredible as true friends to Sinead. Those that worked with her and those that supported her from the sidelines, thank you,” they added.

67 Management also confirmed that “Sinead was completing her new album, reviewing new tour dates for 2024 and considering opportunities in relation to a movie of her book” at the time of her death. O’Connor released her cathartic memoir, Rememberings, in 2021. “Wonderful plans were afoot at this time. Testament and tribute to those who have put their hearts first for Sinead, to whom we are forever grateful,” managers Kenneth and Carl Papenfus wrote.

“It has been an honour to have worked with Sinead professionally, as musicians, producers and her artist managers over the last nine years, but much, much more than that Sinead was family. May she rest in peace.”

While no additional information is available on the album O’Connor was working on at the time of her death and her management did not respond to requests for additional details on the project, her most recent full-length release was 2014’s I’m Not Bossy, I’m the Boss. At the time of its release, O’Connor explained the pugnacious title in a now-unavailable post on her official website: “Originally I had a different title, The Vishnu Room, but a few months back when I saw the phrase ‘I’m not bossy, I’m the boss’ and became aware of the Ban Bossy campaign, I wished I could re-name the album, since indeed it can be tricky being a female boss and I think Sheryl [Sandberg]’s campaign is a terribly important one.”

O’Connor said she became aware of the “Ban Bossy” campaign at the time and decided to re-appropriate it, as was her rebellious wont, before finding out that it was too late because the album art for her 10th studio collection had already been printed. “But last week, when the record company received the promo shots, which included the cover shot you now see, they asked could they change the planned cover to the current one, and that allowed me the opportunity of changing the title. Very happy girl,” she said.

Sandberg’s Ban Bossy campaign advocated for the elimination of the word ‘bossy’ to describe leadership qualities in women; Beyoncé was one of the high-profile supporters of the viral movement.

O’Connor had been mostly out of the public eye and had not released significant music in the years since Bossy. She released a cover of gospel great Mahalia Jackson’s “Trouble of the World” in Oct. 2020 to benefit Black Lives Matter. At the time, she told Rolling Stone that she was finishing work on a new album called No Veteran Dies Alone that she planned to release in 2022, and which was to include the Jackson cover.

“I’m writing more about personal matters, being a mother,” she said at the time. “The record is like letters to my children. The songs are very subconscious. I don’t know what the tone of the whole record will be, but that’s what it is so far.” O’Connor is survived by three children; her 17-year-old son, Shane, died by suicide in January 2022.

27 Jul 2023

Tori Kelly Speaks Out for the First Time Since Reported Hospitalization: ‘It’s Been a Scary Few Days’

For the first time since her reported hospitalization, Tori Kelly has spoken out. In a Thursday morning (July 27) Instagram post, the singer-songwriter gave fans an update on her health and plans for her upcoming EP, which was supposed to arrive this week.

“Hi friends…,” she began a handwritten note, which she took a photo of for Instagram. “As you may have heard, I’m dealing with some unexpected health challenges. It’s been a scary few days but I can feel your prayers & can’t stop thinking about you.”

“I’m feeling stronger now & hopeful but unfortunately there are still some things to uncover,” she continued. “I’m so grateful for the amazing doctors & nurses who have been looking after me.”

The American Idol alum was reportedly rushed to the hospital four days prior, after passing out Sunday while at dinner in Los Angeles. According to TMZ, ICU doctors found blood clots in her lungs and legs, and were trying to see if there were more clots surrounding her heart.

Kelly’s husband, basketball player André Murillo, gave a short update on his own Instagram page on Wednesday, sharing that “Tori is smiling again and feeling stronger.” “Not fully out of the woods but we see the sun,” he added at the time. “Just waiting on a few more answers.”

But while the singer is recuperating, she confirmed in her message that Tori, her EP slated for Friday (July 28), will still be arriving on schedule. “Of course I’m heartbroken about all of the things I had planned for this week of releasing my EP, but I know my health must come first,” she shared. “Until I see you again, I still want you to enjoy a project that represents the happy place I’ve been in the last few years.”

“I won’t let this hurdle prevent the music from being yours on Friday!” she added. “I love you all so much & I am truly overwhelmed by all of the love and care I have received. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Love, Tori.”

See her post below:

27 Jul 2023

Anti-Flag Singer Justin Sane Issues Statement About Band Split, Calls Sexual Assault Allegations ‘Categorically False’

A week after political punk band Anti-Flag disbanded with no explanation, the group’s singer, Justin Sane (born Justin Geever), posted a lengthy message to Instagram explaining the reasoning behind their split. Geever acknowledged in the note that he has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman, an allegation he vehemently denies.

“Recently, there have been claims of sexual assault made against me and I can tell you that these stories are categorically false,” he wrote of the anonymous allegations that Billboard has not independently verified. “I have never engaged in a sexual relationship that was not consensual, nor have I ever been approached by a woman after a sexual encounter and been told I had in any way acted without her consent or violated her in any way.”

After taking several days to “absorb the initial shock,” Geever said he decided to confront the claims; the other members of Anti-Flag posted their own statement on Geever’s Instagram as well, less than a week after the band deleted their official website and all their social media accounts with no explanation.

“Sexual assault is real and has a devasting impact on victims,” Geever continued. “I have devoted my entire adult life to standing up for these victims as well as those suffering oppression and inequality, who are victimized, demeaned, and abused. I have always been, and will always be, that person. The statements being told about me are the antithesis of what I believe and how I have conducted myself throughout my life.”

As for the band’s surprise split, Geever said they decided that under the circumstances “it would be impossible to continue,” thanking his friends, family and the fans, musicians and other bands who’ve reached out to him with support.

According to Pitchfork, some publications linked the band’s breakup last week to a podcast in which a woman alleged she was sexually assaulted by the singer of a political punk band; reportedly, neither Geever nor Anti-Flag were directly mentioned.

The second statement, attributed to members drummer Pat Thetic, guitarist Chris Head and bassist Chris “No. 2” Barker, noted that throughout the Pittsburgh-bred band’s 30-plus year career, “A core tenet of the band Anti-Flag is to listen to and believe all survivors of sexual violence and abuse. The recent allegations about Justin are in direct contradiction to that tenet. Therefore, we felt the only immediate option was to disband.”

The trio said that they have been “shocked, confused, saddened and absolutely heartbroken” from the moment the allegations emerged. “While we believe this is extremely serious, in the last 30 years we have never seen Justin be violent or aggressive toward women. This experience has shaken us to our core,” they wrote.

“We understand and apologize that this response may not have been quick enough for some people. This is new territory for all of us and it is taking time for us to process the situation,” they said. “It was a privilege for us to be in the band Anti-Flag, as we seek to find our path forward we wish healing to all survivors.”

Anti-Flag was set to kick off a now-canceled North American tour alongside The Bouncing Souls later this year; the band was in the midst of a European tour when the news of their disbandment broke.

Read Geever and the band’s statements below.

Stories about sexual assault allegations can be traumatizing for survivors of sexual assault. If you or anyone you know needs support, you can reach out to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). The organization provides free, confidential support to sexual assault victims. Call RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE) or visit the anti-sexual violence organization’s website for more information.