The New Pornographers‘ A.C. Newman has spoken out about discovering ex-drummer Joseph Seiders’ youngster porn arrest, evaluating it to a “horror film”.
Seiders, who joined the Canadian indie band in 2014, was charged with possession of kid pornography, annoying/molesting a baby, invasion of privateness, and tried invasion of privateness in April.
In a press release on the time, the group wrote: “Everybody within the band is completely shocked, horrified and devastated by the information of the fees in opposition to Joe Seiders – and we now have instantly severed all ties with him. Our hearts exit to everybody who has been impacted by his actions.”
Seiders pleaded responsible in June and was sentenced to a few years in state jail in September.
Now, singer/guitarist A.C. Newman – who based The New Pornographers in 1997 – has spoken to Rolling Stone concerning the ordeal, the fallout and plans to proceed with out Seiders.
Newman (aka Carl Newman) informed the outlet that he had discovered about his former bandmate’s April 9 arrest “most likely the subsequent day”, when he obtained a textual content message from Seiders’ brother.
“He texted me and our supervisor, and stated there’s some dangerous stuff coming down, some dangerous fees,” Newman remembered. “[He sent] a hyperlink to the fees and it was sort of imprecise. It was fees that had [criminal code] numbers. My spouse, who’s simply that sort of particular person, instantly went, ‘I’m gonna undergo all these and work out what they’re’.
“Then it began getting weird. Like, ‘What the hell is happening right here?’ And it saved getting worse.”
He went on to explain this time as “darkish, bizarre and complicated”, including: “And it was terrifying, as a result of there’s three of us [in the band] which have youngsters. All of us felt afraid. We had been all like, ‘When was our youngster with him?’ Everyone’s going by means of their heads, ‘Had been our children ever alone with him?’ Which was terrifying, like a horror film the place you possibly can’t see the monster.”
Newman defined that he and his bandmates “didn’t know what was happening”, however started to “piece issues collectively” within the coming days: “[We said,] ‘Effectively, that is gonna explode’. And we had been simply ready.
“After I obtained phrase that it was public, I don’t even bear in mind… There wasn’t even a sinking feeling in my abdomen. It was only a feeling of like, ‘Effectively, right here it’s. Don’t go on the web for per week’.”
Newman recalled “calling all people” after first studying of Seiders’ arrest, saying that the scenario was “weird”. He stated: “Making an attempt to prep any person for this, saying, ‘First off, no one’s died, however you’re going to be so shocked. What you’re imagining in your mind proper now isn’t as dangerous as actuality’.”
The vocalist and guitarist then elaborated on the “subsequent bizarre step” of the information changing into public: “His now ex-wife, I’m speaking to her and she or he’s saying, ‘Are you able to get information out to those who we’re going together with the police, that we had been blindsided by this, that we now have nothing to do with this?’
“You realise, hastily, there’s these youngsters and this mom who have to be shielded from the world. As a result of the world is coming after them. After which the guilt we felt as a band, as a result of the band’s identify turned it from a personal matter to a public matter. After which the realisation that, ‘Oh, that is leisure’.”
He shared: “What he did, and the truth that we’re referred to as The New Pornographers, it was – for lack of a greater phrase – simply too cute. It made it information that was going to go in all places.”
Newman defined that he was extra involved for Seiders’ ex-wife and two youngsters than the band, saying: “[It’s] not our tragedy… We simply obtained hit by some shrapnel. You simply attempt to have some perspective about it.
“Folks had been, like, doxxing [Seiders’ ex-wife and children] and searching them up on-line. There wasn’t a lot optimistic about it.”
The singer was requested whether or not he had seen any “crimson flags” from Seiders. He responded: “Hindsight is all the time 20/20, however he saved up an act that was very convincing. He had been along with his now ex-wife since highschool, they’d two youngsters.
“When he joined the band, I favored that he was such a traditional man. I simply needed a traditional one who was good at their job and was not going to trigger lots of shit. And naturally that backfired horribly.”
Newman confirmed that the band’s subsequent album – the follow-up to 2023’s ‘Proceed As A Visitor’ will likely be introduced early subsequent yr. New drummer Charley Drayton (The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan) has recorded new elements to interchange Seiders’ contributions to the forthcoming LP, which had already been recorded.
“Charley’s simply among the best drummers on the planet, and I’m fortunate that I knew him,” he stated. “His longtime girlfriend and my spouse are actually good associates.”
Newman continued: “I believe a few days after all of it occurred [with Seiders’ arrest], he stated to my spouse, ‘Inform Carl to name me. I’ll do it’. And he’s such a giant deal that I believe I wanted that. I’d have felt bizarre cold-calling him and saying, ‘Hey, I do know you’ve performed with Dylan and the Stones and Neil Younger and everybody else, however would you decrease your self?’”
He defined that the “new drums modified the vibe a bit” on The New Pornographers’ upcoming album. However the vocalist confirmed that Drayton wouldn’t be becoming a member of the band full-time, and is unlikely to move out with them on their North American tour subsequent spring.
Tickets for the trek go on normal sale at 10am native time this Friday (November 21) – you’ll be capable of purchase yours right here. See the complete checklist of dates within the put up above.
Upon Seiders’ arrest, the Palm Desert Station Investigations Bureau served search warrants for Seiders’ residence, car and cell phone.
“Proof was positioned implicating him within the two reported incidents, together with extra crimes, together with possessing youngster pornography,” learn a press launch from the Sheriff’s Workplace.
