US rock outfit Third Eye Blind, best known for songs like Semi-Charmed Life and Jumper, have used their own performance to troll the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Cleveland, Ohio, to slam Republican policies and play very few hits during their set, while copping a whole lot of booing in the process.
Third Eye Blind were booked to play an invitation-only charity event at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame on Tuesday night US time, but with many Republicans in attendance, the band used the performance as a kind of protest against the Republican party’s stance on the rights of LGBT people.
Footage from the band’s set (below) sees frontman Stephan Jenkins slam the Republican platform, while also responding to boos with, “You can boo all you want, but I’m the motherfucking artist up here.”
Third Eye Blind tonite at #RNCinCLE event: We believe in tolerance, acceptance (Followed by boos) pic.twitter.com/WPRIEMZmEp
— Tina (@tinpant) July 20, 2016
.@ThirdEyeBlind trolls #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/zXIKWdO5Hj
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) July 20, 2016
Reporters at the scene of Third Eye Blind’s set say the band flatly rejected the Republican platform, despite agreeing to play the Republic-sponsored event. That said, the crowd still cheered when the band played Jumper, but the group left without playing Semi-Charmed Life. Jenkins also supposedly had an important question for those in attendance:
Epic @ThirdEyeBlind troll of RNC event. Played none of the hits, bashed GOP platform, asked "Who here believes in science?" So much booing.
— Peter Hamby (@PeterHamby) July 20, 2016
Since the band’s set, Third Eye Blind have taken to Twitter to drop some cheeky replies to some punters, including:
(Click to expand)
There has been largely positive reaction to Third Eye Blind’s trolling of the RNC…
https://twitter.com/iammattcote/status/755651883121934336
Third Eye Blind is on a different level. Literally the best band especially after tonight lol
— Johnny Darko (@JManBDTH) July 20, 2016
…but while most of the internet is lapping it up, some people have said it’s a bit rich for the band to agree to play an RNC event only to troll it and act all snarky online…
https://twitter.com/anangbhai/status/755654586925453312
Here's the charity event they fucked. I'm sure donations came rolling in https://t.co/uiDdtvJi3t @ThirdEyeBlind @PeterHamby
— PoIiMath (@politicalmath) July 20, 2016
…while others just aren’t happy about the band’s actions at all, especially this guy:
Also changing their lyrics to criticize the GOP as a whole
— James Hewitt (@JamesOHewitt) July 20, 2016
They didn't even play semi-charmed life
— James Hewitt (@JamesOHewitt) July 20, 2016
The event Third Eye Blind performed at was held to support the charity Musicians On Call, a nonprofit which brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities.
In July 2011, Third Eye Blind allegedly declined an offer to play a private party at the RNC, with Jenkins writing on The Huffington Post, “Though I am happy to play for Republican fans, like my life-long Republican mom, playing the RNC convention is a tacit endorsement of the Republican presidential candidate and his party platform, and this is not my mom’s Republican Party anymore.”
Catch more footage and photos (including the setlist) and tweets from Third Eye Blind’s set at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, below.
Setlist for @ThirdEyeBlind at RNC; Stephan condemned the GOP and yelled "raise your hand if you believe in science!" pic.twitter.com/C6DeHBRP5F
— Matt Negrin, HOST OF HARDBALL AT 7PM ON MSNBC (@MattNegrin) July 20, 2016
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIEmDQGDfXR/
Great question. We were not, as musicians on call were well aware of who we are and our take on things (like science and rights!)
— Third Eye Blind (@ThirdEyeBlind) July 20, 2016
