The New Pornographers’ AC Newman breaks silence on drummer’s child pornography arrest: “It was terrifying”
Earlier this year, Canadian rock band The New Pornographers cut ties with their drummer, Joe Seiders, after he was arrested on child pornography charges. Now, the band’s leader has broken his silence on the entire ordeal.
Seiders was arrested after an 11-year-old boy called the police and claimed he had been recorded by a man when using the bathroom at a restaurant.
After the arrest, the police searched Seider’s home, vehicle, and cell phone. Subsequently, they found evidence implicating him in the events at the restaurant. They also found evidence of other crimes, including the possession of child pornography.
In an initial response to the news, the band released a statement: “Everyone in the band is absolutely shocked, horrified, and devastated by the news of the charges against Joe Seiders – and we have immediately severed all ties with him.”
They added, “Our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted by his actions.”
Newly speaking to Rolling Stone, the bandleader Newman reflected on what it was like to learn the news. He admitted, “It was dark, weird, and confusing. And it was terrifying, because there’s three of us [in the band] that have kids.”
He continued honestly, “We all felt afraid. We were all like, “When was our child with him?” Everybody’s going through their heads, “Were our kids ever alone with him?””
Speaking of their decision to instantaneously cut ties with the drummer, Newman shared, “It didn’t feel like there was any doubt. It’s funny, I was talking to a band member recently and they were saying, “Well, it was no secret that you didn’t like him.” And then I said, “That’s so nice of you to say.”” He added that the band were together 15 years before the drummer joined, so it was an easy decision.
However, Newman admitted that “not our tragedy.” He added, “It sucks for us, but [Seiders] was married and had kids. For them, it’s this horrible nightmare. We just got hit by some shrapnel. You just try to have some perspective about it.”
Nonetheless, he was honest about being totally shocked by the horrific news. The singer said, “One thing I realized from this is, people like to think, ‘There must have been signs.’ And it’s like, no. And that was a horrifying part. It could be anyone.”
The horrible irony of their band name is not lost on the band leader, but he revealed that they will be keeping it for their future projects.
Though he thought immediately that they must change the name, a friend of the band, Zach Djanikian, “had the first violent reaction,” Newman shared, “which was, ‘No! You can’t change your name. You worked too hard for that name.’ And I thought, ‘Yeah, you’re right.'”
Despite the tragedy, Newman is insistent that the band is stronger than ever. “But what can I do?” He shrugged, “I’m still making music. We’re still making music. We’re still gonna go on the road. And we will see what happens.”
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