Alt-rock band Third Eye Blind broke out in 1997 with pop-style rock songs like “Semi-Charmed Life” and “How’s It Going To Be,” but the band did not play any of their number one hit songs when they headlined a charity concert for the Republican National Convention July 19.
The concert was hosted by the Recording Industry Association of America and held, by invite only, at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
The band used the opportunity to call the Republicans out on their anti-science and anti-LGBT platform which the party is promoting at their convection.
“Raise your hand if you believe in science?” frontman Stephen Jenkins yelled to the crowd; the crowd booed the band. “You can boo all you want, but I’m the motherfucking artist up here,” Jenkins reportedly retorted.
.@ThirdEyeBlind trolls #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/zXIKWdO5Hj
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) July 20, 2016
The band played only one of their hit songs in their 10-song set. the song “Jumper” is about a gay friend of the bands who committed suicide by jumping off a bridge.
Third Eye Blind tonite at #RNCinCLE event: We believe in tolerance, acceptance 🙌🙌 (Followed by boos) pic.twitter.com/WPRIEMZmEp
— Tina (@tinpant) July 20, 2016
“To love this song is to take into your heart the message and to actually, actually have a feeling to arrive and move forward and not live your life in fear and impose that fear onto other people,” Jenkins said to the crowd.
Twitter erupted, some praising the band for taking the fight to the convention and others upset that they didn’t get the concert they hoped for.
Third Eye Blind is 100 percent trolling Republicans. 30 minutes in, zero songs anybody has heard of
— Brent Scher (@BrentScher) July 20, 2016
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
@LWhiteGRLprob good
— Third Eye Blind (@ThirdEyeBlind) July 20, 2016
Third Eye Blind played the RNC. Performed none of their hits and insulted everyone there? If true I’m listening to them all day tomorrow lol
— Sarah (@lilsarahdarah) July 20, 2016
The concert benefited Musicians on Call, a nonprofit that brings music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities.
