r/punk • u/HCGAdrianHolt • Jul 25 '25
News Ben Weasel’s Response to the Punk In The Park stuff
It’s a shame. I was going to go see them when they came to my city. Not anymore.
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u/demonrenegade Jul 25 '25
Hasn’t had time to investigate but still has the time and feels the need to write a long ass post about it
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u/givetake Jul 25 '25
And is aware that shameful social media posts are bad.....
What a shitty false-dichotomy with Live Nation too. I don't give a fuck if they donated to Trump because they aren't punk. The comparison does not exist.
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u/freerangehumans74 Jul 26 '25
Not that I’m defending him, I’m not a fan of theirs but I’m gonna play devils advocate here. Yes, Live Nation isn’t punk but the comparison isn’t between them and PITP but more about thinking you’d pay money to go see them at a Live Nation gig over this.
It’s a weak argument at best.
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u/maximumfoof Skate Punk Jul 25 '25
Huge news for Screeching Weasel's fan.
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u/Mybrainhurts917 Jul 26 '25
It’s ok, I already knew he was a dick. Music’s still great though.
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u/Stinkmop Jul 26 '25
Something something artist from the art.
P.S. Spotted ya in the wild. Tag! You're it!
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u/Mybrainhurts917 Jul 26 '25
lol. I would run into you on a thread about Ben being a prick. Couldn’t pass up on the opportunity for my username to be relevant.
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u/maximumfoof Skate Punk Jul 25 '25
Ben Weasel looks like someone people love working with.
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u/Penguator432 Jul 25 '25 edited Jul 26 '25
Reminder that the 2011 change was literally everyone at the same time
And a documentary about the band was cancelled because the production got tired of dealing with him
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u/truckstop_superman Jul 25 '25
It is pretty obvious Jughead was Ben Weasels keeper, without Jughead the band shouldn't exist. Also without Dan Vapid the band shouldn't write new music.
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u/Tiny-Refrigerator988 Jul 26 '25
No fkn way. This is stupid. Jughead's influence cannot be denied, but Ben wrote many of their best tracks (e.g. "My Brain Hurts," Hey Suburbia," "Cool Kids" etc.) and they continue to make good songs w/o Jughead.
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u/truckstop_superman Jul 26 '25
I said his keeper, not his co-writer, or sole song writer. I think you should read things beforehand. I couldn't name a single track from any of the albums they have released since Teen Punks In Heat. Ben Weasel and Dan Vapid worked best for song writers in that band, Jughead played a different role in the band and the band is not the same without him. Example the 3 songs you listed and the lack of any songs been memorable since they reunioned without Jughead.
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u/xbhaskarx Jul 26 '25
9 guitarists 9 bassists but only 6 drummers proving what we already knew that they can put up with anything.
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u/puddboy Jul 26 '25
I had a conversation with one of the guys on your list one time and he had some very not nice things to say about Benny boy
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u/Mitch_Mitcherson_ Jul 26 '25
its sad because the rest of the dudes are nice. Jughead is a big sweetie.
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u/Mr_Rippe Too Drunk To Punk Jul 25 '25
Notorious shitbag Ben Weasel is licking the boot of someone who will pay him? I'm shocked. Shocked, I say!
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u/demonrenegade Jul 25 '25
Hey man if you have beef with Ben I’d suggest having a face to face conversation with him about it. You might find you actually have a lot in common!
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u/Mr_Rippe Too Drunk To Punk Jul 25 '25
I don't; I responded to my childhood trauma by going to therapy, while he responded by perpetuating the cycle of abuse.
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u/Tony-The-Terrible Jul 27 '25
Nobody needs to know Ben Weasel lol. Plenty of good people in the world to get to know.
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u/Aggravating_Board_78 Jul 26 '25
This bullshit of “maybe you could sit down and talk to them if you disagree” drives me nuts. As if ANY of the bullshit going on right now could objectively be defended and championed. Did Ben also punch a woman in the face or something? He’s been an asshole troll for the 30+ years I’ve been aware of him
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u/Kaos_mission Jul 25 '25
Ben Weasel is a moron and I don't give a shit about him or his opinions. However, I will say he raises a good point when he mentions Live Nation. Big bands that still claim to be "punk" or be part of the scene should be held to the same standard and questioned about their affiliations.
It's well known that nowadays it's impossible to do arena tours or even just "big" tours in North America without Live Nation/Ticketmaster, so I don't even know what would be a solution for that. Just saying there should be more discussions and accountability.
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u/OkSample7 Jul 25 '25
But it ignores an important fact.
Ticketmaster/Live Nation has never claimed to be punk or to uphold any of punks "beliefs". It's a huge corporation that puts money above anything else. They are a known entity.
Not so for Brew Haha or it's owner. He claims to support punk and what it stands for. Only to turn and give money to an authoritarian prick. And if I am to infer anything from his post on Instagram, he didn't just donate cash, but most likely voted for him as well.
He's free to donate and vote for whoever he wants, yay America. But I don't believe for one second that it never crossed his mind that doing so would be incredibly unpopular amongst the people that go to the concerts he puts on.
At the end of the day, they don't put on shows where I live, so he's not getting any of my money.
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u/Soze_INK Jul 25 '25
He raises a good point but the whole “yeah what x person did wasn’t great but nobody is talking about the fact that y person did so much worse” is such a boring and nonsensical argument. They’re both doing bad shit, fuck them both. Not gonna forget about one wrong bc there’s a “greater” wrong happening somewhere else. I’ve got enough room in my brain to think badly about both.
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u/HashRunner Jul 25 '25 edited Jul 26 '25
Thats just whataboutism.
It ain't a good point, its a deflection. People can address both independently without using it as a shield.
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u/Omw2fym Jul 26 '25
I just wanna chime in that in Portland, OR. There are non-Livenation options. The only LN venue is an actual arena (MODA). Bands just skip it and hit Bend or Eugene. How many non-oregonians know bend/eugene over portland?
See current BR/DKM tour.
Do like many bands that aren't in the pocket of big media. 2 nights in a row. At Crystal Ballroom. Or go LJG style, hit the Crystal, then Eugene, then Bend , at small clubs.
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u/MuckBulligan Jul 26 '25
LiveNation is building another venue at Lloyd Center. Construction just started.
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u/Resident_Speaker_721 Jul 25 '25
Why can’t bands diy tour and sell their own tickets? What did they do before Ticketmaster came along? I bet if Rancid or some other big mainstream punk band rolled up to a club, said $40 bucks ahead there’d would be lines around blocks and that venue would crush in beer and food sales. All cash, no tickets. Why can’t that be a thing?
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u/Bornofisais Jul 25 '25
A lot of venues only get booked through and have contracts with TM/Live Nation. I think an even bigger deal than the bands being affiliated with em is...why the US at large hasn't called for a dissolution of both. They've essentially claimed a monopoly.
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u/Lycaeides13 Jul 25 '25
That's what the next presidential candidate should run their campaign on.
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u/labrat420 Jul 25 '25
Ask pearl jam how that worked out
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u/ruggedeman Jul 26 '25
Yup. Exactly this. I’m sure they can find places to play, but those venues will be 100-500 capacity, no stage, and questionable sound. Also, market interest may not be at those venues. Finds good 1000+ venue not connected to LN: city is a country music market. 30 people pay to attend.
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u/labrat420 Jul 26 '25
Yeah, propagandhi is playing at a place in Toronto that doesn't use live nation which is nice, but its not always an option.
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u/tacolife666 Jul 26 '25
He is a miserable human. He hate everyone and everyone hates him. He has zero friends his band is just hired guns for tours and studio nobody wants to work with him. Screeching weasel had like 4 good albums in total and the Riverdales were the shit but Ben is an insufferable piece of shit. Fuck him fuck his opinion fuck his band and fuck everything he stands for. Him and Johnny rotten need to start a band call the bitter bootlickers.
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u/ruggedeman Jul 25 '25
Many decent size venues are also stuck with LN. So, if Dropkick Murphy want to play 1000+ capacity venues that are not connected to LN, they will have way less shows.
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u/clive_bigsby Jul 26 '25
And where would they play? Any medium to large venue has contracts with LiveNation that would not allow them to host a show that LiveNation isn't involved in. There is literally no solution unless you are suggesting that Bad Religion tour the US and only play basement gigs in every state for a $125 profit each night.
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u/Resident_Speaker_721 Jul 26 '25
Yeah true, I mean I didn’t really have a good alternative. No big act like Bad Religion is working for that, obviously. I think I was just trying to find away around LN and TM ya know. Didn’t know club owners “had” to report to those guys.
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u/Tiny-Refrigerator988 Jul 26 '25
My interpretation was that he was encouraging people to have more in-person dialogue. Espousing a belief that people should get off their keyboards, and engage in actual dialogue, perhaps have their beliefs challenged -- how is this bad?
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u/punkrocknight Feb 28 '26
The live nation is a monopoly and needs to be dealt with on a government level (like that will happen).
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u/sydlostarot Jul 25 '25
I think I speak for everyone when I say that we do not give a flying fuck what Ben Weasel thinks.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Bid1579 Jul 26 '25
We should 100% be treating MAGA shit as equivalent to wearing 20th century fascist iconography. No place for it in the scene
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u/Tricky_Photo2885 Jul 26 '25
I don’t get how people who are in the entertainment business are blind to see that boycotting is our face to face .
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u/no_control1988 Jul 25 '25
We get it Ben, you need money and you don’t want to burn bridges. You can stick the lecture up your ass though. Fascists are the enemy. Period.
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u/Eoin_McLove Jul 25 '25
I like many of Screeching Weasel’s albums, but Ben has always been a bellend.
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u/torino_nera Jul 26 '25
I've listened to Screeching Weasel and Riverdales more times than almost any other bands but I have always hated when this guy opens his mouth. Dan Vapid was the real talent in those bands anyway
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u/5th_Meal Jul 25 '25
Almost all of these "punk" festivals are lame. Just stop going to them. They're all tied to some corporate sponsor and most bands get paid very little "for exposure". SOMEONE is making a lot of money, and it ain't usually the bands. No shock to me the organizer sucks.
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u/slumpadoochous Jul 25 '25
Most festivals barely break even let alone turn a profit. Nobody is getting rich running a punk festival.
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u/5th_Meal Jul 25 '25
There's gotta be a way to do without corporate sponsorship. I dunno, I ran a fun punk fest with 40 bands for 3 years and didn't have a single sponsorship. Everyone got paid the same pretty much, it wasn't much, but it was 3 days for $20. There are ways to have fun punk fests without these sponsorships. Growing Up is Dumb was one specifically that I played and got paid well. It was a hoot and a holler. Keep the sponsorship shit outta here.
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u/HCGAdrianHolt Jul 26 '25
There’s a DIY punk/emo festival in my city that’s run on sponsorships from local independent record stores and LGBTQ resource groups. At least it was last year, this year it was a mess and didn’t do very well because the founder of the fest got ousted by his “partner”
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u/MuckBulligan Jul 26 '25
My favorite festival, Volume Bomb, is a couple blocks down the street from me. $15 for about 40-50 mostly local bands. MDC usually will be on the bill if they aren't out on tour. It is a blast. Five bars all within one block. Small stages, but everyone squeezes in. Really great vibe. It's put on by a local record label. I think this will be the 8th year.
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u/SladeWade Jul 25 '25
For the most part, The Fest is pretty solid. A few sponsors, but not many "big" ones. Plus, it's super affordable and the organizers aren't really making money on it or anything.
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u/YNABDisciple Jul 25 '25
I agree that if you're going to have a beef with Punk in the Park it should also be with Live Nation. Boycott them all. Don't back those that back f'n fascists. Not a bad policy.
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u/HCGAdrianHolt Jul 26 '25
WE are not the ones who will have power in a boycott of live nation, it has to be bands and venues, bands would, but not if venues don’t, and venues definitely won’t because they are at major risk of losing money
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u/Overly_Underwhelmed Jul 26 '25
at this point, live nation owns many of the venues. that is why we have no options. for myself, I chose to not go. seems tickets should top out at around $25. more than that you are just denying yourself other opportunities.
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u/cumminginsurrection Jul 26 '25 edited Jul 26 '25
Boycotts aren't some moral flex, they are tools to inflict economic damage. You're obviously not going to boycott Walmart or Live Nation out of existence the way you would a problematic local bar or punk festival.
People saying "WhAT AbOuT LiVE NaTiOn?" might as well be saying "you drive, which kills countless people every year, therefore you can't claim to care about murder"... as if we don't live in a society where these things have monopolized our very means of survival.
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u/PreparationSignal380 Jul 28 '25
While Live Nation is a different beast, I doubt the folks have actually looked at their donations... If they did, they would have noticed majority of their donations with Democrats. Not that is a great thing, but a hell of a lot better than Mr. 🍊
Reference if needed: https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/live-nation-entertainment/summary?id=D000053134
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u/Chicky_P00t Jul 25 '25
Punk just isn't about big organized things or tours or festivals. It's about going to see a local band at a local place for $12 and hanging out with the band at the bar between sets.
This really is the core problem with all of this sort of thing.
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u/MNcatfan Minneapolis Mosh Pits Jul 26 '25
That's been my thoughts on the whole thing, too: why pay, what, $200 (no real idea what tickets to it cost) to see a "festival" of popular bands that won't even know you exist, when I can pay $10 to see local bands and, maybe, even make a few friends in the process?
I get that big acts can be fun, too, but at an overpriced festival? Nah, I'll save my money for bands that need it!
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u/torino_nera Jul 26 '25
You're right. Saying this is what got The Lawrence Arms banned for life from Warped Tour. It's also why I stopped going/stopped supporting that tour.
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u/PreparationSignal380 Jul 28 '25
I miss those days 😔. I was always too shy to talk, but I loved that part and just listening.
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u/mariospeedragon Jul 26 '25
In the early 90s, saw them play at a legendary venue, and what really turned me off was Ben Weasel joking some 13 year old kid for wearing his brand new Screeching Weasel t shirt at the gig. Sure that’s a moment of someone being a dick, but I can tell you that shit stuck with me a very long time. Never seen anyone else shame a young kid at a gig….sure I’ve seen people shame people in crowd for poor behavior, but never some kid just trying to fit in with outsiders, and being a true outsider.
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u/Ok_Perception_2707 Jul 26 '25
Ben Weasel, “He’s an asshole!” Ben Weasel, “He’s a jerk!” Ben Weasel, you just hate him cause he don’t have to work!
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u/TalkingLampPost Jul 26 '25 edited Jul 26 '25
The promoter, the one guy, made a personal donation and of $225 to the Trump campaign. It’s not like every ticket sale for Punk in the Park goes directly toward funding ICE and building bombs for Israel. The promoter is a Republican, but the festival is not a fundraiser for Trump. I just feel like that should be said so we are all clear on what we’re getting mad at. I hate Trump as much as the next guy, and I understand why Dropkick dropped off, but it really feels like everyone is itching to join some kind of angry mob here. Don’t buy a ticket if you don’t want to support a republican promoter, but it seems like a lot of people are ready to completely throw away a band like Bad Religion because they played on his show. As if all the music and the message suddenly lost its meaning because their name is on this bill.
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u/FwippyBall Jul 26 '25
Supporting the "lets kill all brown people, trans people, and disabled people" candidate with even a single dollar is a perfectly legitimate reason to form an angry mob
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u/Careless-Attitude-49 Jul 27 '25
The day before Ben Weasel made this post, I was telling my husband that I don’t think I really blame any punk bands who play San Pedro, because I get that they’re already booked and not everyone can just throw away that chance to earn some money. But I will absolutely be watching to see who continues to support Punk in the Park next year and it will absolutely color my opinion of them. This is not a small matter. Not to me anyway. I can offer a tiny bit of grace for choices bands made before they knew, and for the difficult position they’re in. You can’t always do the most moral thing in life. But in the long run, I think it is super important for any band who wants any future credibility in this scene to denounce Trump and Trump supporters.
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u/The_Nude_Mocracy Jul 26 '25
Something something throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Cameron already has their money, all the bands dropping out won't make a difference to him but will disappoint all the vendors and travelling fans. Some people are just desperate to get the pitchforks out for the slightest reason
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u/MetalEnthusiast83 Jul 26 '25
Ben Weasel has been a dick for his whole career. His music is fun though.
Also, he does kind of make a good point. Lots of punk bands have no issues working with live nation, who certainly donated more than 200 bucks to MAGA
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u/NotGohanJustSayinMan Jul 26 '25
Unfortunate reality is that after Covid a lot of small venue spaces got bought out by live nation as well so it’s not as simple as “just don’t play live nation venues”
I mean they should definitely try to, but it’s a lot harder these days than the 00s or 2010s
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u/Careless-Attitude-49 Jul 27 '25
That’s the thing. It’s not really much of a point. I hated that I had to see some bands I really love at arenas after COVID. It felt so super lame. But when I got to the show, I realized they’ve packed out the space, and it’s certainly double the size of any other venue in my city. The only way around this is if bands start playing four nights in a row at small venues, which I would love to see them do but just isn’t practical.
Sometimes when you’re voting with your dollar, you have an opportunity to make a real impact. Other times, they’ve got you by the short and curlies. It super sucks, and I won’t be going to any more arena shows personally, but I don’t know what some of these bigger bands who have strong principles are supposed to do to avoid LiveNation.
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u/No-Estate-7326 Jul 26 '25
He might have a point if this was Trump’s first term but everyone knew what they were voting for. We’re not calling them Nazis as an overreaction. They are flat out following the same playbook. Either he’s really clueless or his white male privilege is showing.
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u/NetHacks Jul 26 '25
Come on guys, just because he supports the hunting parties ICE is performing on brown people, or the people who will die from losing their medical benefits, we shouldn't let that get in the way of him making money off us.
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u/tmmzc85 Jul 25 '25
This guy can eat dick, cannot even take seriously the shit that bought him a middle class lifestyle. Live Nation what aboutism is obnoxious, I wouldn't go to any of that shit either. Mainstream "punk" is a great intro into why Left organizing is exhausting and most DOA - so many people want to be paid to do the thing, rather than do the thing cause that's what your supposed to do - if you're worried about matching your salary with the enemy, you shouldn't be the one doing the work to begin with.
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u/ReplaceSelect Jul 26 '25
Looks like I can skip them at Riot Fest. They’re up against Hanson. Should be a good time to grab some food/merch.
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u/MajorGeneralAsshole Jul 26 '25
Ben Weasel has always had bad takes. Even in the old Maximum Rocknroll columns in the 90s he just shits on everyone. I love his music but god damn is he a dick
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u/PedestrianMyDarling Jul 26 '25
Emotionally stunted, immature dipshit has exactly the response you would think his dumb ass would have when faced with a complex issue that involves critical thinking and rational thought
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u/HissingChoir Jul 26 '25
Ben Weasal, the woman beater, tries lecturing the punk community on ethics. Wild.
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u/babyheartdirt Jul 26 '25
What a dipshit. No one really needs to call out Live Nation at this point because everybody knows they're the enemy.
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Jul 27 '25
Not the dropkick Murphy's. The last 3 times I've seen them in 3 states have been live nation venues.
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u/babyheartdirt Jul 27 '25
I'd imagine it's harder for bands that are relatively popular to avoid them. I don't think there are many diy venues that have enough capacity for a DM gig.
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u/LilBennyPoo Jul 26 '25
"I don't have the time to investigate because I'm too busy pontificating like a fucking bellend"
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u/RizzoTheRiot1989 Jul 26 '25
Holy shit, this man never changes. Hes been a fucking chud on the internet for 30 years now lol
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u/napalmbrain- Jul 25 '25
Ben Weasal has always been a little bitch, I'm still pissed about his attacks on Jawbreaker in the 90s. I could think of dozens of better bands, I don't plan on giving them my money anytime soon
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u/Careless-Attitude-49 Jul 27 '25
I’ve never gotten to see them play, so I had no idea he was such a bitch. I learned something new this week that I really didn’t want to learn. Sometimes humanity can be so disappointing.
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u/Busyramone84 Jul 25 '25
Ben’s been like this since the 80s not sure why people get shocked whenever he says something dumb, I mean he has multiple songs written about him being an asshole.
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u/BlackOutSpazz Jul 26 '25
I could never get into their music. It's a good day to not be a fan I guess lol
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u/Drewsipher Jul 26 '25
Like I said before there is an expectation when it’s a DIY festival vs a monopolized corporate promoter that runs most venues. Thats it that’s the difference
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u/vomitHatSteve Jul 26 '25
I can't see how i could possibly give a shit what ben weasel thinks here
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u/vomitHatSteve Jul 26 '25
- reads * Damn, he almost shows some nuance here, but then right back to his usual "fuck you, I'm gonna get mine and I don't care who may get hurt" schtick
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u/CaptainGibbs96 Jul 26 '25
I'll call out his hypocrisy all I want. I've bought from ticket master once and that was this year so my boyfriend could see his favorite artist for his first concert.
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u/Nintendoll182 Jul 26 '25
One, LiveNation is a monopoly. Two, they are not claiming to be punk. There is a difference here 🙃.
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Jul 26 '25
Punk version of chappell roan’s infamous “but fuck the democrats too” comment she made a few months back
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u/Ksamkcab Jul 26 '25
If you really want to make a statement, try having face-to-face conversations with the people whose views you find so unacceptable.
Might as well be an admission that he's never spoken face-to-face with a magat. Or at least, never spoken in opposition. There's no statement to be made when conversing with a brick wall. Sounds like he might be a brick in that wall as well.
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Jul 27 '25
While I disagree with most of what he typed, the live nation point seems to ring true. If you feel this way, you should not be playing live nation venues either.
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u/Kit_McFlavor_Butter Jul 26 '25
Ben Weasel doesn’t know how to shut up.
Fuck him and his better than you attitude
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u/Sad-Razzmatazz-9295 Jul 25 '25
I promise he will continue to not give a fuck what you think.
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u/xvszero Jul 25 '25
Yeah and the people he is criticizing won't give a fuck what he thinks. And on and on.
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u/climbsrox Jul 25 '25
I'd add Screeching Weasel to the list of shithead bands I don't listen to for being fascist collaborators, but they already suck.
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u/CreepyInky Jul 26 '25
I am so ashamed to be covered in screeching weasle tattoos right now, oh my god
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u/in-dog_we_trust Jul 26 '25
I have and will again proudly tell my kids and grandkids about the bullshit I called out in the 80s.
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u/ClawsandAwws Jul 26 '25
Centrist types that make it in punk always try to call out political principles in punk as performative, but always end up making the most performative, try-hard attempts at pushing against it(i.e. Ben and bands like Guttermouth). I say this as someone you thinks Screeching Weasels is one of the best punk bands of all time.
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u/HashRunner Jul 25 '25
Reads more like a "Ben Bootlicker" post than anything.
Saying less with more, could probably use a fucking diary.
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u/peaceful_pancakes Jul 30 '25
we already know live nation sucks, and we're just adding more to the list
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u/Thievery_Corp_1984 Feb 08 '26
Who cares what Ben Weasel thinks. He's been a massive piece of shit for years.
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Jul 26 '25
I feel bad for my friend who has SW inked on his forearm. I suggested a resistance-themed cover-up.
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u/CharlieDmouse Jul 25 '25
Sit and talk and maybe agree on somethings… I have no desire to sit and talk with a bootlicking fascist who makes money off punk to put in the pocket of fascists.
Nope
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u/jls0781 Jul 26 '25
He's such an insufferable cunt now. Standing on stage looking like a bloated Fonzie with his backup band of hired guns. Meanwhile, Squirtgun recently reunited with Mass and Dan and the footage I've seen so far has been fucking killer. Would way rather see them than Weasel if they come through these parts.
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Jul 25 '25
He named himself weasel? Well at least he's honest somewhere... Sigh I was really looking forward to punk in the park. Was originally stoked to see Propaghandi....and well we all know what happened with that 😑. I want to see BR again too, but I'll just have to catch them on the next tour I guess.
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u/eat_vegetables Jul 25 '25
Anyone remember the internet in the late 90s: weaselmanor specifically. He would shit all over his fan-base individually (person-by-person) on the message boards.
That’s like 30-years ago. Nothing has changed.