Metal Anarchy

As previously reported, Shinedown recently dropped off a now cancelled date of the Rock The Country Festival after facing backlash for performing alongside MAGA-leaning artists like Kid Rock, Jason Aldean, etc. Ironically, their cancellation came after drummer Barry Kerch called rapper Ludacris a “coward” for backing out of the event. As such, frontman Brent Smith has further explained the decision, saying the band made the choice after seeing “infighting that [they] had never seen before.”

Smith told Rolling Stone the following:

“We saw infighting that we had never seen before, and for us, it was our job to diffuse it.”

He later continued:

“There were certain people that were not happy about [pulling back.] I will say that there was an overwhelming amount of people that agreed with the decision.… You’re entitled to your opinion 1,000 percent in this country, and that’s one of the beautiful things about it.”

Smith also claimed he is neither a Democrat or Republican. He then added:

“I just want to remind everybody, it says the ‘United States of America’ — And a lot of people right now don’t feel united.”

Smith also discussed his upbringing and how he was taught not to judge people on their gender, skin color, religion or sexual orientation:

“That is what makes you who you are, and we are all on this planet, and we occupy it together.”

He also proposed a hypothetical Democrat and Republican ticket in the name of unity:

“If you’re a Democrat, why can’t you have a Republican for your running mate?”