Back Off Jason Aldean For What He Did or Didn’t Do in Vegas
You know me. I’ve made an entire career out of exploiting any and every minuscule chink in mainstream country’s armor, and rearing back and reefing pop country’s worst offenders right square in the short pants for any perceived slight. And specifically, Jason Aldean has been a favorite target of Saving Country Music over the years.
But I’m sorry folks, the criticism of Aldean’s actions at the Route 91 Harvest Festival for what he did or did not do—including from many of his own fans—as a shower of bullets came raining down from a small army’s worth of automatic weapons positioned in the perfect vantage point to cause maximum damage, is pretty unfounded, and frankly, callous.
If you didn’t notice, 59 people lost there lives, and half a thousand were injured. The human toll here was incredible, and to have people second guess Aldean’s decisions as a barrage of bullets is whizzing by his head and fans of his are falling dead left and right, is the result of a complete loss of perspective. Let’s see how sharp your decision-making skills are with a homicidal maniac showering down bullets on your position. Maybe you think you’d be Captain America in that instance, but nobody was a bigger sitting duck than Jason Aldean as Mr. Real Estate Investor played Tony Montana out a 32nd floor window. Standing right at center stage with flood lights illuminating his position and being such a high value target, it’s incredible Aldean made it out alive.
Every life matters, and every person who perished Sunday evening is its own personal tragedy. That’s a brother, a sister, a mother, a daughter, a dad or a son, and nothing has been more sad then reading the personal stories of those who died. But let’s face it, if Jason Aldean gets shot down at center stage, or some of the other performers who were on the premises of the time of the shooting are also part of the casualty numbers, this story goes to an entirely new level. And after what has happened to folks like John Lennon, Dimebag Darrell, Christina Grimmie and others, any performer has to believe they’re not just in the line of fire, but they are the primary target when bullets start flying. For all we know, Jason Aldean was ordered off the stage and told to take cover, as he probably should have been. The only question is, why wasn’t everyone else?
Now don’t mistake this into thinking that perhaps Jason Aldean couldn’t have done more. Yes, he probably could have, and probably should have simply said “Y’all take cover!” as the bullets continued to fly before running off stage. He may have saved some lives, if for no other reason than some wouldn’t have continued to mistake the gunfire for fireworks, or some part of the presentation. Or it maybe a warning may have not made a difference at all. If you’ve ever been to one of these big outdoor shows, you know how the crowd is pinned up with little to nowhere to go even if they wanted to flee. That’s why this psychopathic killer chose it as a target.
But there is a huge difference between not doing or saying something, and being downright negligent when it comes to saving other people’s lives. Jason Aldean is there to entertain. The security staff and police are there to deal with public safety situations, including active shooters. Just because he wasn’t a hero doesn’t make him a villain. Other people could have made announcements over the speaker system to warn fans as well, or helped direct traffic. If anything, Aldean is uniquely unqualified to do so, and could have made things worse by inspiring a stampede. On a sound stage such as the one at the festival, your sound guys and monitor men and emcee’s usually have access to a wireless mic they can use for announcements or introductions and such as well. But they probably didn’t think of that either because they were running for their lives.
This was a killing on a massive, unprecedented scale. You had a killer who had meticulously thought out his approach, spraying the festival site with automatic gunfire. There will be second guessing and the re-evaluation of security protocols all over the place after this incident. And I don’t want to hear people saying “Jason Aldean ain’t country anyway” or “his music sucks, and they deserved it.” You fucking assholes, this is not the time or the place. Are you so dug into your social media persona that you can’t see the forest for the trees in this instance? People are dead. Many of them. An outdoor festival descended into a war zone in the heart of an American city.
But I for one am glad Jason Aldean didn’t die, along with everyone else who made it out of that nightmare alive. It just gives me more opportunities to hoot on him for his terrible tractor rap country. You know, at a time when that’s actually appropriate.
Anthony
October 3, 2017 @ 8:37 am
Thank you for this article Trig. Seeing the comments was blowing my mind. The guy has a baby on the way and he’s under scrutiny for taking cover from a fury of psychopathic warfare.
CAPT P
October 9, 2017 @ 2:45 pm
The shooter couldn’t even see the stage, not that Aldean was aware of that, but the fright that he reflected exceeded that of those that were actually being shot at. And those actually being shot at were, wonderfully, in so many cases risking their lives further to help others, and they weren’t all first responders either. And some of them died. And Aldean just ran off the stage. And his wife was afraid of losing her unborn child. Of course she was, but she didn’t really have to tell the press that given others who were shot were in real threat of losing their lives. A typical trophy wife picked up at a bar.
Steve
October 13, 2017 @ 4:43 am
Simply her should of stayed in Vegas instead of bolting for NYC
Bryan
March 21, 2021 @ 12:55 pm
I thought he was a “country boy” why did he bolt for NYC? Answer: he’s no country boy just an actor pretending to be a “country boy”
JC Eldredge
October 3, 2017 @ 8:39 am
He could have yelled it a million times, but they were at an outdoor venue, there really weren’t many places to take cover. Also he was probably one of the last to realize what was happening. Stage noise, ear pieces, and the lights surely made it more difficult to see and hear what was going on.
Clint
October 3, 2017 @ 8:44 am
This is so terrible. I dont even know what to say or do anymore. I have a feeling this was very difficult to write.
Liza
October 3, 2017 @ 8:45 am
Agree. Shouting instructions may have made it worse at that point, causing a stampede. No win.
Terry Fontana
October 3, 2017 @ 8:47 am
Tk heavens for the quick thinking stage hand to turn the stage lights out, not that it stopped the shooter but at least they weren’t that visible. 😥😪🙏🙏🇺🇸🇺🇸
Amanda
October 3, 2017 @ 8:50 am
My heart hurts for him. I can’t imagine what he witnessed on that horrible night. 😿
CountryCharm
October 3, 2017 @ 8:51 am
Every nut thinks they’ll be a hero in that type of situation. Shots were going off and people were standing around not knowing what was going on. I wouldn’t be surprised of they though Jason was the target and told him to run. People picking on him are idiots.
HawkbitAlpha
October 3, 2017 @ 5:56 pm
Honestly, the only person who deserves to be mocked in regards to this shooting is Dan Bilzerian. If you don’t know who that is…Google is your friend right about now.
Tom Smith
October 3, 2017 @ 8:55 am
Despicable doesn’t even begin to describe the type of person that would criticize Aldean for this. Sometimes I think our culture has lost it’s collective mind.
DJ
October 3, 2017 @ 9:03 am
You’re right.
RebelRunner
October 3, 2017 @ 3:20 pm
Well, it has.
Kevin Davis
October 3, 2017 @ 9:00 am
I must not be on social media enough, ’cause if it weren’t for SCM I wouldn’t even know that anyone had criticized Aldean. I haven’t seen anything of the sort in the media. I guess it’s a few hopeless losers with nothing better to do.
Trigger
October 3, 2017 @ 9:51 am
It’s was all over Facebook, including on Aldean’s own page. Folks flexing their internet muscles.
Kevin Davis
October 3, 2017 @ 10:42 am
Yes, but all I saw and still see is people saying that Aldean did the right thing. It seems like a handful of nutcases getting attention. I’m not saying that it’s wrong for you to draw attention to it and respond as you did in this post. I’m just trying, as I see it, to put it in proper perspective and proportion.
Trigger
October 3, 2017 @ 11:43 am
I don’t want folks to think I was trying to build a Straw Man here. Trust me, there’s folks all over the place saying Aldean was a coward, including on SCM’s social media properties. I don’t want to call anyone out specifically, but if you go to the SCM Facebook page, there’s folks complaining that Aldean’s not country, and probably deserved it because of his bad music. I also received this response from someone last night:
https://twitter.com/dirtintodust/status/915031254113964032
But really the main place you could see it (some has been deleted) is on Aldean’s own posts. A lot of this is from his own fans looking to show off their machismo.
Kevin Davis
October 3, 2017 @ 11:49 am
Wow, that is incredible. I am active on Facebook, but my friends are normal, mainstream country fans — so I didn’t see any of this. Those criticisms are sick in the head. Unbelievable. As others have noted, we all would have done what Aldean did, not knowing what was happening, not knowing if the stage was the target, etc.
Tezca
October 3, 2017 @ 12:25 pm
The person that posted that tweet that you linked is a %*^#~€£># moron *facepalms* at least for saying that kinda comment
Lynn
October 5, 2017 @ 4:52 pm
The CMT articles on Jason’s statement also have comments questioning his actions that night. Unbelievable.
steppy
October 12, 2017 @ 4:04 pm
My favorite Jason Aldean song is “Lights Come On.”
“When the lights come on, everybody’s screaming”
Steve
October 3, 2017 @ 9:02 am
This deserves no comment there ain’t but one man at fault that’s the one that done the shooting!
Bill
October 3, 2017 @ 9:09 am
“Over the last 24 hrs I have gone through lots of emotions. Scared, Anger, Heartache, Compassion and many others. I truly don’t understand why a person would want to take the life of another. Something has changed in this country and in this world lately that is scary to see. This world is becoming the kind of place I am afraid to raise my children in. At the end of the day we aren’t Democrats or Republicans, Whites or Blacks, Men or Women. We are all humans and we are all Americans and it’s time to start acting like it and stand together as ONE! That is the only way we will ever get this Country to be better than it has ever been, but we have a long way to go and we have to start now. My heart aches for the Victims and their families of this Senseless act. I am so sorry for the hurt and pain everyone is feeling right now and there are no words I can say to take that pain away. Just know u all are in my heart and my prayers as we all go through this together. Time to come together and stop the hate!” Now I have no way of knowing if Aldean wrote that or if it was his publicist but if I was a betting man I would say he wrote it. I imagine he and the others who were on that stage and in the crowd when the bullets started flying will be emotionally impacted for a long time from the trauma. Anyone who says they would have acted differently than Aldean that night is full of shit.
Jeffro
October 3, 2017 @ 9:16 am
Perfect words, Kyle.
Jim
October 3, 2017 @ 9:17 am
I didn’t even realize this was a thing. I’ve got no love for Jason Aldean or his music, but I don’t see how he has absolutely any responsibility for what happened there. The poor guy was just doing his job. And I’m sure this is going to haunt him the rest of his life regardless.
Rocking Magpie
October 3, 2017 @ 9:30 am
All I’m seeing is ‘sympathy’ from here in the UK; but you don’t surprise me that there are dolts out there suggesting the singer ‘could/should’ have ‘done more’.
I’m not a an actual fan; but am aware of his music so it’s not like I desperately feel the need to defend Aldean, but I can all only guess at what he was aware of as the bullets descended; doubting that he had a Superhero cape under his shirt ……..thanks for defending him in such a sympathetic manner. 10/10
Fat Freddy's Cat
October 3, 2017 @ 9:31 am
Taking cover was the only practical thing for Aldean and everybody else on stage to do. The shooter was 400 yards away.
Melissa
October 3, 2017 @ 9:40 am
Yeah, I’m sure the kind of losers who sit on their computers and criticize someone who was being shot at would REALLY be a hero in that situation. Pathetic.
A.K.A. City
October 3, 2017 @ 9:53 am
Thank you, Trigger.
hoptowntiger94
October 3, 2017 @ 9:58 am
The problem is the image he tries to portray himself as the Cabela’s hunting spokesman, a bad ass rapper in country songs, supporter of the NRA. Then he, like any other sane person, ran off the stage an onto his bus.
Did you see the picture of the civilian surrounded by bodies standing up giving the finger towards the Mandalay hotel? I thought it was a hoax at first, but it’s real. THAT guy needs to be the Cabela’s hunting rep. He needs to be the NRA’s spokesperson.
Rachel
October 3, 2017 @ 11:03 am
Why? For being an idiot? He did nothing to help save or protect anyone, based on that picture alone. I hate to be a white knight for Jason Aldean, but his pregnant wife was standing right off stage. He probably wanted to get to her as fast as possible.
Lisa
October 4, 2017 @ 5:52 am
If that man was so brave that he just stood in the wide-open flipping off a gunman he couldn’t even see, why didn’t HE help anyone? For all I can see, that was most likely an incredibly drunk person who wasn’t grasping the gravity of the situation in front of him. He doesn’t deserve to be condemned either, but he certainly doesn’t deserve “hero” status. For flipping the bird, that means he should be a Cabela’s rep? What?
Not to mention – just because someone enjoys hunting, and raps lame country songs, doesn’t mean that they should also enjoy being shot at. I’m not really understanding what your point is. So he goes hunting. He’s not a cop, hes not SWAT, he’s not any kind of first responder. He’s a regular person like you or I (albeit a very rich famous one) who just happened to be standing in front of all of these people with a guitar. He’s not trained to save lives in a mass shooting, nor should he be. That’s what we have law enforcement for. To insinuate that has any connection to whatever hunting endorsements he may have is just bizarre.
hoptowntiger94
October 4, 2017 @ 6:48 am
I’m trying to think (out loud) why a sector of his fan base would be upset about Aldean’s actions or inactions. And I think his branding, image and the messages in his songs lead his fans to believe he would have acted differently. And were limited to just running off the stage. Many were upset he didn’t open his bus for shelter, transport the injured or visit the injured in the hospitals.
My point about the guy flipping the bird – and yes we don’t know the whole story- is we shouldn’t be false worshiping idols, maybe the true heroes are our neighbors.
hoptowntiger94
October 4, 2017 @ 6:53 am
I used to always think that about 2003 Toby Keith – drop him in the desert during the Iraq conflict and he’d probably piss his way to the nearest embassy.
All these guys probably aren’t much different than Midland.
Marky mark
October 5, 2017 @ 5:06 am
The problem was the scumbag with the gun shooting people. The fact that you think Aldean did anything wrong in this situation is troubling. You should seek help.
Jack Williams
October 5, 2017 @ 7:07 am
Seems to me hoptowntiger doesn’t think Aldean did anything wrong with respect to the shooting. Just that he cultivates a silly macho image that some dummies expect him to live up to.
CraigR.
October 3, 2017 @ 10:21 am
I can’t tolerate Jason Aldean or his music. From his blackface bullshit to his shitty music, he has been an insult to country music from day one. But he isn’t at fault for anything that night. I agree he could have even have been a target- after all that festival was going on for three days, and the shooter picked his concert to start shooting. But I don’t see Garth, Willie or George not doing the same thing as Aldean. And I wouldn’t think less of them. Aldean’s problem is his music. Maybe if his music was better people would be more understanding.That’s sad. But bad music or not, he had every reason to run and save himself and his crew. I will always hate his music, but never his actions that night. I would have done the same thing without regret. And hope this won’t damage his career. His music should define him, not his instinct for survival.
Pam
October 3, 2017 @ 11:23 am
WOW…Just WOW. IF his music was better people would have a better understanding? I pray you are NEVER in such a situation such as this. How callous
CraigR.
October 4, 2017 @ 12:42 pm
Pam you misunderstood my statement. I believe that if he had been more renown for his music no would question his actions that night. Say if he had been Johnny Cash people might not question his actions. That may sound callous but people do think that way.
Tezca
October 3, 2017 @ 12:35 pm
How good ir bad his music is doesn’t have anything to do with this. People criticizing him are jerks that don’t want to admit or realize that anyone would’ve reacted the same way as he did. I sure as hell would’ve as I saw one poster here put it which is apt
Summer Jam
October 5, 2017 @ 5:00 pm
Aldean USED TO make actual country music. You must’ve never heard any of his older music!
Kross
October 3, 2017 @ 10:45 am
is this even a thing. I think Aldean has a couple good songs and some shitty tattoos, but beyond that I’m guessing he did exactly what anyone would have done in that situation.
Cindi
October 3, 2017 @ 11:20 am
He was following what his manager was telling him to do. He had no idea what was going on, just like everyone else. I keep wondering if he was the target! !
Clyde
October 3, 2017 @ 11:22 am
I can’t think of a single thing he could have done that would have made anything better. Especially if it’s suspected he could be the primary target. Best to just get the hell out of the way and away from the crowd.
Jackie
October 3, 2017 @ 11:30 am
My heart goes out to Jason Aldean. He’s a human being for God’s sake–he loves his family, his bandmates and his fans. No person on stage or in the audience will ever be able to erase the horrific images witnessed that night. To know and live with the fact that this occurred while he was performing must be an awful burden to bear. If I were him, I don’t think I could ever sing “When She Says Baby” again–it would only remind me of this heinous tragedy every time. I’m glad he ran off the stage and God Bless everyone alive and deceased. There are no right and wrong ways to act during a time like this.
BwareDWare94
October 3, 2017 @ 4:54 pm
As a tribute to the deceased and injured, I think he should open the next show with “When She Says Baby.” It might be incredibly healing for all involved to hear the song in its entirety.
Mark
October 4, 2017 @ 4:03 pm
I just listened to the song after reading your comment – and it was kind of weird.
I’m from Australia, and hardly watch news to start with, so the coverage I’ve seen would be minimal compared to what I imagine it is like in the US (that’s not to say it wasn’t a huge deal down here too..)
Anyway, my point is that I’ve really only seen a few of the videos from twitter etc. and it was still kind of chilling to hear the song played again.
I’d be interested to hear what others have to think about this idea – just out of curiosity, not to shit on your point or anything.
Steve Isaacs
October 3, 2017 @ 11:41 am
Thanks Trigg, I can’t believe you even had to say this. I’m just glad he made it out alive, I feel awful for all those who didn’t.
Sam Hunt Sucks Balls
October 3, 2017 @ 11:58 am
My 21 year old daughter was there and escaped with only a sprained ankle. The terror in her voice when I got her call telling me she was okay is still hard to even think about. She’s going to be living with what she witnessed for a very long time.
For anybody that wasn’t there to talk about what they would or would not have done is bullshit. Only the highly trained know what they’ll do when live bullets are flying.
Trigger
October 3, 2017 @ 12:03 pm
Glad your daughter is okay, or at least, as okay as she can be after living through that.
DanielB
October 3, 2017 @ 1:36 pm
It’s just terrible that one human being can make the decision to do something like this. I’m sorry your daughter had to go through such a horrifying experience, and very glad she is not seriously injured.
RebelRunner
October 3, 2017 @ 3:23 pm
Even for the highly trained, it’s difficult to deal with the aftermath of things like this. My fiancee still has some psychological scarring after having to hold a rifle on a would-be kidnapper for several hours this summer. Evil is not an easy thing to confront.
Chris
October 3, 2017 @ 6:11 pm
For several hours?
Wow, that’s amazing.
I hope she heals.
Glad she had the fortitude and weapon to protect herself.
Gina
October 4, 2017 @ 7:10 am
Really glad your daughter is okay.
Tate mclane
October 3, 2017 @ 11:58 am
Well said brother
DerekJoists
October 3, 2017 @ 12:24 pm
“Could Jason Aldean have done anything more?”
I think the person who will be asking that every night for the rest of his life is Jason Aldean. He’s seen 60 of his fans killed in front of him, and hundreds injured. Yes, he’s better off than the victims and their families, and I’m sure he’s grateful for that, but it’s human nature to question what happened, and your response. But from what I can tell, there’s just about nothing anyone on the ground could have done, which is terrifying in itself.
hiYUN
October 3, 2017 @ 12:24 pm
He’s not a cop or a security agent… I don’t think he’s at fault for anything.
Josh Calahan
October 3, 2017 @ 12:33 pm
Amen Kyle
Honky
October 3, 2017 @ 12:59 pm
Country Music and mass shootings will never be linked in my mind. I’ve never thought for one second that Aldean was a Country singer, and I don’t mean that in theory, in a statement making sort of way. I mean that he’s actually not a performer of Country Music, in the most literal way.
For mass shootings to be forever linked to Country music, this would’ve had to happen at and Alan Jackson concert, for example.
Having said all that, whom or what this shooting is linked to is irrelevant. Anybody in their right mind would’ve ran off the stage.
Trainwreck92
October 3, 2017 @ 2:54 pm
Aldean may not represent country music to folks like you or me, but to the world at large, radio pop country is the the only “country” they know.
CCRR
October 3, 2017 @ 1:03 pm
I hate this. I have been avoiding social media lately…I’m too sensitive about this issue…I was at Route 91 and luckily left early and skipped day three. I could have easily been one of those victims. I am heartbroken over this. I can’t stand to hear this kind of stupid crap from people. I am just so bummed on the world and humanity in general this week.
Corncaster
October 3, 2017 @ 5:52 pm
look to the forces of life and love — they are the future, not death. put your heart with life and love, and do all you can. it’s the most all of us can do, and look, already we have the last word on anything Paddock has said. stay strong! build up your brothers and sisters who need you!
CCRR
October 4, 2017 @ 10:41 pm
I’m doing better tonight. I’m a huge Eric Church fan (why I was there at Route 91) and I’ve been waiting for him to say something about what happened…then tonight he did…and it was amazing and helped me immensely. Even if you don’t like the guy, his Opry appearance tonight is worth seeing/hearing. And us fans have banded together to make a group donation to the fund for victims that was arranged in the city of Las Vegas. And it has been love, and light, and beautiful. People are good. And I’m feeling a whole lot different about things now.
DanielB
October 3, 2017 @ 1:31 pm
Well, what you say in this article seems to me so obvious and so much common sense that it’s unsettling that you felt the need to say it. That poor guy was under fire along with all the people there, not knowing what was happening or where they were getting shot from. What could he have done? What useful advice could he have given if he did not know what was happening? Getting out of there was the right thing to do, and I’m very glad he made it. That’s basic humanity, and whether I like his music or not does not matter in the slightest.
RWP
October 3, 2017 @ 1:47 pm
I agree with all you said. How the hell do you stay calm when there’s a nut blasting people? He did the same thing any other singer would of done. You’re not going to tell others to take cover when YOU may be the one being shot at.
I will say however that I was hoping to hear about Jason staying there an extra day or two and at least visit some of his damn fans in the hospital that were shot up. So far,I haven’t heard anything like that. I mean those were HIS fans that were attacked.They’re wasnt 25,000 there for John Rich or whoever else played earlier.I just feel he could of reached out a little more
Lisa
October 4, 2017 @ 6:11 am
Keep in mind that he was also a survivor of this attack. He was under attack just as much as every other person that was there. He will probably have PTSD going forward from this. Being shot at will do that to a person. He is probably in shock himself, and maybe putting himself out there in a crowded hospital isn’t the best idea, logistically or emotionally.
These hospitals are packed and as of yesterday, there were still people who had not connected with family. Its clearly not the best time to be bringing a celebrity into a chaotic situation, only to create MORE chaos. It sounds like the best decision for himself, for the patients, and for the staff of the hospitals that are taking care of the patients.
Not to mention, these are people that are still very much in the thick of their problems. I’m sure many of them are heavily medicated, or undergoing multiple surgeries. You think they are really up for a photo op two days after almost being murdered? Its just a LOT to expect from Jason Aldean, even if it seems like its not.
Mike Lovedge
October 3, 2017 @ 2:04 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFeQxThnjwQ
How can anyone fault anybody for fleeing gunfire.
RebelRunner
October 3, 2017 @ 3:24 pm
Unless they’re armed and have a clear shot on the shooter, you can’t fault anyone for fleeing.
Caitlin
October 3, 2017 @ 2:08 pm
I had no idea he was being criticized. It’s truly horrifying. I hate how, after something like this, people say “I would have done this” or “I would have done that.” You have no idea how you would react to something like this, and it’s insulting and cruel to judge the actions that others take when trying to save their own lives or the lives of those they love. What Aldean and the people at that concert experienced was unfathomable horror.
Michelle
October 3, 2017 @ 2:28 pm
I’ve went back n forth over this. You are right, Jason is only an entertainer, but most in the crowd were only fans and they did so much to help others who were injured around them. The fans, paramedics and officers are the ones who stepped up and showed such courage. I feel so bad for all the people who were confused and not knowing what at first was going on. It just seems that someone could have been giving comfort to the fans over the mic…maybe some encouraging, helpful words. Maybe most of us would have ran, but maybe most of us would have done more to help too. If you are going to be an entertainer and be the reason for thousands of people gathering to see you,.. then maybe a course in assisting people during a crisis would be recommended. God Bless all the ones who lost their lives and also to the friends and family who loved them. So many heartbreaking stories in this tragedy.
jtrpdx
October 3, 2017 @ 3:31 pm
He was being rushed by security as far away from the premises as possible (and didn’t have a mic), so “giving comforting words” over the mic wasn’t even an option. Even if he wanted to run back to the crowd, I am sure there were many people around him whose job it is to not let something like that happen.
Michelle
October 4, 2017 @ 9:25 am
If you noticed correctly, I stated, “Someone”…. It didn’t have to be Jason who comforted the crowd, it could have been anyone there helping out with this concert venue. It just seems that anyone who had anything to do with putting on this concert bailed when so many others rushed back in to help.
JB-Chicago
October 3, 2017 @ 3:46 pm
I’ve been heartbroken the last 24 hrs and haven’t chimed in here or anywhere for that matter. Most people that might be criticizing Jason Aldean have probably never been onstage where the music is loud and especially when you’re the singer you’re in a “zone” with monitors in your ears worring about the next lyric you’re about to sing. The lights are in your eyes and you normally can’t see past the first few rows. Sometimes even oblivious to what’s going on backstage, right off to the side of the stage, or in the crowd. For anyone to say that once he understood the magnitude of what was actually happening that he could of done anything other than take cover in the split second he had to make that decision is ludicrous.
kapam
October 3, 2017 @ 5:00 pm
Trigger, thanks for coming out in support of Jason Aldean.
Like you, I’m not a particular fan, but that does not mean he’s fair game for criticising what anyone “should have done” when a nutcase decides to rain deadly fire from a secluded position. From the little bit of video & audio I have been exposed to, it seems clear he hardly knew or could comprehend what was happening. Who would? I’ll go on the record as saying if this type of situation were to happen in front of me (heaven forbid) don’t wait around for any kind of heroics or calm & rational reaction on my part. Last I looked “Super Hero” (in the Marvel/DC Comics sense of the term) was not a real job description. Certainly Jason Aldean or any other entertainer should never be expected to be one.
melodie deal
October 3, 2017 @ 5:24 pm
Now first off let me say, I’m not a die hard Aldean fan. I listen to him when he cycles through on Pandora. Having said that, how ignorant and callous the people are that are criticizing him. What idiots! I don’t think a damned one of those critics would have done anything different. Not only does he not want to die because he has family and friends that love him, but he knows he is responsible for a huge amount of employees that depend on his music machine to keep churning to keep them afloat. Shame shame shame on anyone casting negative thoughts.
A. Michael Uhlmann
October 3, 2017 @ 5:58 pm
a) it doesn’t matter who was on stage at the time of the shooting
b) what should the person have said – duck like some people in the audience did – only to make you a bigger target – nobody first realized where the shots were coming from
c) one of the real heroes for me is Josh Abbott’s guitar player Caleb Keeter who now supports that the access to weapons the murderer used, is prohibited. He saw that even so he’s a gun carrying guy – they he wasn’t able to do anything in that situation. This has nothing to do anymore with the second amendment – it’s about common sense.
I’m sick of praying and invoking God. He must be laughing up there at the stupidity of humanity who can get rid of access to guns with a law and a signature. God surely will not prevent another sicko.
GrantH
October 4, 2017 @ 12:03 am
I’m sick of people like you invoking God to promote an agenda based on infringing upon my God-given right to self-defense and self-protection. Jesus wouldn’t want me to die helpless while waiting for the cops to show up.
A. Michael Uhlmann
October 4, 2017 @ 12:33 pm
That’s exactly the answer I was waiting for and proves my point. Simple stupidity! Yes with your handgun you would have shot the mofo on the 32nd floor, 330 yards away. Case rested!
And no – there is no God-given right to carry a gun – it’s a right that was generated by the founders of the constitution of 1791, and I’m sure they did not envision military style attack weapons.
So obviously you are missing any common sense as well. Here’s some Ronnie Reagan for you
https://youtu.be/nG4V_6pCLVo
GrantH
October 4, 2017 @ 1:56 pm
There is no God-given right to carry a gun? False. Re-read the constitution. Note how it says we have an inalienable right to bear arms. Read that again. “ARMS.” Not “pistols,” not “rifles,” not “muskets.” “ARMS.” That is a very broad term that applies to any weapon that can be used in self-defense. There were early Americans purchasing cannons from overseas for private use and nobody had a problem with it. The right to self-defense is absolutely God-given and is also biblical (remember when Jesus told his disciples to take up swords to protect themselves from harm during their travels?) And you say I lack common sense? How is wanting to protect myself, my property, and my family nonsensical? YOU lack common sense, because you seem to believe that disarming law-abiding citizens and legal gun owners will somehow stop criminals and tyrants from murdering more innocent people.
A. Michael Uhlmann
October 4, 2017 @ 6:35 pm
Sorry, Grant – you are simply a delusional individual – no weapon is God-given.
And to your claim about Jesus and the sword – maybe you should read the whole text in Luke:
He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That’s enough!” he replied.
— Gospel of Luke 22:36-38
And this is used to fulfill the prophecy:
“It is necessary that the prophecy be fulfilled according to which I would be put in the ranks of criminals” (Luke 22:36-37).
So before you rant and use scripture, make sure that you know what you are talking about.
GrantH
October 5, 2017 @ 1:32 pm
Michael, I dare you (and I want to put emphasis on that, I DARE you) to find me any piece of Scripture in which Jesus (or any other Biblical figure, for that matter) advocates for the forced confiscation and seizure of property by the government. Key word being “FORCED”. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t exist. Remember that controversial verse in Matthew 22? Guess what…Caesar didn’t earn my paycheck, Caesar doesn’t own my property, and Caesar doesn’t own the tools that I choose to use to protect myself, my family, and my property. The government has no right to confiscate anything from law-abiding citizens. Jesus did not collude with tyrants, nor would he approve of the disarmament of His people. If you think the government is truly on the side of Christians, you are mistaken. I suggest you research the arguments of Christian anarchists and Quaker war tax resisters if you don’t understand what I’m arguing. You can’t worship God and worship the state simultaneously. I will not allow the state to control me or my property, because once they do, they’ll attack our beliefs next.
Convict charlie
October 3, 2017 @ 6:08 pm
Just no idea how people could react the way they are to what he did. It’s really unthinkable. The music being so loud to carry throughout the entire crowd would take forever to realize what was actually happening. Then to not know where it’s coming coming from, or if he was the target.
Chris
October 3, 2017 @ 6:13 pm
Jason has a lot of healing to do.
I hope he gets help if he needs it.
He did the right thing.
Marc
October 3, 2017 @ 6:22 pm
I hope Trigger you get back to reviewing some music. Me personally I hope your next review is a review of a traditional country artist. I think this what this site needs. You can do a bro country review of course but we know how that always turns out, more comments than a traditional country review and pretty much all saying the same thing…WE HATE IT. Ps anybody blaming Jason, quit being a jackass.
Trigger
October 3, 2017 @ 7:58 pm
I had a review I was going to post first thing Monday morning. I had another feature that was supposed to be posted today. But frankly, it felt inappropriate, and wouldn’t be fair to the artists because it would be buried by all the news out of Vegas and the Petty heartbreak. We’ll get back to regularly scheduled programming shortly, but when a calamity strikes like this, it would seem pretty callous to go about business as usual.
Marc
October 3, 2017 @ 8:53 pm
I hear you Trigger and definitely can’t ignore the past couple of days and it’s connection to country music. Maybe it’s just me looking for escape from the days reality. As always, keep up the great work and appreciate all you do.
Adrian
October 3, 2017 @ 10:57 pm
Before I heard the news Monday morning, I was looking forward to seeing a review giving Shania’s new album an ass whipping. But that can wait until people have had a chance to calm down and the country music industry starts to return to normal. Though on the other hand a little sarcastic humor about a “comeback”, many years late, by a singer who ain’t country and hasn’t been country for ages, might do a little bit to take country fans’ minds away from the depressing news of the past few days.
Gina
October 4, 2017 @ 6:56 am
Exactly. I’ve been telling people I work with this is as well. The music world has been shaken so the next few days no one will be covering much else.
Rebecca Gavin
October 3, 2017 @ 6:23 pm
I’m curious. Did Jessie Hugues of the Eagles of Death Metal receive criticism for whatever they did at the Bataclan that night? I didn’t hear about it if they were, but how could anybody expect a performer to know what to do in an unthinkable situation? Hughes and the others in that band that were there that night, and Ariana Grande, and Jason Aldean (and others at Route 91) now belong to a horrible “club” of performers who had terrorist attacks occur at their shows. I feel bad for all of them though I’m not a fan of any of their music.
Trigger
October 3, 2017 @ 7:55 pm
I think one of the reasons Jason Aldean has faced significant criticism is there’s such clear video of him running from the stage. I don;t recall the Eagles of Death Metal situation being so conclusive.
James Hooker
October 5, 2017 @ 1:09 pm
I don’t care who it is – faulting an unarmed man running from gunfire is just plain stupid.
Bear
October 3, 2017 @ 8:07 pm
I think this was a pretty good response.
From Caleb Keeter, lead guitarist, Jason Aldean Band who were on stage during last nights massacre:
“I’ve been a proponent of the 2nd Amendment my entire life. Until the events of last night. I cannot express how wrong I was. We actually have members of our crew with [Concealed Handgun Licenses], and legal firearms on the bus.
They were useless.
|We couldn’t touch them for fear police might think we were part of the massacre and shoot us. A small group (or one man) laid waste to a city with dedicated, fearless police officers desperately trying to help, because of access to an insane amount of firepower.
Enough is enough.
|Writing my parents and the love of my life a goodbye last night and a living will because I felt like I wasn’t going to live through the night was enough for me to realize that this is completely and totally out of hand. These rounds were just powerful enough that my crew guys just standing in close proximity of a victim shot by this f—ing coward received shrapnel wounds.
We need gun control RIGHT. NOW.
My biggest regret is that I stubbornly didn’t realize it until my brothers on the road and myself were threatened by it. We are unbelievably fortunate to not be among the number of victims killed or seriously wounded by this maniac
Adrian
October 3, 2017 @ 11:05 pm
Ever heard of PTSD? It is good to know that Caleb was not hurt, and I understand that he was put in a very traumatic and difficult situation. But I would not assume that people who have recently been placed into such situations are in the best frame of mind to think clearly about policy.
Trainwreck92
October 4, 2017 @ 4:45 am
There are tons of examples of people changing their opinion on a subject once it actually affects their life. People who opposed universal/single payer healthcare until their kid is diagnosed with some disease they can’t afford to treat. People who are opposed to same sex marriage until a family member comes out as gay. My own grandparents were about as racist as two elderly people from the rural South could be, until my biracial cousin was born. This event was certainly traumatic for Mr. Keeter, but that doesn’t mean that he’s not thinking clearly about the situation. After being directly affected by gun violence, he may have more clarity on the subject than ever before.
Honky
October 4, 2017 @ 6:34 am
See there, Trainwreck92 has subtly steered the conversation toward 3 of his favorite leftist topics, none of which have anything to do with this article.
If I respond accordingly, my comment will be deleted, and his will remain.
Trainwreck92
October 4, 2017 @ 4:12 pm
I’m not trying to steer the conversation towards those topics, I’m just using them to illustrate a point about Keeter having a change of heart about gun control once the issue affected him on a deeply personal level. That being said, interpreting my comment as leftist is completely fair. My comment came from a left wing point of view, and I’ve always been openly liberal just as you and others here have been openly conservative. For what it’s worth, I’ve also known someone in my life that was completely anti-gun until their house was broken into which prompted them to rethink their stance on firearms, at least in regards to home defense.
Honky
October 4, 2017 @ 7:52 am
See, Trigger, I knew you’d delete it. Why won’t you admit your bias?
Obviously you don’t have to. But why won’t you?
Trigger
October 4, 2017 @ 8:15 am
Delete what, Honky? Tens of thousands of people come to this site every day. Dozens to hundreds leave comments. Because I care what other people have to say, I try to read them all, moderate the ones I feel necessary, while also trying to keep this an open forum. I’m not perfect, but I do the best I can, while also trying to write articles and keep the site from crashing. I can’t give individual attention to every single commenter 24 hours a day.
Honky
October 4, 2017 @ 8:34 am
Trigger,
I apologize for that accusation. My comments were gone until I refreshed the page. I’m so used to you deleting 75% of my comments, that I thought you’d done it again.
Nobody’s perfect and I’m not expecting you to be. But I sure wish you’d stick to music.
Adrian
October 4, 2017 @ 8:02 am
Trainwreck92: Caleb’s statement is not clear about specifically what actions he thinks should be taken. What does he mean by “gun control”? Does he want the government to revoke the concealed handgun licenses of members of his band, and confiscate their legal firearms? Or did he mean something else? I don’t see much clarity of thought in his statement. On the other hand, statements such as “enough is enough” typically are used to communicate an emotional reaction.
Trainwreck92
October 4, 2017 @ 4:22 pm
I don’t think a lack of specific policy suggestions should be interpreted as a lack of clarity on the subject. I’m someone that has ridden the fence on the subject of the gun control debate for years with no real personal stakes in the matter, but I still have no real clue what should be done to remedy America’s gun violence. Obviously there are fairly common sense efforts that most people support, like preventing violent felons or the severely mentally handicapped from owning firearms, but beyond that, I don’t know constitutes common sense and what constitutes government tyranny. As someone that grew up hunting and target shooting, I support the second amendment to a degree, but what that degree is I just don’t know.
Bear
October 5, 2017 @ 3:59 pm
I have PTSD so yes I am well aware of it. But it is a life long issue that people suffer from and frankly I think some policy issues could use a little help from people who have been directly effected by tragedies so maybe we have a better handle on them when they happen. It might create more empathy. But in this specific statement I am just pleased to see people can still change their minds on a topic, whether or not I agree with their sentiment. I tell you the amount to which I have to defend country singer and fans in my circle is kind of shocking for people who claim to be all inclusive. But sometimes I am reminded there are stereotypes for a reason so kudos to the man for not being a stereotype.
And I grew up around hunters as well and none them confused their right or enjoyment of hunting with what the 2nd Amendment means and it has nothing to do with hunting. And if I am REALLY being cocky here, in terms of the right to bear arms forget guns! I am still somewhat serious about owning a tank, let’s go big here.
But that is all irrelevant to the fact that I appreciate the guy taking a second look at his position instead of doubling down after being involved in a tragedy like this.
GrantH
October 4, 2017 @ 12:01 am
That’s not a rational response at all. Though I sympathize with him (after all, his life was directly threatened and he was witness to unfathomable destruction) responding to this incident by saying WE NEED GUN CONTROL RIGHT NOW!!!! is a prime example of knee-jerk hysteria. “My life was threatened, therefore I wish to infringe upon the rights of 99.99999999% of all legal gun owners in the US who have never pulled the trigger on any other individual in their entire lifetimes and never will” is all I got out of that statement. I’d rather die shooting back than die a sitting duck. Call me ridiculous, paranoid, whatever you want. That’s just the way I think.
Marky mark
October 5, 2017 @ 12:33 pm
It would appear that the psycho who just killed 50+ people in Nevada was one of those “99.99999999% of all legal gun owners in the US who had never pulled the trigger on any other individual in their entire lifetimes and never will” that you refer to. He was that is, until he did. Now 50+ people are dead and hundreds more are maimed and wounded. I get it though, he needed those high powered rifles to go hunting.
GrantH
October 5, 2017 @ 12:38 pm
Clearly, he wasn’t part of the “99.999…” percent I mentioned…because he literally went out and killed people.
This man was not an NRA member. He was not a Republican. He was not a conservative or a constituonalist (and I know this because if he turner out to be a Trump supporter the media would’ve been all over it). Quit blaming your irrational fear of inanimate objects on people who have no intention to ever do harm to anybody and only want to protect their property. And no, we don’t need those rifles to “go hunting.” We need those rifles to fight back against tyranny. Nice try though.
Honky
October 4, 2017 @ 6:24 am
Caleb Teeter sounds like an extremely weak minded individual.
Thank goodness he wasn’t shot.
Robert
October 3, 2017 @ 8:11 pm
It’s possible that Aldean running offstage was what was best. I think it alerted people to a very serious situation. Had he stayed and warned people by using the Mike..I think people would be paralyzed, trying to hear what he was saying and losing many more precious seconds. There was only one person who did anything wrong in my opinion and he wasn’t attending the show.
Fourth Blessed Gorge
October 3, 2017 @ 9:06 pm
IMO it’s just beyond shocking that anyone would criticize Aldean, who at the time was standing on a well-lit elevated platform under a spotlight by himself as gunfire rang out. I’d run too, as would anyone. What, pray tell, could he have possibly “done” anyhow? Instigate a mass stampede? Plead for everyone to remain calm as live rounds rained down upon them? I mean come on, it’s extremely fortunate that he wasn’t killed too and although I don’t like his music he’s just a harmless entertainer who just watched a madman mow down his avid fans, it takes nothing away from any of the victims or survivors to say that he deserves our sympathy more than anything else. Criticizing him for hypothetical things is cruel and unnecessary, he’s a human being who had a split second to react in an impossible situation.
AX10
October 3, 2017 @ 9:38 pm
Certainly not a fan of his. He did what most would do to survive.
It was the right thing to do.
Pete
October 3, 2017 @ 9:56 pm
I had a cousin attended the concert and she made it out okay.
Trigger
October 4, 2017 @ 7:50 am
Glad your cousin is okay Pete.
Gina
October 4, 2017 @ 6:51 am
I just read the he has cancelled some of his tour dates because of this. This is really sad. One thing that living in New York during 9/11 taught me is that you can’t live your life in fear and stop doing what you enjoy because of things like this. He couldn’t have done anything to stop this. If anything, his running probably did alert more people that something was wrong than yelling something no one could hear. I know what happened was obviously awful and probably not the last of these things we’ll see, but you have to live your life. That’s what the people in Paris did after a similar tragedy. I’m not a fan of his music but I feel terrible for him that he’s going through this.
Tezca
October 4, 2017 @ 7:43 am
I agree with you, I remember seeing a post someone made to another person that got freaked out by all this on another forum saying to basically carry on with your life don’t let people like the shooter win. I dint blame Jason though if he wanted to take a few days off however but yeah you’re definitely right
Lisa
October 4, 2017 @ 7:28 am
I don’t blame him, though. He’s not stopping his whole tour. He’s not saying he’s NEVER going to sing again. To me it doesn’t look like he’s cancelling out of FEAR, just out of sensitivity. A lot of what he sings is bro-country party music. It can’t feel appropriate to him to be out running around dancing in front of a massive crowd making money, singing something like HICK TOWN before the families of the murdered have even had a chance to have their funerals. You’re right, we shouldn’t live our lives in fear, we shouldn’t stop the things we do because we are afraid and paranoid – but so soon, I think its entirely appropriate that he cancel shows out of respect for those killed and their families.
Gina
October 4, 2017 @ 7:41 am
I’m not saying he’s doing it out of fear. This is part of a larger issue. I’m not saying i blame him either, I’m saying obviously that I’m sorry he’s getting any flack for Vegas and feels that he has to cancel concert dates partly because of what people are saying on social media. My comment was in the context of what this article is about.
Tezca
October 4, 2017 @ 7:46 am
Sorry I think I posted my reply to you before I saw this
Ulysses McCaskill
October 4, 2017 @ 11:22 am
And I don’t want to hear people saying “Jason Aldean ain’t country anyway” or “his music sucks, and they deserved it.”
Anyone saying that needs their ass whooped.
Honky
October 4, 2017 @ 3:16 pm
I already said it above, and I’ll say it again. Jason Aldean ain’t Country anyway. His music sucks.
But those things have nothing to do with this shooting.
Ulysses McCaskill
October 4, 2017 @ 5:28 pm
Then why did you say it?
Honky
October 7, 2017 @ 3:18 am
Because you essentially told everyone not to, and I don’t take orders, unless I’m being paid to.
Woogeroo
October 4, 2017 @ 4:16 pm
* It just gives me more opportunities to hoot on him for his terrible tractor rap country. You know, at a time when that’s actually appropriate. *
HA HA HA – best description of his drivel, ever.
Les
October 5, 2017 @ 3:10 pm
Trigger,
I jab an elbow to your sides now and then. On this, though, you’ve imparted genuine human insight. We all suppose we’d be heroes when the lit fuse blows; but only who’s there really knows. Aldean was there. Aldean did as his adrenalin dictated. And you told the truth of it.
I’ll still elbow you when you hit up on people and not leave them alone when they sing their song.
But at a time like this, us all being potential victims of some sociopath out to beat a kill score, can’t help but cherish you.
All guns holstered. None up. None down. For now
Keep doing what you do so well.
Best wishes, Trig.
John Deaux
October 6, 2017 @ 2:08 pm
Oh but there heroes there, they were in the crowd getting shot at but still mustered the courage to put the good of others above themselves. They were there to enjoy a nice night out with live music and shit happened. So unlike the artist who can’t be criticized here they ran into danger because people needed help
and well because they were determined to not let
those people die if they could help in some smal way.
I know it’s not fashionable to care about people you don’t know but these people didn’t care.
So my heart felt thanks to those people, not some
cowboy hat wearing fake who couldn’t be bothered to
even say GUN into the mic attached to his head as he
ran away to hide.
Pathetic is what he is
CHARLES CROCKETT
October 8, 2017 @ 1:40 pm
ALDEAN IS A LAME PERFORMER AND YOUR DEFENSE OF HIM WILL ONLY HELP KILL WHAT’S LEFT OF COUNTRY.IT’S FULL OF 3RD RATE EAGLES WANNABES NOW, AND A FEW SILICONE QUEENS.USED COWBOY BOOTS AND NUDIE SUITS BESIDES STARCHED GINGHAM WITH TALES OF WOE BUILT THE OPRY.
DOLLIE BEFORE IMPLANTS AND HANK DEAD IN THE CADDY-THAT WAS COUNTRY!
Doug Clement
November 14, 2017 @ 10:12 pm
I don’t feel bad for Jason. Maybe it was all that smoke rollin out his windows and ice cold beers sittin in his consoles that made him a little foggy that night who knows. But the one thing that is clear is that he has time and time again done the wrong thing. He sings about it and he acts it out and now people are not only hurt because of his actions, people have died. The only good that could come from all this is if maybe Jason just goes away after this. Such a shame.