In March 2021, Alabama Shakes drummer Steven William Johnson was arrested on child abuse charges.
Johnson, a founding member of the Alabama rock band, was indicted on charges of “wilful torture, wilful abuse and cruelly beating or otherwise wilfully maltreating a child under the age of 18.” However, The Associated Press reports that after appearing in court, Johnson has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
Johnson’s lawyers, Nick Lough and Marcus Helstowski, released a statement, saying, “Steve Johnson maintained his innocence throughout the course of this entire ordeal. Just like anyone charged with a crime, Mr. Johnson had to wait for his day in court.
“We’re thankful that after more than a year this allegation has been put to rest and Mr. Johnson’s name has been cleared of any wrongdoing.”
Lough told the Associated Press, “It was a spanking incident and nothing more, and it resulted in a criminal indictment. The charge of child abuse has been dismissed.”
Alabama Shakes went on hiatus in 2018, following the release of the albums, Boys & Girls (2012) and Sound & Colour (2015). Frontperson Brittany Howard has since been pursuing a solo career, releasing her debut album, Jaime, in 2019.
The remix album, Jaime (Reimagined), landed in July 2021, featuring rejigged versions of songs from Jaime by the likes of Michael Kiwanuka, Childish Gambino, Bon Iver, Little Dragon, Badbadnotgood and more.
