UPDATE: “Shit Happens”: Sticky Fingers Give First Interview Since Hiatus
ORIGINAL STORY: Sticky Fingers frontman Dylan Frost has issued a statement addressing allegations made against him, after the band made a controversial return to music at Sydney’s Bad Friday festival last month.
In a spoken statement published on Sticky Fingers’ Facebook page today, Frost responds to allegations of bullying and violence towards women, including the “internal issues” which led the band to go on a 12-month hiatus last year.
“First of all, I need to start by making it clear that racism and violence towards women are never okay,” Frost says.
“I’ve never even thought to abuse or attack someone based on their culture, or what they look like. And growing up as a proud Maori, it does not make any sense to me.”
Frost goes on to admit he has “gotten into verbal fights, and at times fights with other lads” which have “upset the band” and its fans.
“I also have to acknowledge that my alcoholic behaviour in the past has intimidated or made people feel unsafe around me, and I am truly sorry for this,” he says.
“It really upsets me to know that through a series of misinterpreted accounts of events, I’m now being seen as a symbol of something I detest — a racist woman-basher.
“Although the rumours being spread about me are being spread across social media, they’re just not true. I also now see that ignoring them wasn’t good, and my silence on social media has helped to perpetuate them and led people to believe them to be true. It also made people think I didn’t care, which is far from reality.”
Frost says Sticky Fingers are now “back in the studio doing what we do best”, but admits “there is a long road to recovery ahead for me”.
Listen to his statement or read it in full, below.
Sticky Fingers performed at Sydney’s Bad Friday festival in March, after which organisers publicly responded to criticism of the band’s inclusion on the bill in a since-deleted Facebook post.
If you need assistance, 1800 RESPECT – the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service — can be reached on 1800 737 732.
For help or information regarding mental health, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
Dylan Frost Statement
First of all, I need to start by making it clear that racism and violence towards women are never okay.
I’ve never even thought to abuse or attack someone based on their culture, or what they look like. And growing up as a proud Maori, it does not make any sense to me.
I am wholeheartedly against racism, and so is the band. That needs to be clear.
It’s also really important to state that I do not condone or in any way excuse violence against women. Straight up, I never have and I never will.
I admit that I have gotten into verbal fights, and at times fights with other lads over the years. That has upset the band and people within my community.
These past indiscretions have probably led people to believe that the allegations against me are true.
I accept that my past behaviour has contributed to people believing these false things about me, and that this behaviour is not acceptable.
I also have to acknowledge that my alcoholic behaviour in the past has intimidated or made people feel unsafe around me, and I am truly sorry for this.
I know that out there, there are some people who won’t accept this, and think that I’m talking shit. I’ll have to respect that too.
I’ve been privately contacting people who have been affected by my actions. I acknowledge and respect their right not to reply. By no means am I trying to make this an excuse, but it’s become apparent to me over the last 12 months that I have to be honest about my experience dealing with mental health and alcohol issues, and how that’s impacted others around me.
It really upsets me to know that through a series of misinterpreted accounts of events, I’m now being seen as a symbol of something I detest — a racist woman-basher.
I can be an arsehole sometimes, but I’m not that much of an arsehole, but I have to accept the fact that I’ve angered groups of people who have suffered from abuse themselves, and that really burns me the most.
Although the rumours being spread about me are being spread across social media, they’re just not true. I also now see that ignoring them wasn’t good, and my silence on social media has helped to perpetuate them and led people to believe them to be true. It also made people think I didn’t care, which is far from reality.
So, I’m sorry I didn’t speak out sooner. I believed that my position meant that anything I said online in response to those rumours could have accidentally triggered mass bullying towards some people. I didn’t want that, and neither did my band, so we decided just to shut up and cop it. Again, I now see that that wasn’t the best idea either.
In the several years leading up to when everything went a little —-, there were so many ways in which my life was rebellious. My headspace was very turbulent, and the bender was light years away from any type of manageability. And I know that rehabilitation is an ongoing process, not a box to tick, but I can guarantee that I’m committed to looking after others and myself, and part of looking after others means keeping my temper under control.
Again, this is an ongoing process but people should know that I am committed to doing better and being better to those around me. Since going through rehab, as well as continuing my attendance of AA meetings, I now understand the importance of keeping a clear head.
Through this year off, some people have advised against me getting back into this hectic lifestyle, but making music with the people I’ve grown up with and those who have been there for me is what I cherish most. As a band, we are sober and that is as important as our place in the community and our music.
So I just want to thank the band, our fans, our close friends and family for all their support. Over the years, we have received thousands of messages from our fans who have gotten out of very tough times through our music and that’s what keeps me going.
Mostly, I just want us to be able to focus on our music again. It’s good to be back in the studio doing what we do best, although there is a long road to recovery ahead for me. I hope that, by fronting up to my failures and addressing my behaviours, Stickies can move forward positively and healthily and focus on our music, our fans and our community.
