Sticky Fingers have taken part in their first interview since returning from their hiatus and since frontman Dylan Frost posted a statement on the band’s social media last week acknowledging his past alcoholic behaviour and his mental health. Dylan also denied the rumours and allegations of abuse, racism, and sexism against him.
In his statement, Dylan said “my alcoholic behaviour in the past has intimidated and or made people feel unsafe around me and I am truly sorry for this.”
The interview with triple j Hack went live earlier today with interviewer Tom Tilley and all five members of the band.
Hack decided to ask for the interview after a young female listener sent in this message,
“We would love to see an interview or article with Sticky Fingers. Love their music, but don’t want to support a band whose members are reportedly racist and sexist.”
In reply, Sticky Fingers said they do not condone violence toward women, racism, or any of the rumours and allegations put against members of the band. Sticky Fingers said they had done this interview to apologise for their past behaviour.
The band admitted they had chosen to speak out today because their silence toward the allegations had become “deafening”.
The allegation of racism toward Indigenous band, Dispossessed were found to be untrue and of this Dylan said, “I’m not racist, wholeheartedly. It goes against my nature.”
The second allegation was against Dylan and between him and two other members of the music industry at a Sydney pub in December 2016 and were allegedly violent. Details of this incident were posted on Facebook but have since been removed.
Days later, the band officially announced their hiatus – a decision they say was not caused by the incident at the pub.
This had a negative impact on the band and sensing this, the band members followed their own paths respectively with rehabilitation pledging their commitment to sobriety.
Tom then asked what the band members were specifically sorry for to which Paddy and Freddy mostly replied to.
“Ten years of being in a drunken debauchees rock and roll band, we’ve pissed off a few people along the way and we haven’t really played by the rules at any point on our kind of ride.”
Tom cut in asking, “What exactly have you done to piss people off, be specific?”
“I guess we’ve just been drunk and debauchees and we’ve just kind of – we haven’t really thought about it but half pissed rolling around the joint, half pissed probably scared a few people. But we haven’t openly gotten to target people, we haven’t bullied people intentionally – groups nor individuals, it hasn’t been of that nature. It’s always been tongue and cheek.”
Again, Tom cut in pointing out that the band had the intention of apologising for something specific, particularly Dylan as in his statement he admitted he got himself into violent altercations with other people.
But as Tom mentioned, Paddy and Freddy had done most of the talking so Tom directly asked Dylan to reply.
“I guess I’m just not that good at interviews. In the past – my violence in the past under the influence – boys will boys you know, but that’s not what I’m here to promote – I’m here to promote peace and love.”
When asked what Dylan meant about “boys will be boys” Dylan answered, “Shit happens, man.”
Tom commented on how this particular phrasing made it sound like Dylan didn’t care which he insisted he did, “I just find it hard to talk about this stuff…Yeah [I feel nervous].”
At this point, Freddy sticks up for Dylan.
“There’s also conditions that [Dylan’s] got too which you know, it’s very hard to go in and just probe in and say this because there’s a lot that we don’t understand too about mental health and abilities to respond in situations where it’s really quite tough.”
The band then briefly talked about their stays in rehab and their return to music.
Since the interview aired, many fans and listeners took to Twitter to criticise Dylan’s use of “boys will be boys”.
https://twitter.com/GeorgiaMaq/status/984338557497106432
‘boys will be boys’: sticky fingers are a perfect example of dudes who get shitty at feminists for ‘painting all men with the same brush’ yet are quite happy to do that themselves, by literally excusing their abusive behaviour by saying all men are like that
— chloe sargeant (@chlosarge) April 12, 2018
Sticky Fingers – “Boys will be boys” is a toxic mentality. “Da boyz” is not an excuse to be violent, sexist or a predator. Having a daughter has opened my eyes to the sad culture of “yeah the boys” and I can only hope I raise her to not accept this as an excuse. #stickyfingers
— Ellen (@Ellz88) April 12, 2018
@triplej interview with @StickyFingers, absolute shame. Don’t admit to anything, give blanket “sorries” and then say “boys will be boys” and “shit happens.” clearly don’t give a shit. Boycotted.
— Benjamin Tennyson (@Benjamin10isun) April 12, 2018
Dylan from Sticky Fingers is on @triplejHack, supposedly giving an apology for all the controversy in the band, and in his second answer he shrugged it off as “boys will be boys” and “shit happens”. What a copout and super disappointing response to some really serious claims
— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) April 12, 2018
Dylan from Sticky Fingers on @triplejHack: “Boys will be boys”.
Yeah mate, that’s not going to cut it as a response to serious allegations.
— Jules LeFevre (@jules_lefevre) April 12, 2018
Love or hate them. I think it’s only going to divide opinion on the band further – defenders won’t budge. And haters don’t have anything new to convince them otherwise.
Full story coming on @triplejHack— Alister Newstead (@AlNewstead) April 12, 2018
Just moments ago, Sticky Fingers uploaded this on their Instagram.
“We answered a question with the line “boys will be boys” and “shit happens.” This was in reference to our past experience of fighting one another and the headspace we were in at the time. Our point is that the attitude of “boys will be boys” and “shit happens” is no way to look at violence. It was no way intended to show we aren’t genuinely on a path to positive change, in fact it was there to highlight that we get it. We stand by our interview…”
You can listen to the full interview HERE.
If you are in distress or need someone to talk to about your mental health, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or call 1800 RESPECT.