Modest Mouse replaces guitarist ahead of tour over inappropriate message claims
The indie rock band has abruptly swapped its touring guitarist following allegations of inappropriate messages to a minor, highlighting the operational and reputational risks live acts face when managing off-stage conduct during major album cycles.
Modest Mouse will proceed with its upcoming concert dates without guitarist Simon O’Connor following allegations that he sent inappropriate messages to a minor. The American indie rock group announced on July 31 that Seth Jabour, a founding member of Les Savy Fav, will step in to fill the role for the remainder of the run.
The abrupt personnel change stems from claims posted on the band’s Reddit forum, where a user shared screenshots of an Instagram exchange. The fan stated they were 16 at the time of the messages, noting their age was visible on their profile alongside a countdown to their seventeenth birthday.
O’Connor addressed the forum directly, stating he unequivocally opposes sexual behaviour towards minors. He claimed he mistook the account for a known troll and sent a tasteless meme and a sticker reading “SIMON calls your bluff BUZZ” as a misguided attempt to call them out.
The guitarist said he realised his error within minutes, unsent the material, and ended the conversation. “I’m genuinely sorry to the person who received those messages,” O’Connor wrote, adding that he can only tell the truth, take responsibility for his mistake, and apologise.
Modest Mouse’s official statement confirmed the lineup change but stopped short of addressing the specific allegations or clarifying O’Connor’s permanent status in the group. The swift substitution underscores the logistical pressures and reputational management required in the live music sector, where unexpected off-stage controversies can immediately disrupt heavily scheduled touring operations.
This disruption arrives at a critical commercial moment for the band, which released its eighth studio album, ‘An Eraser And A Maze’, in June. It is their first record since the 2022 death of founding drummer Jeremiah Green, making the current tour a vital revenue and promotional driver for the act.
Jabour brings decades of live experience to the stage, having played with the New York indie-rock band Les Savy Fav since the mid-1990s. O’Connor, who joined Modest Mouse in 2021, now faces an uncertain future with the group as the tour commences without him.
