Modest Mouse Removes Guitarist Simon O'Connor From Tour Following Serious Allegations

Well, that escalated quickly. Modest Mouse, the beloved indie rock stalwarts, found themselves in a bit of a whirlwind this past Friday, July 31st. They made a rather stark announcement on Instagram: guitarist Simon O'Connor, who'd been a fixture with the band since 2021, would no longer be joining them on their upcoming tour dates. The reason, frankly, is quite serious.

The news came on the heels of disturbing allegations that had begun circulating online, specifically last weekend and earlier this week. Screenshots of alleged inappropriate messages between O'Connor and a minor fan surfaced across platforms like Instagram and Reddit. Now, details surrounding the minor's exact age have varied a bit between reports, sometimes cited as 16 and other times as 17. What seems to be consistent, though, is that the fan's Instagram bio reportedly listed her age as 16, complete with a countdown to her 17th birthday.

Simon O'Connor himself wasn't silent for long after the screenshots began to spread. He took to Reddit, posting a lengthy statement in his defense. His explanation, at its core, was one of mistaken identity. He claimed that he genuinely believed he was interacting with a persistent 'troll' — someone who, he said, had previously harassed him online. It's a tricky situation, to be sure, trying to navigate online interactions, but the gravity of the allegations quickly became undeniable.

Regardless of O'Connor's explanation, Modest Mouse acted decisively. They quickly announced that Seth Jabour, known for his work with Les Savy Fav and as a member of the house band for "Late Night With Seth Meyers," would be stepping in to fill the guitar slot. It’s quite the resume, actually, and certainly a capable musician to take over on short notice.

The show, as they say, must go on. Modest Mouse is still scheduled to perform at the Outside Lands festival in San Francisco on August 7th, albeit now with Jabour on guitar and without O'Connor. It's still a bit murky whether this is a temporary tour hiatus or a permanent split from the band, but for now, O'Connor's tenure with Modest Mouse has certainly hit a very public, very significant pause. Beyond Modest Mouse, O'Connor also plays in Spiral Heads and previously toured as a bassist for MGMT.