That guy had it coming- good for Travis.

violence was not the way to handle that situation. gym class was one of my favorite bands, and now i refuse to support them. i walked out after that happened. i couldn’t believe someone who i held as a respectable, creative individual would stoop down to that level. what does that solve?

the guy was wrong for what he said, but travis was wrong for how he handled it.

i dont blame him

Actually, the guy deserved it! Go Travis!

Slurs and name calling is not a good thing,,,,,,even by my standards. But hitting someone on the head, even when well deserved, is rather imature. Why not embarass the guy in front of the whole crowd?

He should have handled this in a Joshua Homme type fashion. Just verbally beat the shit out of the kid. People like to see that.

there’s quite a few different stories going around, so i wouldn’t accept this article as 100% fact just quite yet. i would imagine mccoy was provoked a bit more than the article lets on – if security was removing the kid and everything was under control, i highly doubt mccoy would break a microphone over his head. the kid was probably fighting security and still taunting travis.

His reaction was a representation of his alter ego. Mr. cool

I was at the concert when the incident happened. We could hear some guy yelling at the lead singer and he seemed to be handling it cool. He asked the guy what he said and told security it was cool to let him past the barracade. The heckler went by the stage and got bashed over the head with the mic. This article is totally correct. Everyone was stunned, even his bandmates, nobody saw this coming. While both of them are wrong in this, as aprofessional entertainer, you have to be more calm.

what can you expect from an awful musician? awful behavior

Well if you go to a Gym Class Hero’s show you deserve to have a mic broken over your head

I was in the crowd. It was shocking but the guy deserved it. This article is completely correct except the song it says they were playing… they had just finished their first song which was “clothes off.” everything else is correct. I’m glad travis did what he did, but it sucks that he got arrested.

Isn’t it ironic that the name calling and head bashing happened after a song called “Peace Sign”. Not much peace going on there.

Like a previous poster said, he should have pulled a Josh Homme on the heckler, although he possibly couldn’t be as witty as Homme is.

if so all bets are off and if there is a youtube video of him
using the word with his pals then let him rot.

either way kick them off warped.
i dont care what the dude said ,
gch is getting paid very well to entertain. if a movie star cant
touch the paprazzi , how is this legit ?

If you go up to anybody, professional or not, and say that, you had better be prepared to get the ass kicking of your life time.
There’s still a lot of racial tension in this world today and thats not something somebody needs to be calling an artist while they’re playing their set. The person obviously was just looking for attention. He deserved what he got. Also, don’t diss on Gym Class Heroes as artists, if you don’t like them, then fine, but don’t leave negative comments about them. Just don’t read the article or listen to them. Problem solved…

good no one should have to put up with name calling, smack the sh*t outta him, YOU ROCK!!

Any of you that think GCH should be kicked off, then you have forgotten what music is all about.

A good punch to the face seemed like a nice way to teach someone a lesson. Otherwise, they will think they can continue to get away with that bullying crap. Props to Travis for standing up for himself.

what does this guy expect. if someone said that to you on the street you would get a similar reaction just without the mic.
just because this guys at a concert doesnt mean he can insult people in that way and get away with it.
GO TRAVIS!!!!!!!!

I saw this happen from up on top of the hill so I saw everything. Afterwards Travis apologized to all of us that we had to see that and he got a STANDING OVATION for it. I say go Travis for sticking up for yourself. That kid’s an idiot, they had to cut the set short cause of it. If I knew the kid I’d beat him up.

Now that’s rock n’ roll.

I was there, standing on the hill, and saw everything, the article is correct. Yeah, Travis could have handled it better, but the guy deserved it. I would have hit him too. I totally support Travis.

because if there is one thing this publication loves, its solving conflicts with violence…

It’s odd as hell that the heckler who threw the racial slur @ Travis was BLACK! lol…

Either way, as a black man, I’m sure Travis took being called a “n!gger” way more harshly than any normal heckling. His reaction was perfectly realistic and legitimately expected.

God only knows what Travis woulda done if the kid had been WHITE! haha..

go travis

I was there and the guy wasn’t being escorted away by security. They were helping him get on stage. After the heckler taunted travis some more, travis broke the mic on his head and started to retaliate. Then the security finally decided to step in. I would hit the guy too. He is lucky that is all that happened

Are you people f**king crazy? Since when did an offensive comment make it OK to bash someone over the head with a microphone? Sounds like a great way for a completely sh*t band to get some attention, and a free headline on rollingstone.com.

I was there. it was actually pretty funny. At first we thought it was part of an act, but apparently not.

I was there and saw it happen. We thought it was part of an act. Apparently not.

I was at this show with my brother and we saw the whole thing (including the backstage stuff). That’s right, we saw the incident and then quickly made our way to side stage. Once they announced that they were playing the last song and were being cut short, we knew something was going on. Security and the police baracaded the backstage area so no one could get through (we were between the baracade and the crowd of people). We saw the police escort McCoy off the stage and out of the area. He was not in handcuffs though. So, I don’t know if he got arrested or not. Either way, that was some crazy shit!!

way to go travis i would have down the samething but i still cant belive that guy said that.. am in the whole warped tour and i havent seen the gym class heroes band today at all not even at the cathering place..

Use the N-word at your own risk and if you get stomped, should have kept quiet.

Too many people feel they can say whatever they want without repercussions, that’s only on AM radio.

Real world, you pay to play.

I thought it was OK for them to call each other that?

that shit was stupid. my friends and i all thought it was a joke, but apparently it wasn’t. that was such bullshit. why go to a show and stand there and talk shit on the lead singer? why not just leave? i totally thought travie did what he needed to do. i was pissed the set got cut short, but props to travie. nobody should have to stand for that shit.

go travis

I understand why he retaliated and he did what he had to do. With that said though, with all the debate around the n word, i thought the n word was a term of “endearment” among black people and therefore SHOULD NOT BE BANNED. THis just proves that theory for the bs that it was by point black showing that the word is offensive regardless of who says it.

People act stupid and this guy got what he deserved. He started something and it was finished…..shame Travey got arrested though.

Trav pulled a Tim McGraw on his ass!!! Way to prove the name-caller right!!! WOCKA WOCKA WOCKA!!!

Actually the heckler wasn’t right PER SE WORD FOR WORD, but Trav certainly was ignorant to respond to words with violence. WOCKA WOCKA WOCKA!!!

One of the most brutal bands there that day. Hell yes Travis, keep on rockin!

“Joe” does his “stompin’” with the protection of friends. Real world, a chump who loves to fight when words threaten him does it with backup behind him.

Number one: The fan was out of line and so was Travis. When people go to an event, they should expect mutual respect on both sides!
Number two: That racial slur is offensive! As a black woman, I don’t care who says it, it’s wrong! I would never use a word that was/is used to demean people of any race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. Why do so many of you FOOLS believe that it’s “endearing?” Because you heard it in a rap song or because your token black friend used it? Please! Educate yourselves, America! Quit relying on stereotypes to make up for the lack of racial understanding, it only widens the divide. I thought this generation stood for tolerance. Yeah right!

DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY!!!

I was there, watching the whole thing. Travis was totally surprised by the boy’s racial slur, and so was everyone standing around him. Not only was Travis provoked, but the dude hit him in his hurt knee! Noone is perfect, and maybe Travis should not have gotten violent, but hey, look at where he comes from. People get shot for less! I was appauld at the racial slur, and I still have yet to see it reported correctly. I was front row, right next to the fight. Team Travis right here.

What’s with ST Louis back in 90’s it was Axl Rose now in 08 Travis.

i was at the concert like ten feet away from travis when it happened. everyone thought he was kidding but it was hilarious when he bashed that dude on his head.

everyone in the crowd when ape shit cause that guy deserved it. im sorry the mic was broken, though.

go travey.

i was there the man hit him in his sprained knee and it caused him to bash his mic over the guys head

gym class heros are terrible

Silly kids, back in de olllle days an acid freaked Pete Townshed picked up Abbie Hoffman and threw him off the stage. Keith Richards nearly decapitated a guy running on stage in 1982. Guys in hardcore bands in the 80’s would jump into the pits and and do some on the spot cranium adjustments. Hits him on the head with a mic, pfffff…..baby stuff.

I do not even like Gym Class Hero’s. Not my style, but I give props to Travis. If I would have been one of the guys near that guy when he started saying that crap it would have been much worse for him.

The problem I have with this is that if it wasn’t someone who was famous the punishment would be much worse, espescially in the same situation. You need to handle yourself accordingly when situations like this happen. I know it’s a spur of the moment thing, but you need to be in the right state of mind before you do things like this.

I was at the Utah show and gym class kickd ass! Peace sign is an amazing song and travey had every right to hit that guy.

I have to say that the person who called Travis “ignorant” is like the saying, “People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones!” What is more ignorant than the comments he made? GO TRAVIS! I would have done much worse!! I LOVE YOU TRAVIS (SORRY, KATY!!!)

Travis McCoy is black?

Travis’ mom is white and his dad is black. He should have reacted better but sometimes you get tired of racial
slurs. White, black, or whatever, I don’t want anyone calling me that word.

a black guy is named Travis?

RE: R-E-S-P-E-C-T! | 7/2/2008, 10:41 pm EST

“That racial slur is offensive! As a black woman, I don’t care who says it, it’s wrong! I would never use a word that was/is used to demean people of any race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. Why do so many of you FOOLS believe that it’s “endearing?” Because you heard it in a rap song or because your token black friend used it? Please! Educate yourselves, America! Quit relying on stereotypes to make up for the lack of racial understanding, it only widens the divide. I thought this generation stood for tolerance. Yeah right!”

Look, i agree with you that the word should not be used but you can’t call people fools for believing it was an “endearing” term among black people especially in light of the national debate several months ago that is still being addressed today. Sharpton tried to get the n word banned but mainstream black america had mixed reactions. Some agreed with sharpton saying the word has done too much damage as it is while others claimed that yes, it was a “term of endearment” (check out the footage and interviews)and thus would be “racist” to ban it.

Guy uses slur. Travis bonks him. Travis gets community service. Guy don’t learn nothin. And the beat goes on.

Is it rock n roll? It’s rude n roll.
Travie was right though.

WWLKD

What Would Lenny Kravitz Do?

i was like 10 ft away frum it. we had moved up near the stage after paramore and i saw it all, it was pretty sweet. The whole thing is so stupid that this guy would try to hurt somebody who was inviting him onstage for something he yelled out. i heard it and i saw the whole thing, travis was just defending himself because he was injured already and this guy in the crowd tried to hurt him more.

A lot of people are saying he shouldn’t have hit the guy, but when someone says something that really hits a nerve, sometimes you don’t think before you act. So you really have to cut Travis some slack because he obviously realizes he shouldn’t have hit the guy but it was his first reaction. Plus, majority of the people who say “violence isn’t the answer” has hit someone before. I love Gym Class Heroes and if you’re not going to listen to them anymore because of this, you’re loss, because you are overreacting. And for all the people who are saying “Travis is black?!”, ARE YOU BLIND?!

violence was not the way to handle that situation. gym class was one of my favorite bands, and now i refuse to support them. i walked out after that happened. i couldn’t believe someone who i held as a respectable, creative individual would stoop down to that level. what does that solve?

the guy was wrong for what he said, but travis was wrong for how he handled it.

-Aubrey 7/2/2008 11:42 a.m.

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Seriously, I thought they were a pretty good band and I respected them for the music they made, but when you have people in the crowd that idolize you, you need to keep your cool. Making fun of say… his penis size would have done it. Or he could have just told the crowd what the man had called him and I’m sure some people out there could have handled it quite nicely without making Travis look like a complete d-bag.

Continued proof of the pussification of America. The dick that taunted Travis will probably make the most of his 15 minutes of fame by suing Travis and the venue where the concert was held.

“Pussification”. Love it.

Honestly people, I think it’s awesome that he defended himself. Instead of letting this guy fuck him up, he ended the fight by bashing him with the mic. GO TRAVI! And the next day he was on a cane because of the injury that guy gave him. I met him at the show in Kansas City the next day and he did seem upset. Cut him slack will ya?

And in the words of Gabe Saporta at the Kansas City show: “NO ONE FUCKS WITH MY MAN TRAVI!”

Frankly I think the guy got what he deserved. I like Travis and I am black, and i hate the n-word. I would bash the hell out of someone who made an ignorant ass comment to me too. Way to go Travie!!! Good luck with your legal issue. You know the guy is going to sue, right?

The guy shoudnt of called him that, but hiting him in the head with a mic is exactly what the guy wanted. He wanted to get a reaction and now he is going to get a nice fat payday too. Anyway, Gym Class Heroes are so fucking bad. I dont’ anyone that is a hip-hop head that likes this joke of a band. They’re way too cocky for how shitty their music is.

its funny how no matter who it is or what they did there is always someone to down them…ya they are big an easy target real hard…”i hate successful people ” is pretty much what u mean get a life.

I love Gym Class Heroes, and while I don’t think hitting the guy with a mic was the best way to handle it, I definitely can’t blame Travis for reacting without thinking. It’s immature and ignorant to use racial slurs. Maybe next time Travis will think before acting and it won’t have to go that far.
No matter how big or small you are, good or bad, you’re going to get shit from stupid people and you just have to learn how to deal with it.

I was there right in front and saw it all happen. personaly i think that guy got what he deservied and i think he was the ignorant one for calling travis that. What type of person has the nerve to go to thier show in front of all thier fans and say something so rude and disrespectful. Fuck that dude i said that there and ill say that now.

That honestly just upped my respect for Travis, He bashed his head in with mic, how badass

I was there. Near the stage. It was badass. The guy got what he deserved.I didn’t see him get hit in the knee. But I thought it was pretty cool that they let him finish his set before quietly arresting him. Too bad he is going to have to pay a hefty court settlement.

Racism in Missouri? Im Shocked!

OK well the guy shouldnt have called travis that and he got what he deserved. period.. travis shouldnt have hit him.. but then again it was justified…and why did a black guy call im the n word??wth?

All I can say is bravo, Travie. Personally, the guy deserved it. What was his purpose of even staying for their set if all he could do is show how uneducated he truely is? You cant expect the calm and collected to not take offense to a comment like that and if I were him, I probably would have done the same… and I would have been perfectly okay with the consequences. Cant wait to see GCH on the 14th on Warped Tour!

i was actually there and have video of it…that guy pushed to the very front of the crowd just to say that cause he pushed past me and my friends on his way up there and then yelled at travee it was weird and the entire crowd was just in shock no one really cheered at first cause they didn’t know what to do

oh and Ps. the first song was Clothes Off not Peace Sign

I was there and I was shocked that something like that happened. I felt that it really misrepresented my home town.

I was there and I was shocked that somebody would actually say something that ignorant. I felt that it really misrepresented my home town and I feel that the audience member had it coming.

yea, i was there too and at first I was like, come on Travis, let’s not ruin it for everyone. But then when I found out what the guy had said and the circumstances of the situation, I was behind Travis 100%. Not only was the comment ignorant and offensive, but he completely deserved it. It’s exactly what I would have done and I’m not advocating violence, but in some situations, people need to be taught a lesson.

go travis! stupid prat had no righthe deserved it! we love you travis whos wiv me? oh ye!

i did not know that happened
gch is so fucking badass
I don’t think travie was wrong at all
you have to stand up for yourself.

personally, I think what Travie did was not the right thing to do, but he did what first came to his mind. I’m not saying what the person said was something good, I mean I hate racism, but attacking him with a mic? hahaha

Maybe a little too far.

I say go travis, yeah he could of “verbally assaulted” him but if someone called you something with that much tension around it, its going to bring a side out of you that you can’t control….its happened to me..

The Dude seserved it…no matter what, he was being ignorant. i would have done the same thing travis did. i mean im not an angry person, but one attempt to be nice and reserved about it is enough

just because travis has the “famous” title to his name doesnt mean he should be treated different.

honestly, i’m suprised it was only travis who hit the fool.

I support Travis and GCH 110%. Right now I’m more worried about whether or not he’s going to have to face jail time. I mean you don’t get charged with third-degree assualt and not have to do time. Whatever happens to him though, he has my full support

Yeah, it’s cool for a band’s front man to assault a minor for yelling a profanity at a punk rock festival. I mean, there are reports by people around the kid who yelled it that he didn’t Yell the exact term Travis thought he did, but whatever, that doesn’t matter. Also, we can ignore the fact that security wasn’t already removing the kid, so the article sounds more in his favor. I mean, it was just that the security removed the kid, then took him to a back office near the medical tent to make sure he was alright and so that he could talk to the cops, but that story isn’t nearly as fun. Travis is such a great man, even when he’s being taken away in handcuffs to be arrested, he still had his loyal obviously under 17 fan base following him to the back of the stage, leaning on the fence and yelling to him to please fuck them, and to tell his body guards to let them through so they could be with him. Yeah. He really is great.

Travie did try to make a peace offering, maybe he shoudnt had taken it that far. But you cant let people say things like that and make them think its ok

how come we didnt hear about this in New Zealand?
i just happened to go on the wikipedia link. i actually think that the man that yelled out that crap is an idiiot. its not travis’s problem that the man has issues with himself being black. i say Travis you did the right thing. and when are you coming to New Zealand??

let’s face it – i’m white, and i’ve hit guys for being all-out racist. good for travis, nobody should have to be on the receiving end of malicious racism, just too bad for him he hit the fucker in front of all those people.

haha thats awesome…props to travis. im white and i do racial jokes and slurs all the time but i do it in front of friends and people who know im not racist. racism is a disease and its pathetic…im not dumb enough2 go to a concert and offend the singer of a band and get hit with a microphone…hahah thats fuckin awesome

thinking about rap and hip hop today; nigger is used frequently. whether it be in a loving friendly way; or rude and offensive. “violence is never the answer” is true. but i think it is better than what could have happened. the man in the crowd said what he said to get a reaction out of travis, maybe him getting hit with a mic wasn’t it, but that guy definitely wanted something to go down.

But wasn’t the man black who said that go Travis?:

when a black audience member near the front row called the New York-based singer a “——- ignorant ——.”

I’m confused.