Fur Patrol hit back at Chris Bishop’s ‘crap’ music awards comment, David Seymour wades in

• David Seymour commented on Chris Bishop’s “crap” remark at the Aotearoa Music Awards, defending his right to express opinions.
• Fur Patrol criticised Bishop’s comments, emphasising the importance of respecting diverse opinions and enjoying music.
• Don McGlashan confronted Bishop during the incident, telling him after his rant to “shut up”.

A popular Kiwi band has hit back at offensive comments by Government minister Chris Bishop describing a Stan Walker performance at this week’s Aotearoa Music Awards as a “load of crap”.

“You may have been wearing our T-shirt, Chris, but Fur Patrol do not agree with your rant,” the band posted on Saturday on social media.

New Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour has also waded in on Bishop’s controversial remarks, saying, “My first inclination is maybe he’s right”.

Bishop – who was photographed at Thursday night’s awards in a Fur Patrol T-shirt – yesterday admitted he should have kept his comments to himself after his utterance during a performance by Walker.

Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour says there may be people who agree with the "crap" comment made by Chris Bishop (inset) at the Aotearoa Music Awards. Photo / Dean Purcell

In a statement, Bishop confirmed saying something about performative acclaim and that he said “what a load of crap”. He claimed it referred to what he called the overtly political branding on display.

Speaking after being sworn in as the nation’s Deputy Prime Minister on Saturday, Seymour said: “I didn’t see the Stan Walker performance, so I can’t really judge, but I’ve known Chris Bishop for 10 years.

“He’s a pretty moderate sort of guy on most things.

“So my first inclination is maybe he’s right.”

Seymour said: “Without knowing anything more about it, some performances aren’t that great, and sometimes you’ve got to express yourself.”

He said that he hadn’t seen the performance but thought a lot of other people may agree with Bishop’s opinion.

Fur Patrol strike back at Bishop

Fur Patrol shared a firm message on Facebook in response to Bishop’s “rant” – noting he had been wearing the band’s merchandise.

“You may have been wearing our T-shirt, Chris, but Fur Patrol do not agree with your rant.”

The statement continued: “We love our country and all its diversity – and that includes the fact that we can have different opinions and still meet in the same mosh pit/dancefloor/seating row.

“We believe this is vital.”

The band went on to say they are expecting to see Bishop at the gig they are performing tonight.

“Chris, I’m 100% still up for that kōrero when you come to my gig tonight. If anything, even more so.

“We may not all like the same songs or styles, but it is inherently human that if there is a beat, we will dance to it.

“Sometimes, rather than grinchily poo-poo a different rhythm, you need to sit back and respectfully let those around you enjoy the moment.”

Stan Walker speaks to media at the Aotearoa Music Awards on Thursday. Photo / Sylvie Whinray

Seymour says people are entitled to express a view

When Seymour was asked whether Bishop may have been tired or emotional at the time he made the comment, Seymour said it wasn’t the case.

“No, I mean, Chris is one of the hardest-working people I know.

“He’s got one young boy and another young girl who’s come along very recently.

“So he puts in huge hours, but I wouldn’t put any innuendo around that.”

Seymour said the comment made by Bishop did not overshadow his own appointment as the new Deputy Prime Minister.

“I suspect that there’ll be people who think that Bishop was absolutely right, people who think he was wrong, people who don’t care.

“We shouldn’t be so concerned about people expressing a view.”

Seymour said people expressed all sorts of views about art.

“There are people who make all sorts of outlandish statements, and you know, any time that people want to start reporting all of them with equal judgment and critique, I’ll be right there. I might even subscribe.”

Music legend Don McGlashan took exception to Chris Bishop's comments at the Aotearoa Music Awards.

Musician Don McGlashan seen on video confronting Bishop

Renowned musician Don McGlashan was seen on a video of the incident confronting Bishop, but McGlashan said he did not realise at first that it was the minister.

“I could hear an enormous amount of ranting, kind of against the whole thing. I didn’t get the full gist of it, but it was basically – ‘the hīkoi is ages ago, sit down everybody’ – so this geezer was just ranting away and telling everybody to sit down,” McGlashan told RNZ.

“After a while I turned to him and said, ‘Ah, shut up you dickhead’ and I looked at him and I thought, ‘Oh, I know that face’. Then he said, ‘What did you say to me?’”

McGlashan said he again told Bishop to: “‘Shut up you dickhead’, and he said, ‘I could say the same to you’, and I said, ‘Well, I wasn’t talking and you were’. And then I realised I was talking to the Leader of the House”.

Walker has been approached for comment.

Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.