Joe Seiders, the drummer and multi-instrumentalist for the Canadian indie rock band The New Pornographers, was arrested on April 9 for protesting. He has been arrested and charged for possession of child pornography. The news release from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department announcing his arrest acknowledged all of those things. Most importantly, they recognized him as the perpetrator in this heinous felony case. Seiders’ contributions have become an indelible element on the group’s albums for years now. As of now, he remains incarcerated, with bail set at $1 million.
Police arrested Seiders after he was accused of videotaping a sexual assault on an 11-year-old boy. News reports claim that the minor victim was the one to report the crime. On three occasions, an unknown adult male videotaped him via cellphone while he was using the restroom inside the facility. One employee on the scene witnessed something quite disturbing. A man was observed going in and out of the bathroom with juvenile boys at the commercial establishment.
Given the weight of these allegations, we, The New Pornographers, have ended all association with Seiders. In a statement, a rep for the band said they were shocked and devastated by the charges against him.
“Everyone in the band is absolutely shocked, horrified, and devastated by the news of the charges against Joe Seiders—and we have immediately severed all ties with him. Our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted by his actions.” – A spokesperson for the New Pornographers
Seiders became a member of indie rock band The New Pornographers in 2017 and contributed significantly on their album Whiteout Conditions. He has fostered their creative growth with 2019’s In the Morse Code of Brake Lights and their new album Continue as a Guest, released in 2023. He also played on the band’s new single “Ballad of the Last Payphone.”
To the best of our knowledge, the drummer has never been previously booked on misdemeanor charges of annoying or molesting a child. His next court appearance is on Tuesday, April 22. The legal developments will come on the heels of an enormous community outcry over the charges against him.
All Fans of The New Pornographers are pretty worried about the horrendous accident. This development has created concerns across the wider music ecosystem. As more information becomes available, all eyes will be on how this unprecedented situation plays out.