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Ariel Pink dropped by label over pro-Trump protest

By Andy Malt | Published on Monday 11 January 2021

Ariel Pink has been dropped by his record label Mexican Summer. The move comes after it emerged that the musician took part in that pro-Trump march in Washington DC last week – the one which resulted in a violent attack on the US Capitol building.

In a short statement on Twitter, the label said: “Due to recent events, Mexican Summer and its staff have decided to end our working relationship with Ariel Rosenberg, aka Ariel Pink, moving forward”.

Pink released his last studio album for the label, ‘Dedicated To Bobby Rosen’, in 2017. However, Mexican Summer is scheduled to released three rarities compilations by the musician at the end of this month. All three are currently still listed for sale on the label’s website.

Confirming that he had attended the Washington protest last week, Pink denied being involved in any violence, saying that he had been “in DC to peacefully show my support for the President”.

One musician who was involved in the attack on the Capitol building was Iced Earth guitarist Jon Schaffer. He is now wanted by the FBI after being photographed inside the home of the US Congress after the Trump mob smashed their way in.

In a post on Instagram over the weekend, Iced Earth bassist Luke Appleton, who lives in the UK, issued a statement on behalf of the band, distancing them from Schaffer’s actions. “We absolutely DO NOT condone nor do we support riots or the acts of violence that the rioters were involved in on 6 Jan at the US Capitol building”, he wrote. “We hope that all those involved that day are brought to justice to be investigated and answer for their actions”.