Everclear Members Deny Assault Charges
A 17-year-old girl whom Everclear singer Art Alexakis and touring guitarist Brian Lehfeldt
are accused of assaulting at a gig two weeks ago had thrown a cup of liquid at the stage
and screamed, cursed and spit at bandmembers, the group said Tuesday.
The teen's lawyer laughed Wednesday (Aug. 11) at the band's response, and said, "I
have at least a dozen witnesses who will contradict that story."
The fan, whom police and the lawyer declined to name because she is a minor, filed
assault charges Friday against Alexakis and Lehfeldt, claiming they attacked her during
an "If You Don't Know, You Don't Go" promotional concert sponsored by Coca-Cola on
July 31 in Austin, Texas. Both men were charged with misdemeanor assault, according
to Kevin Buchman, a spokesperson for the Austin Police Department.
In a statement denying the teenager's claims, Everclear said they were repeatedly hit
with objects from the crowd during the show at the Austin Music Hall, and they warned
the audience to stop or the show would be cut short.
After Alexakis was hit in the face with a cup full of liquid, the group left the stage,
according to the statement, which was attributed to the entire band. At that point, the
group claimed, the girl identified herself as the one who had thrown the cup, and was
escorted to the front of the crowd to be removed from the venue.
"As she neared the stage, she started screaming, cursing and spitting at Art and the
band," the statement said.
According to Everclear's account, a member of the band's road crew, agitated by the
girl's behavior, poured water on her. She grabbed his leg and tried to pull him off the
stage. He pulled his leg free, pushing her away. The statement said the teenager was
ejected, and that police interviewed the band and determined no injury had occurred.
The girl's lawyer, Glynn Turquand, said his client was escorted out of the venue after the
incident and was not hospitalized.
"After investigating the incident and doing interviews, we determined that charges were
warranted and those charges were made," Buchman said. Warrants were issued for both
men Friday, and the pair "would not help their case any" if they fail to turn themselves in,
Buchman said.
Alexakis, whose pop-rock band is known for such hits as "Father of Mine"
(RealAudio excerpt) and "Santa
Monica" (RealAudio excerpt), was charged
with simple assault by contact. Lehfeldt was charged with the more serious crime of
assault with injury.
Buchman would not elaborate on what specific acts the men are accused of, citing an
ongoing investigation.
Bond for Lehfeldt was set at $6,500 and no bond was set for Alexakis. An Aug. 24 court
date has been set for Alexakis, who faces a fine of no more than $475, according to a
representative of the Austin Municipal Court clerk. No court information was available for
Lehfeldt.
Turquand declined to say whether his client plans to pursue a civil suit against
bandmembers or the club.
In March, an Everclear fan who suffered head and neck injuries in a stagediving accident
at a Nov. 11, 1997, show in Boston settled with the group for an undisclosed amount of
money. Tameeka Messier, who was 23 at the time of the accident, was hurt when a New
England Patriots football player leaped from the stage of the Paradise nightclub. Messier
had surgery to remove two herniated disks from her neck and to fuse three vertebrae.
The Boston Globe reported shortly before the settlement that Messier's lawyers
were discussing a $1.2 million deal with the band, the club and two football players.