After signing on to play a July 18 solo concert in Cleveland, Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh has pulled out of the show because he says he just discovered that it’s a launch event for the Republican National Convention.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the 68-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer explains, “It was my understanding that I was playing a concert which was a non partisan event to benefit the families of American veterans…Today it was announced that this event is, in fact, a launch for the Republican National Convention.”
Walsh adds that, in addition, taking part in the concert would mean that his name would “be used to raise sponsorship dollars for convention-related purposes.” He notes that because of these reasons, “I must humbly withdraw my participation in this event with apologies to any fans or veterans and their families that I might disappoint.”
In his note, Joe makes no bones about his negative feelings about the tenor of the 2016 Republican presidential campaign, while noting that he will try to schedule another show to benefit veterans at a later date.
“I am very concerned about the rampant vitriol, fear-mongering and bullying coming from the current Republican campaigns,” he writes. “It is both isolationist and spiteful. I cannot in good conscience endorse the Republican party in any way. I will look at doing a veteran related benefit concert later this year.”
The 2016 Republican National Convention will be held July 18-21 in Cleveland.
As previously reported, Walsh has plans to head out on a joint U.S. tour with Bad Company running from a May 12 show in Dallas through a July 3 concert in Nashville. Check out Joe’s full itinerary at JoeWalsh.com.
Copyright © 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.