Modest Mouse has dropped guitarist Simon O’Connor from its touring lineup after online allegations against the musician.
The band took to Instagram on Friday, July 31, to share an “upcoming tour update” announcing the move.
“Simon O’Connor will not be joining us on the upcoming tour,” the band wrote. “The good news is that Seth Jabour of Les Savy Fav will be jumping in to play guitar. We look forward to being out there with you all.”
The indie rock band did not explain the reason behind the move, or clarify if O’Connor is still a member of the band. The guitarist joined Modest Mouse’s ever-changing lineup in 2021 and was featured on its latest album, June’s “An Eraser and a Maze.”
USA TODAY has reached out to Modest Mouse’s reps for comment.
The current lineup includes lead singer/guitarist and founding member Isaac Brock, bass guitarist Russell Higbee, percussionist Ben Massarella, keyboardist Keith Karman and drummer Damon Cox, who replaced late founding drummer Jeremiah Green following his 2023 death.
Modest Mouse removes guitarist after accusations on Reddit
O’Connor’s removal from Modest Mouse’s touring lineup comes after accusations made by a Reddit user in the band’s fan subreddit on July 26, who said the guitarist, 42, sent them “an erotic image” and commented on their “bikini pics.” The user said they were 16 when the photos were taken.
The user also attached images of the alleged Instagram DM exchange with a person appearing to be O’Connor, in which the musician sent and deleted messages to the user. One included an erotic meme, and in another, he apologized but said the Reddit user “did blindside me with a gaggle of likes and then very little intro besides bikini pics so we are both to blame.”
A day later, the musician responded with his own post in the subreddit, which moderators confirmed was legitimate. O’Connor wrote he “unequivocally” opposes “any sexual behavior towards minors, as a human and a parent,” and said that he erroneously believed the Reddit user to be someone who had been harassing him for some time.
“This person creates multiple social media accounts and deletes them… but always posts similar photos that I often recognize from previous accounts,” O’Connor alleged. “After a few minutes, I realized that I had made a mistake and this was not the person who I had dealt with before. I unsent the messages and immediately ceased communication.”
He continued, “I’m genuinely sorry to the person who received those messages. They didn’t deserve to be put in that position, and I’m sorry for the stress and attention this has brought them.”
Modest Mouse tour dates 2026
The band is headed out on tour from August to October, with over 40 stops across North America. The tour kicks off Aug. 4 in Ojai, California, and includes appearances at the Hoochenanny Festival, Shaky Knees Festival, Alaska State Fair and a set opening for My Chemical Romance. The tour wraps on Oct. 24 in Sacramento, California.
View the full list of dates on their website.