Don McLean performing during the spectacular July 4 Stars and Stripes celebration at Portland’s East Promenade in 2013. Derek Davis / Staff Photographer
Singer-songwriter Don McLean has retired from performing at an annual National Rifle Association meeting in Houston this weekend after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school on Tuesday.
“In light of recent events in Texas, I have decided that it would be disrespectful and hurtful for me to act for the NRA at its convention in Houston this week,” he said in a statement. “I’m sure all the people who plan to attend this event are also shocked and sick by these events. After all, we are all Americans. I share the pain of this terrible and cruel loss with the rest of the nation.”
A McLean representative sent the statement to the Press Herald on Wednesday afternoon in response to questions sent earlier in the day about the Camden resident’s involvement in the event.
McLean appears alongside several musicians for the NRA Grand Ole Night of Freedom concert on Saturday at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Also included in the lineup are country artists Danielle Peck, T. Graham Brown, Larry Gatlin, Larry Stewart, Jacob Bryant and Lee Greenwood, whose song “God Bless the USA” has become a conservative anthem and is he plays regularly at Republican events, such as demonstrations organized by former President Donald Trump.
Like Greenwood, McLean is best known for a song, the iconic and long-awaited 1971 hit “American Pie.” Unlike Greenwood, McLean has not been associated with conservative causes.
However, several people on social media on Wednesday asked the singer to drop out of performance in the face of Tuesday’s massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
Thomas Countryman, a former State Department official, posted on Twitter: “@donmclean has been one of my favorite artists for 50 years, and he planned to attend his next concert. But if, as reported, it’s time at the NRA convention this weekend, after 20 people were killed in Texas, I’m going to burn my CDs and music books. “
@donmclean has been one of my favorite artists for 50 years and was planning to attend his next concert. But if, as reported, it hits the NRA convention this weekend, after 20 people were killed in Texas, I will burn my CDs and music books.
– Thomas M. Countryman (@TMCountryman) May 25, 2022
Chris Willman, senior music writer and chief music critic at Variety, published a pamphlet with concert programming and wrote, sarcastically, “It fits in perfectly with Don McLean’s reputation as the funniest guy in rock and roll.”
It fits in perfectly with Don McLean’s reputation as the most enjoyable type of rock and roll pic.twitter.com/B7ZcFlP2gK
– Chris Willman (@ChrisWillman) May 25, 2022
McLean was arrested in 2016 for domestic violence against his then-wife, Patrisha McLean, at his home in Camden. McLean eventually pleaded guilty to some charges, while others were dropped.
Her daughter, Jackie McLean, who acts as part of the indie-pop duo Roan Yellowthorn, told Rolling Stone last year that her father had been emotionally abusing her for years. She said she was terrified of her father as she grew up in the family’s isolated home in Camden.
Don McLean has denied the allegations and said he has disinherited her.
Public accusations have not altered McLean’s career. He has continued to tour and make appearances, especially last year, when his best-known song reached its 50th anniversary. Most recently, McLean teamed up with World Boxing Council and heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in a new version of “American Pie.”
Patrisha McLean has expressed her disappointment that her ex-husband’s criminal record has not harmed her career. She has spoken publicly about her dealings with her and has been an advocate for victims of domestic violence in general. She declined to comment Wednesday about her ex-husband’s original decision to act at the NRA meeting or his decision to retire.
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