[tigerstrat]

Leave it to a thread like this to bring out the haters. CF9.5, that's a despicably low blow about the Jones Beach incident- you better hope nobody catches you innocently befriending a younger person. Get real.

To address the question, I would guess Jerry probably had someone expose him to some Phish music sometime between say 92-95, given that they were a BGP promoted band. I believe Bill's son David brought them into the fold around 91-92. As far as what JG thought of them, I haven't heard anything, but I would guess he got a minor kick out of some of their recordings, but that he may have not connected with many of the lyrics, as the common complaint goes. I'd love to hear anything about this.

[Crazy 9.5 Fingers]

Tiger, let's get a few things straight, I love Phish. Saw them about 80 times between 92 and the end so I wouldn't call me a hater.

I have also met Mike a few times and when that whole incident happened, I can't say I was all that surprised. Maybe before you start blasting away the "get real" comment, maybe you should remove the blinders bro. Lemme guess, he was set up by a sting operation right? Nassau County cops have nothing better to do right? If there are facts that have been brought out that I don't know about, then bring them as I am interested to hear them, but it seemed pretty clear, at least around Long Island and in the NYC media, that it was not as innocent as Mike would like us to believe.

[BlobWeird]

TS I dont think he was all that serious about that comment man. You just took it a bit too seriously

[gratephulphish123]

TS I dont think he was all that serious about that comment man. You just took it a bit too seriously

his new post says he totally meant it and i'm kind of disgusted. no one can ever give anyone else the benefit of the doubt, granted mikes a strange guy but just because he's a bit odd doesn't mean he's a child molester. society as a whole seems to be way over paranoid about child molesters and i think that unless theres substantial evidence to suggest mike did anything wrong he shouldn't be branded.

[tigerstrat]

Tiger, let's get a few things straight, I love Phish. Saw them about 80 times between 92 and the end so I wouldn't call me a hater.

I have also met Mike a few times and when that whole incident happened, I can't say I was all that surprised. Maybe before you start blasting away the "get real" comment, maybe you should remove the blinders bro. Lemme guess, he was set up by a sting operation right? Nassau County cops have nothing better to do right? If there are facts that have been brought out that I don't know about, then bring them as I am interested to hear them, but it seemed pretty clear, at least around Long Island and in the NYC media, that it was not as innocent as Mike would like us to believe.

If I have any facts? It sounds like you are trying to imply that you have info and/or impressions that the rest of us may not. I never researched it to death, nor am I plugged into the Long Island "buzz", but the last I heard, the parents (where the hell were they at the time anyway?) admitted it was all a huge misunderstanding, and that's all I know about the case. I don't know why I would think otherwise.

And if you were joking, then whatever- maybe I didn't realize because I don't joke about that kind of thing.

[Crazy 9.5 Fingers]

OK, I'll play.

One thing that is fact is that Mike did take a 9 year old girl to a secluded boathouse, away from anyone and asked her if he could take art photographs of her. What happened besides that in the boathouse, we will never know.

They released a joint statement soon after saying it was a misunderstanding, which is exactly what any smart parent would do to avoid a media shit storm around their child. Maybe the only smart thing the parents did.

I am sorry if you guys are disgusted that I would assume he was up to no good but do you honestly think it is decent and acceptable behavior to take a little girl to a secluded place and take pictures of her? If so remind me not to invite you to the Crazy 9.5 Fingers BBQ next year.

And as far as giving people the benefit of the doubt, why should I? How many scumbags do you hear about every day on the news? The reality is there a ton of sick ass people on the planet and they are more than often the guy next door. Why can't Mike be that guy? Because he is a bass player in a band that I love? I am sure you guys wouldn't be so quick to say it was all bullshit if it was the creepy dude who lived down the block from you and not Mike Gordon who took a 9 year old to a secluded place.

It was meant as a joke, but since you guys were so offended I thought it would be a juicy topic despite its being a few years old.

What if the person who took this girl to the boathouse was one of PHISH's truck drivers? Or another faceless member of the road crew? Would you be so quick to assume innocence. And before anyone gives me the old innocent until proven guilty speech, innocent people do not take 9 year old girls you don't know to a remote place and take pictures. There is no way anyone can tell me his motives were altruistic and innocent.

[LazyLightnin]

a bit too circumstantial for my better judgement. but not being a phish fan i could care less. i just hope that the little girl really wasnt abused in any way. he wouldnt be the first celeb/musician/artist to have these problems.

[strumminsix]

For the record I see no reason for a grown man to take a child to a secluded spot. Nothing good can come from it. We've all heard negative rumors about people we idolize.

I've heard nasty things about Bobby and Jerry and I'm sure some are true but that only means they are human and fallible so I'll enjoy their music and use it as a reminder they are human.

[SYFrightoffyourhead]

come on guys, lets not turn this into a Gordo bashing thread. i love phish and think that whole incident was a misunderstanding, but thats beside the point (i thought TS's comment was pretty funny and i love Mike, i call his hotline all the time). thanks for some interesting posts on the Jerry/Phish topic guys, im out-peace!

[grateful4booze]

If I caught that asshole doing that to my 6 year old daughter he'd be sleeping with the fish. He'd be very sorry.

[grateful4booze]

In a lighter note, Jerry probably wished that Phish would move so he could sit down.

[Rev_Roach]

wasnt the father of the girl a Hell's Angel? This is purely speculation, but my guess would be that Mike tried to take pictures but didn't do any touching. The girl's father was satisfied with roughing Mike up a little bit and not pursuing legal or media options, particularly since he is anti-authoritarian biker type.

[tigerstrat]

I don't know that anyone here is intimate enough with the facts of what did or did not happen, or even what is even alleged to have happened to be passing judgement and dragging someone's name through excrement. It seems hateful, and exactly the kind of paranoia and suspicion that is the mainstream media's bread and butter. A child-raper next door... a meth lab across the street... terrorists on every flight... e coli in your spinach.

[BlobWeird]

I dont know ANYTHING really about this incident but ill just comment on the few things people here said. Umm even if he WAS innocent. He shouldve been tried to the very end of the earth till he was PROVEN beyond a f'in shadow of a doubt that he WAS innocent. I dont care if he didnt touch the girl. You dont take pictures, pornographic or even frikkin yearbook pictures, without the parents consent. Thats plain and simple. If its proven he never asked the girl and dragged her there then whatever. But from what it seems it hasnt been proven so I think F him. I love Phish but I can give a damn less about that when it comes to a situation like this. If Jerry did somethin like that I wouldnt think twice about reacting the same way.

[krzykat]

wasnt the father of the girl a Hell's Angel? This is purely speculation, but my guess would be that Mike tried to take pictures but didn't do any touching. The girl's father was satisfied with roughing Mike up a little bit and not pursuing legal or media options, particularly since he is anti-authoritarian biker type.

this is the part about it that makes me think o.k. the parents didn't press charges, but gordon didn't press charges either. if he didn't do anything wouldn't he have pressed assault charges?

(devils advocate)