DAYGLO ABORTIONS – Canada’s punk rebels best known for songs that’d make your grandma clutch her pearls (see: “Feed Us a Fetus”) – caused a stir earlier this week when frontman MURRAY ACTON and drummer-turned-bassist MATTHEW FIORITO got hauled off to the slammer in Ashland County, Ohio on August 30th. Punk rock Shakespeare, this ain’t.
CTV News chatted with Fiorito’s dad, who was refreshingly Canadian about the whole thing: “They were on a massive cross-country tour… a big breakthrough!” he said, though he hadn’t even spoken to his son yet. As for why the cops went full Law & Order?
Enter WENDY FORSYTHE, Fiorito’s ex and mother of his kid, who turned Facebook into a real-time panic room starting August 30th. Her opening salvo:
“ATTN MUSICAL YANKS …
HELP!
KNOW ANY LAWYERS IN ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO?
MURRAY AND MATT FROM THE DAYGLOS ARE BOTH IN JAIL WITH UNSPECIFIED REASONING. ARRESTED YESTERDAY.
BEING CANADIAN? IMPROPER PAPERWORK?
GEEZUS. STOP. GOING. TO. TRUMPLAND.
ITS. NOT. SAFE.
THIS IS WORRISOME.”
By Sunday, slight progress: legal eagles were on the case, but no charges. Wendy, however, was already typing in ALL CAPS ANXIETY:
“US LAW IS SEVERE… ARRAIGNMENT WILL BE TUESDAY(HOLIDAY WEEKEND)… STILL FUCKING WORRIED”
Monday brought chaotic logistics: Who’s driving? Who’s drumming? And where’s the gear? Spoiler: the van was impounded, bassist SHANE PHOBIA was vibing at a hotel near “jail land,” and Wendy was crowdsourcing intel like a punk-rock Nancy Drew.
By Tuesday, ACTON walked free (charges mysteriously MIA), while FIORITO needed a bail hustle. His daughter SELEIGHNE hit up Facebook like:
“Pals, I think I am gonna need to rally some bail money for my pops… If you send anything my email is…”
The punk community delivered – because nothing says “solidarity” like Venmo-ing a stranger for a dude named Phobia. By Friday, bail was met, impound fees were due, and the crew had to… buy button-up shirts for court. Priorities!
The kicker? Turns out FIORITO got nabbed for possession of Schedule 1/2 substances. Oh, and Ashland County cops bought 10 band shirts post-arrest. Capitalism, baby!
Tour’s back on, because punk’s not dead – it’s just out on bail. Catch DAYGLO ABORTIONS smashing through these dates (with updated paperwork, we hope):
09/07 New Hope, PA @ John and Peter’s
09/09 Lynchburg, VA @ Super Rad Arcade
09/10 Raleigh, NC @ Kings
09/11 Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups
09/12 Richmond, VA @ Cobra Cabana
09/13 Spartanburg, SC @ Ground Zero
09/14 Charleston, SC @ Tin Roof
Pro tip for fans: Leave the “tour souvenirs” at home.
