Pitchfork: Man in Skates Climbs NYC Globe Statue, Throws a Bunch of Black Lips Fliers, Eats Orange, Gets Arrested

Man in Skates Climbs NYC Globe Statue, Throws a Bunch of Black Lips Fliers, Eats Orange, Gets Arrested
UPDATE: The band responds!

Photo by Ade in New York, via Gothamist

The boys in the Black Lips would be the first to tell you what bad kids they are. But when they become a toxic influence on their fans, well, we may have an epidemic on our hands. According to a story in The New York Times yesterday...

A 57-year-old man wearing in-line skates climbed atop the large metal globe outside the Trump International Hotel and Tower at Columbus Circle and threw out confetti and fliers promoting a rock band before being arrested, the police said. The man, identified as Richard Fredette of East 10th Street, climbed into the globe at 1 Central Park West shortly before 2:30 p.m. Witnesses said Mr. Fredette then climbed to the top, pulled an orange out of his pocket and held it aloft. "Then he started eating it," said Sarah Shenfeld, 24, of Bushwick, Brooklyn. After throwing the fliers, he descended voluntarily, with help from officers. Mr. Fredette was charged with criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct, the police said. Asked what the police believed to be the motivation for the stunt, a lieutenant said, "Publicity."

Although the band's label, Vice, claims to have had nothing to do with this, they were able to confirm that the band in question was, indeed, the Black Lips.

The Black Lips play a few times in NYC today and tomorrow, though we suspect legal reasons may keep Fredette away. Shame. We think he would have particularly enjoyed the "Black Lips Circus and Bad Kids Parade", which starts at the Williamsburg record store Sound Fix and ends at the band's gig at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, a few blocks away.

Perhaps he-- and you-- can catch those Black Lips elsewhere as they wreak havoc on tour for the next month or so. Dates after the jump.

UPDATE: The Black Lips posted the following message on their MySpace blog this afternoon:

"We, the Black Lips, would like to send our love to this super fan. We would like to add that He, Richard Fredette, will be added to the Black Lips guest list for both New York Shows if he'd like to come out.

Bowery Ballroom- Sept. 18
Music Hall of Williamsburg- Sept. 19

We've never met or talked to Richard before, but we now hear his cry and are beginning to understand his appreciation for the Black Lips. Although we don't condone risking your life on roller skates to help promote our shows, we do think doing it on top of the world is pretty cool!

Luv, Black Lips"

09-18 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom *
09-19 Brooklyn, NY - Sound Fix (parade)
09-19 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg *
09-20 Worcester, MA - The Grind (Clark University) *
09-21 Cambridge, MA - Middle East Upstairs *
09-22 Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rossa *
09-23 Toronto, Ontario - The Horseshoe Tavern *
09-25 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick *
09-26 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom *
09-27 Covington, KY - The Mad Hatter
09-28 Chicago, IL - Logan Square Auditorium *
09-29 Milwaukee, WI - Mad Planet *
09-30 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock *
10-02 Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room *
10-03 Kansas City, MO - Grand Emporium *
10-04 Dallas, TX - The Loft *
10-05 Austin, TX - Emo's *
10-06 Houston, TX - The Engine Room *
10-07 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks *
10-11 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards
10-12 Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe
10-13 Portland, OR - Dante's
10-15 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
10-17 Pomona, CA - Glass House
10-18 San Diego, CA - Casbah
10-19 West Hollywood, CA - Troudabor
10-20 Los Angeles, CA - Echoplex
11-02 London, England - Forum (Release the Bats ATP)

* with the Selmanaires