Staind singer Aaron Lewis, apologises after forgetting words to US national anthem
Lewis was chosen to sing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ ahead of the baseball match between the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals at AT&T Park in San Francisco on Sunday (October 26), wrongly reciting some of the anthem’s lyrics in the process.
Lewis sang “What so proudly we hailed were so gallantly streaming” instead of “What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming” in the song’s second line. He has since apologised for the mistake.
“All I can say is I’m sorry and ask for the nation’s forgiveness. My nerves got the best of me and I am completely torn up about what happened,” Lewis said in a statement. “America is the greatest country in the world. ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ means so much to so many, including myself.”
He continued: “I hope everyone can understand the intensity of the situation and my true intent of this performance. I hope that the nation, Major League Baseball and the many fans of our national pastime can forgive me.”
The singer had previously criticised Christina Aguilera for her anthem performance at the SuperBowl, telling fans at a show: “I don’t understand how people that sing the national anthem can be so fucking self-absorbed that they would try to change that fucking song. If there is a single song in the history of this country that deserves no creative interpretation, it’s that one.”
In June, Lewis was filmed ranting at concertgoers in Kansas City for groping an underage fan whilst she was crowdsurfing. He told fans: “If I fucking see that shit again, I swear to god, I will point you out in the crowd and have everyone around you beat your fucking ass. Now girls: feel free to crowdsurf safely.”
Source: NME
