Indie rockers Low aren’t often ones for controversy, so it was surprising when singer Alan Sparhawk posted on Twitter about losing a gig because of his so-called “ganja history” on June 25.
Is it uncoool to make public the fact that I just got kicked off a gig because the corporate sponsor heard about my ganja history? Probably.
— Low (@lowtheband) June 25, 2014
Fans wanted to know who the offending sponsor was.
@lowtheband Nah, you didn't mention the sponsor.
So who was the sponsor?
— George M (@gmiddleb) June 25, 2014
Then fans got snarky.
@lowtheband This is why it's so rare for a musician to smoke herb.
— Luke Heiken (@lukeheiken) June 25, 2014
And then fans got really snarky.
@lowtheband you guys were a horrible fit for Chic-Fil-A West anyways.
— Don House (@Donniemarvelous) June 25, 2014
But Low refused to name the sponsor.
I won't say who, don't want to jeopardize person who advocated for us, but its a company I love, who markets to music fans. #Bigandignorant.
— Low (@lowtheband) June 25, 2014
Fans were generally supportive.
@lowtheband Maybe someone should tell them music fans have been known to like a bit of weed from time to time
— Abronsius (@SoTiredzzz) June 25, 2014
Low closed the conversation with a poignant, if still vague, observation — and a #done.
Its fine. They can manage their image however they want. Meanwhile they keep making money off of stoners and what some of the create. #done
— Low (@lowtheband) June 25, 2014
It’s impossible to say what exactly happened, though Sparhawk has spoken about his pot use in the past. Emails to Low’s independent publicist and their label Sub Pop’s publicity team went unanswered on the afternoon of June 25.