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Home > Austin Music Source > Archives > 2009 > April > 23 > Entry
Intraband violence puts damper on Hancock release party
Wednesday was supposed to be a big night for Wayne “the Train” Hancock, who had a CD release show for “Viper of Melody” in Chicago, the home of his label, Bloodshot Records. Instead a “shocked and angry” Hancock spent the afternoon rehearsing a new steel player and guitarist.
On Sunday at about 2 a.m. in Kansas City, Hancock and bassist Huck Johnson rushed steel player Tony Locke to the emergency room with his face badly swollen and bloody, after an altercation with the band’s guitarist Izzy Zaidman.
Zaidman said it was a fair fight; Locke said he was suckerpunched, then kicked repeatedly in the face when he was down.
“Tony was drunk and belligerent and he picked a fight with me,” said Zaidman, who was fired from the band after playing a show in St. Louis the next night. Locke said he pressed charges in Kansas City on Tuesday. He returned to Austin on Wednesday.
“That’s a blatant lie,” Locke said, when told of Zaidman’s version of events. “We had a verbal disagreement in the hotel room and I turned around to leave. That’s when Izzy coldcocked me from behind. He then kicked me repeatedly in the head and the face and the ribs.” He said he was in and out of consciousness during the beating.
Locke said Hancock and Johnson encouraged him to check out of the hospital before the cops arrived. “They said there’d be no more gigs for the band if I filed a police report,” Locke said. Hancock said that’s not correct, that it was Locke’s decision to not press charges at the time.
A gruesome photo of Locke’s face in the aftermath has been circulating around Austin, stirring much outrage against Zaidman, a native New Yorker. “I know it looks bad, but I didn’t coldcock him, as some people are saying, and I didn’t kick him in the face. He had his fists up and was ready to fight.” Zaidman said much of the facial damage happened when the two were wrestling on concrete. “Did I lose it? Maybe, but my fight instincts kicked in and I felt I was defending myself.”
Hancock said his guitarist went too far. “I regret that I didn’t fire Izzy on the spot in Kansas City,” the country singer said. “You have to understand that we’re on tour. We have a new record. The label doesn’t want to see us canceling any shows.”
Zaidman said he’s aware there’s a lot of anger toward him and he’s made Austin Police aware of some of the threatening emails he’s received.
“I am truly sorry for what happened,” said Zaidman, who had been in Hancock’s band about 10 months. “I’ve been trying to apologize to Tony, but he won’t take my calls.”
Hancock said he stands by his steel player. “The first thing I want to make sure is that Tony’s medical bills are taken care of,” said Hancock, who added a benefit concert may be in the offing. “As for Izzy, I hope they send him to jail.”
Comments
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By WTF
April 23, 2009 4:54 PM | Link to this
“You have to understand that we’re on tour. We have a new record. The label doesn’t want to see us canceling any shows”
Tour or not, how can Hancock keep this guy while also hoping that they send him to jail. Too many great guitar players out there that could pick up the slack. They are already rehearsing a new steel player…..
By Susan
April 23, 2009 5:37 PM | Link to this
One look at Tony’s picture should allow anyone with common sense to realize that the damage done to Tony was not done by wrestling on concrete. That a ridiculous thing to say. This was a brutal assault, not a fair fight. Tony is bigger and stronger than Izzy. There is no way this was a fair fight without Izzy receiving some damage- which by witness accounts, he does not have a scratch on him. Tony was knocked unconscious from behind and kicked in the head repeatedly with a steel toed boot while he was out. He then was left alone in a hotel hallway bleeding and still unconscious. Again, take a good look at the photo and make a judgment on whose version of the story is more believable. Fights happen among band members, that is not uncommon, but a fight is one thing, this was a brutal attack by a coward. Tony is so lucky to be alive.
By Rick Alexander
April 23, 2009 6:36 PM | Link to this
Tony is a good guy - a wonderful human being. I don’t know why anyone would want to hurt him, especially a bandmate. This is clearly not a “fair fight”, but a brutal attack carried out in a fit of rage. He could have been killed, and almost was. Injuries this extensive will undoubtedly affect Tony the rest of his life. This is a tragedy on many levels. But the most important consideration now is to assure that Tony’s medical is taken care of.
By Stan
April 23, 2009 10:48 PM | Link to this
Wow, that pic, wow, just horrible.
Band fights usually result in words before the gig, but harmony onstage.
Just horrible.
By Winegal
April 24, 2009 12:55 AM | Link to this
I am furious. I used to work with Anthony and he is, and has always been a wonderful person. My brother was recently the victim of a very similar crime and he is now recovering from a fractured skull and serious brain injury—I, along with everyone else I’m sure, am very worried for Tony and I hope he won’t have long term damage. Drunk or not, there is never an excuse for the physical abuse that Tony endured and I’m not really interested in the fact that Zaidman is a New Yorker, I’m not feeling hostile towards him because he’s a Yankee, I’m hostile because he is an awful person. “Did I lose it? Maybe […]” Not “maybe,” yes. You absolutely did. If it was a fair fight (which is ridiculous), then I’d like to see Zaidman’s swollen face and hospital bills. Actually, never mind, I’d prefer to settle for his mugshot.
By Chickrock
April 24, 2009 1:02 AM | Link to this
“You have to understand that we’re on tour. We have a new record. The label doesn’t want to see us canceling any shows”
I’m pretty sure that the beautiful and humane people at Bloodshot Records would’ve understood if you had to cancel a few shows over something as serious as one band member beating another one within an inch of his life! Seriously.
By Bruce
April 24, 2009 1:38 AM | Link to this
The photo - unfortunately - looks much like I did after taking a licking and a kicking from 3 guys. No way this was a “fair fight;” you have to strike some repeatedly to injure them this badly.
By Scott Unzicker
April 24, 2009 2:02 AM | Link to this
How many of you were there?
By DM
April 24, 2009 6:29 AM | Link to this
This guy Izzy is whining about how Tony won’t take his phone calls? Really? He beats him almost to death and is confused about why they can’t “hug it out”. Izzy is both completely delusional and violent which does not make for a good combination.
I’m sure that TOny’s medical bills will be extensive and chances are he does not have insurance. I can only hope that Wayne will help since this was a tour for his record. Keep your word Wayne-your reputation has already been damaged by continuing to tour with a pathological deadbeat. And Izzy-nothing says I’m sorry like cash $$$$$ so hang up the phone and put your money where your filthy mouth is…
By Brendon Bigelow
April 24, 2009 12:13 PM | Link to this
First off… Let me say that I am not defending Izzy in any way. This is a horrible tragedy and I’m absolutely stunned by it.
I am, however, defending Wayne Hancock and would ask everyone to consider a few things. This infraction happened at 2 a.m. on Sunday morning. The gig they went on to play was that night. Wayne would have been hard pressed to cancel a road show on the day of the show. Especially when there were probably advance ticket sales. It takes many years to build business relationships with venues. One can’t just forget about the responsibility tied to those relationships when something goes wrong. One also has to consider the relationship between the venue and the label. If that becomes compromised, all the acts on that label could suffer.
There is one other thing. What Tony needs now is money. The best way to NOT make that money is to NOT play shows. Everyone is so outraged that Wayne played the show on the 19th. Maybe he did that to help pay for what was most likely a giant emergency room bill. Maybe not… But I’d like to know for sure before I condemn him.
Wether you agree with me or not, let’s all join together in support of tony. He’s a great guy and a talented cat.
By Mike Neer
April 24, 2009 1:18 PM | Link to this
I spoke with Tony a day after this happened. He contacted me to see if I could fill in for him (can you believe it?) He is a good guy who didn’t deserve the savage beating he got, no matter what the circumstances were—“even if he pissed on Izzy’s head”, as a friend of mine said.
That said, I don’t condemn Wayne for the mistake he made. From all accounts, he is a good guy. I have a friend who’s filling in now and I just hope there’s no animosity thrown his way. Wayne made a mistake—we’re all human. He admitted it and genuinely seems like he feels bad about it. After all, I don’t think Wayne anticipated something like this happening and it has to be an incredible shock to him.
The most important thing is, I hope Tony has a speedy recovery and I’m starting a collection for Tony to help him recover some of his lost wages. I hope Wayne follows up and helps with the medical bills. I spoke to Tony about this, because he is pretty humble cat. Anyone interested in making a donation, please contact me at mdneer@hotmail.com
Tony, I hope you get well soon, pal, and I hope to see you in NY in May. Mike
By Gnat
April 24, 2009 3:49 PM | Link to this
Wow this is terrible. Saw Wayne the Train and briefly met Tony through a friend last year, when the band came through LA. I hope everyone doesn’t get stuck on the fact that Hancock didn’t cancel that one gig that happened the night of the beating. I think he probably did the best he could in a truly effed up situation. Hope Tony gets well soon.
By Dianne Scott
April 24, 2009 4:35 PM | Link to this
Wayne is devastated, and would have been even if he hadn’t felt the heat of so much backlash. He shouldn’t have kept Izzy in the band for one more show, but he did what he thought was best at the time. Izzy was fired the very next day and replacements were sought immediately - a permanent replacement for Izzy and a temporary replacement for Anthony. Wayne has offered to pay for Anthony’s medical expenses. I’m not suggesting that you have to applaud him for doing the right thing, but just cut him some slack. The blame in all of this lies clearly on Izzy’s shoulders, not Wayne’s. Now Izzy has the nerve to say that he can’t contribute to Anthony’s medical expenses because he doesn’t have a gig with Wayne anymore? What kind of reverse logic is that?? And he wants to have the band back together again, just like nothing happened? He is totally delusional. And obviously dangerous. Anthony’s physical, emotional & financial well-being should be everyone’s focus now. Not who’s to blame, as that’s already been well established. Dianne
By Caroline Casey
April 24, 2009 8:17 PM | Link to this
There really isn’t much Izzy can say to his defense, the picture clearly corroborate’s Anthony’s story. Not to mention so many of us have known him and worked with Anthony over the years and have a pretty good sense of the person he is.
I’m really glad Wayne changed his mind about the whole hospital bill thing. Even though Tony still had to hitch a ride to Austin with the parents of a friend in order to get back home…two days later.
No matter what happens, who made mistakes, who made apologies, Wayne’s rep is unfortunately tarnished and the Austin music community has suffered greatly. It’s a shame any way you look at it.
Get well, Anthony…we love you!
By Blaine
April 25, 2009 10:02 AM | Link to this
Did you read? He fired the guitar player and is rehearsing anther one as well…
By Caroline Casey
April 25, 2009 5:18 PM | Link to this
ALSO, a benefit for Tony is being planned by Wayne’s band…so maybe both some real healing of the community can begin in earnest after this unfortunate event. Thanks, Wayne!
By Doodoo
April 26, 2009 3:25 PM | Link to this
this should be great for record sales!!
By BIGGDAD
April 27, 2009 12:51 AM | Link to this
Wayne’s reputation is fine. He covered his butt on the gig and did the right thing. Apparently, Tony has no problem with Wayne, as he was trying to get the gigs covered. That says a lot about his character. I wish him a speedy recovery and I hope to see y’all at the benefit.
By Jimbo
April 27, 2009 7:06 AM | Link to this
You all need to back off of Wayne. Hindsight is 20/20. Its evident that those of you knocking Wayne have never been involved in booking or touring. Now, eat crow Mr. and Mrs. Hancock and get Eddie back on board!
Get well Tony! Donation on the way.
By Sorry For Bad Joke
April 27, 2009 12:39 PM | Link to this
Can I raise a practical question at this point? Are we gonna do “Stonehenge” tomorrow?
By Geez
April 27, 2009 2:54 PM | Link to this
Wow almost like a hollywood sage here.
First off no one from this board were there. Only those two know. Ive been in a few fights were I was not the aggressor, but have been able to come out unhurt and the other worse of than this fellow.
Angers flare, fights happen and if its drinkin’ fueled than im sure details can get hazy…let them figure it out and not put on trail on the voice of opinions of people who were not there.
Godspeed to all directly involed
By MSPEPE AND PEPE MELANCON
April 27, 2009 3:16 PM | Link to this
We have been friends w/ Tony’s parents for a long long time and they are beautiful and kind people as is Tony. They are all in our thoughts and prayers and good vibes are being sent their way across the miles and too little smiles(right now) Just got off the phone w/ Gil T and wished I could have given him a big hug over the telephone lines. The sky is crying and Instant Karma is gonna find the good and the bad. Who/what/when/where is the benefit ??
By Sagebrush Boogie
April 27, 2009 3:48 PM | Link to this
First off, I’d like to express my sympathy to the great Tony Locke…at Wayne’s Atlanta gig not long ago, I remarked to Wayne that Tony sounded a heck of a lot like Jerry Byrd, a compliment for any steel player. With the loss of most of his band, I think Wayne should get Dave Biller and Jeremy Wakefield back in the band, at least for the tour. Sure, a little more money, but probably the best guitar & steel combo that Wayne has ever had. They’re monsters, and seem like sober young men.
By BIGGDAD
April 27, 2009 11:15 PM | Link to this
@ms pepe and pepe melancon
Wayne posted a bulletin on myspace stating that the benefit will be held May 10 @ the Continental Club in Austin. The bulletin also said that if any bands were interested in playing the benefit to contact Wayne on his myspace account.
By Bobby D.
May 10, 2009 11:47 AM | Link to this
Wow,this hurts me.I met Tony in Buffalo and he was a super nice guy. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope returns with the band the next time there in town.
By another tony
June 22, 2009 1:28 PM | Link to this
Devils advocate : I’m a street fighter who argues his point to conclusion , including ‘fist-to-cuffs’ if nessecery. i also know the strains of crossing this great country in a van with other musicians. now , if a ‘bigger man’ is argueing with me and threatens me , i will take him down by any means possible , then i will make sure he does not get back up to continue his side of the arguement. all is fair in a fist fight.what ever happened to “to the winner goes the spoils” and “the victor gets to write the history” ? i feel so sorry for Tony , but my opinion is that he simply lost the arguement to a smaller man this time.
By brendancalling
June 27, 2009 11:04 AM | Link to this
gues my comment didn’t make it in? anyway, I’ll repeat it. I’ve known Izzy Zaidman for almost a decade and have toured with him as well. this story seems EXTREMELY out of character for Izzy. I’ve never seen him raise a finger to anyone in the 10 years I’ve known him. In fact, I’ve seen him talk his way out of fights on a few occassions.
Was anyone commenting here a witness to what happened? cus if not, you have no business siding with one or the other.
Just seems like a mess to me.