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“I Don’t Know How Many Times I’ve Told You About Swinging that Thing”: Rob Thomas Smacks His Matchbox Twenty Bandmate with a Mic Stand
Video shows Rob Thomas apologizing after a swinging mic stand hit Paul Doucette and briefly stopped Matchbox Twenty’s set, which later went viral online.
- On Sunday, August 16, 2026, Matchbox Twenty singer Rob Thomas accidentally struck bandmate Paul Doucette with a microphone stand during a performance at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. Doucette, the band's drummer and guitarist, left the stage visibly in pain.
- The 54-year-old singer admitted he was unaware Doucette stood behind him, explaining the move was part of his "decades-long mic twirling ritual." Thomas expressed immediate concern, telling the crowd, "My best friend in the world and I think I almost killed him."
- Video of the incident went viral, showing the 53-year-old guitarist removing shards of his smashed in-ear monitor on the tour bus. Doucette jokingly told the camera, "F***in' Rob!" as pieces were plucked from his ear.
- After receiving assistance, Doucette returned to the stage holding a drink and jokingly scolded Thomas, telling the audience, "I don't know how many times I've told you about swinging that f***ing thing." Thomas pledged to stop the habit.
- Matchbox Twenty continues their tour with upcoming performances in September at the Utah State Fair and the Oceans Calling Festival in Ocean City, Maryland. Thomas jokingly promised to apologize for the incident "all month" while the band moves forward.
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Rob Thomas Apologizes After ‘Almost Killing’ Matchbox Twenty Bandmate With Flying Mic Stand: ‘I Feel Like an Ass’
Rob Thomas apologized for "almost killing" his Matchbox Twenty bandmate Paul Doucette with a mic stand during a show in Illinois on Sunday (Aug.
·New York, United States
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“I don’t know how many times I’ve told you about swinging that thing”: Rob Thomas smacks his Matchbox Twenty bandmate with a mic stand
There were embarrassed looks and much apologising backstage at a Matchbox Twenty gig on Sunday night after frontman Rob Thomas accidentally clobbered one of his bandmates. The incident happened at the Illinois State Fair on Sunday night. Thomas was - as he does - swinging his mic stand around when he let go, and it hit his colleague Paul Doucette in the head. Footage from the concert shows the multi-instrumentalist, who was playing guitar at the…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources13
Leaning Left4Leaning Right2Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution46% Center
Bias Distribution
- 46% of the sources are Center
46% Center
L 36%
C 46%
R 18%
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