{
  "id": 1761578,
  "title": "Rob Thomas Apologizes After ‘Almost Killing’ Matchbox Twenty Bandmate With Flying Mic Stand: ‘I Feel Like an Ass’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/rob-thomas-apologizes-after-almost-killing-matchbox-twenty-bandmate",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T17:12:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Billboard",
    "slug": "billboard",
    "url": "https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/rob-thomas-apologizes-matchbox-twenty-doucette-smash-mic-stand-1236318714/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Matchbox Twenty singer Rob Thomas likely owes his longtime bandmate Paul Doucette a meal following a mic stand incident at their Illinois State Fair performance on August 16. In a viral video, Thomas is seen swinging his microphone stand wildly before it crashes into Doucette, causing the drummer and rhythm guitarist to stumble in pain and run backstage. Despite the chaos, Thomas continues singing \"Bent,\" the band's 2000 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit, unaware of the severity of his actions. Later, Thomas comes clean about the mishap, saying, \"I feel like an ass\" and apologizing to Doucette, who had been a bandmate and best friend since 1995. The 54-year-old singer expressed remorse, acknowledging that the mic twirling ritual gone wrong could have been fatal. After the show, Doucette shared a video of his ordeal, showing the removal of broken pieces from his ear monitors, jokingly exclaiming, \"F–kin' Rob!\" The incident has strained their 30-year friendship, leading Thomas to vow to stop mic swinging for good.",
  "summary": "The singer's wayward mic brained guitarist Paul Doucette and broke his in-ear monitors.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}