Gimee Three Steps, Mister

Lately I've noticed myself waxing between ranting and snarking about the tendencies of music people to isolate and remove themselves from fan contact. This story today made me feel a little dickish about my views:


AUSTIN, Texas — Country singer Billy Joe Shaver shot and wounded a man in self-defense outside a bar, his attorney said Monday.

A drunk, aggressive stranger with a knife followed Shaver into the parking lot of Papa Joe's Texas Saloon in Lorena on Saturday night, said Shaver's attorney, Joseph A. Turner of Austin. Turner would not say whether anything had occurred inside the bar.

Police in Lorena — about 80 miles north of Austin — have not issued an arrest warrant, but Shaver will turn himself in if they do, Turner said.

"We're working with the police to get this resolved," Turner said.

The victim was shot in the cheek but was talking and alert afterward, according to police.

(AP via chron.com)

Until I saw this at Billboard:

Arrest Warrant Issued For Billy Joe Shaver
Billy Joe Shaver
April 03, 2007, 10:45 AM ET
Police have issued arrest warrants for country singer Billy Joe Shaver after he shot and wounded a man outside a Texas bar, the entertainer's attorney said.

After Shaver left a bar in Lorena on Saturday night, a drunk, aggressive stranger with a knife followed him into the parking lot, said attorney Joseph A. Turner of Austin. Shaver shot him in self-defense, he said.

Police in Lorena, about 80 miles north of Austin, issued arrest warrants late yesterday (April 2) on charges of aggravated assault and possessing a firearm in a prohibited place, Turner said.


Any fan of Billy's knows what a Christian man he is, so shooting a man in the face has to have an explanation somehow that makes sense. Right? I mean, look at that photo above with David Allen Coe. He is sweet as can be. I guess fans are so crazy these days it just pays to keep a loaded gun handy at all times?