Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen apologizes to Aimee Mann after she accuses band of sexism

Seems Aimee Mann didn’t appear like an ideal match to open for Steely Dan on the band’s twice-postponed summer season tour — however not for the explanation she initially suspected.

Mann urged it was sexism at work. However Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen took the blame, apologizing and saying in a press release that it was a matter of miscommunication and a perceived mismatch.

“I used to be purported to open for Steely Dan this summer season. I simply discovered that they took me off the invoice,” Mann wrote Wednesday evening in a cartoon she posted on Instagram. “Nobody is totally positive why, however it appears they thought their viewers wouldn’t like a feminine singer-songwriter?”

“Because it occurs, Steely Dan is the one band that I 100% love, with no reservations, so it actually sucks,” she added. “However you realize what? Individuals are allowed to not such as you, for no matter cause.”

Fagen issued a press release Thursday morning apologizing to the “Save Me” singer after selecting instrumental band Snarky Pet because the opener.

“Properly, initially, the concept that I’d make any choice based mostly on the gender of a performer is ridiculous. That’s one thing that might by no means even happen to me,” he stated, then blamed a “communication downside” on the Steely Dan facet of the equation.

“I used to be misinformed as to how agency the dedication was to any explicit opening act. And, though I’ve the best respect for Aimee as a author and performer, I assumed it may not be the very best matchup by way of musical type,” continued Fagen, whose longtime artistic accomplice Walter Becker died in 2017. “However I can’t cross the buck. I’ll take the blame for the screwup. I apologize for any misery this has precipitated Aimee and her followers.”

Steve Winwood was purported to open for Steely Dan again in 2020. The tour was postponed twice — first to 2021 after which to 2022 — due to the pandemic. Then the “Again within the Excessive Life” singer backed out because the opener on Feb. 1, citing “unexpected circumstances.”

“The scheduled Steely Dan exhibits will nonetheless happen, however with Aimee Mann and Snarky Pet showing as particular company,” Winwood’s web site stated on the time. However a publish that day on Steely Dan’s Fb web page cited solely Snarky Pet.

(“A rollicking, Grammy-winning mixture of jazz, R&B and funk with a rotating solid of 25 members, this band led by bassist Michael League doesn’t sit nonetheless lengthy by way of a musical type, however the outcomes reliably preserve its viewers on the transfer as properly,” The Instances’ Chris Barton stated of Snarky Pet in 2018.)

Mann’s publish drew assist from musician Jason Isbell and actor-comedian Rob Delaney.

“My spouse hates Steely Dan. I’ve mentioned that with Aimee Mann, who actually loves Steely Dan. Now I’ll by no means once more attempt to persuade my spouse that Steely Dan is sweet,” Isbell wrote Wednesday evening on Twitter. “Aimee opened for us, and I’m so glad to say our viewers liked that s—. I used to be very a lot honored she’d do it.”

Delaney was a bit extra, um, upset.

“F— silly idiots. At the least it’s not likely Steely Dan anymore?” the “Disaster” star wrote in a Thursday morning touch upon Instagram. “It’s like no matter s—head conglomerate Donald Fagen delegated choices to? Musically very dangerous choice as a result of I do know I positive as hell exist within the Steely Dan/Aimee Mann fan ‘overlap egg.’

“Plus your music has LOADS in frequent,” he continued. “Humor, hooky melodies + indirect ‘odd’ decisions that massively reward listener. But additionally completely different sufficient that you just’d be…. actually their preferrred opener? I’m so disgusted. Dumb silly conglomerate Fagen employed after which forgot about. Luxuriate in how mistaken they’re. Bathe in it. Utter bulls—.”

However Mann additionally stated Wednesday evening that there’s a method Fagen might easy out the wrinkles of their relationship.

“All is forgiven if Donald simply tells me what Brooklyn is about,” she tweeted, referring to the Steely Dan track “Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Below Me).”

Tickets are nonetheless out there for Steely Dan and Snarky Pet’s Hollywood Bowl live performance on Could 27. Additionally, tickets went on sale Thursday morning for seven added tour dates in Tennessee, North Carolina, New Jersey, Connecticut and New York.