The Offspring Drummer Claims He’s Been Kicked Off Tour Because He’s Not Vaccinated

Pete Parada of The Offspring
Jason Squires/Getty Images – Pete Parada of The Offspring
performs at MAPFRE Stadium on May 20, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio.

When The Offspring takes the stage at Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday for the sold-out Alt. 98.7’s “Come Out And Play” you won’t find Pete Parada behind the drums. Parada shared in a lengthy post on Instagram that the rest of the pop punk band doesn’t want him on its upcoming tour dates because the drummer has declined to get the COVID-19 vaccine. 

He explained in the Aug. 2 post that his doctor advised him not to get the vaccine because of his “personal medical history and the side-effect profile of these jabs.” 
The drummer added, “I caught the virus over a year ago, it was mild for me – so I am confident I’d be able to handle it again, but I’m not so certain I’d survive another post-vaccination round of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, which dates back to my childhood and has evolved to be progressively worse over my lifetime. Unfortunately for me, (and my family – who is hoping to keep me around a bit longer) the risks far outweigh the benefits.”
Parada, who has played drums with The Offspring since 2007, didn’t specifically say he’s been fired from the band but noted, “Since I am unable to comply with what is increasingly becoming an industry mandate – it has recently been decided that I am unsafe to be around, in the studio, and on tour. I mention this because you won’t be seeing me at these upcoming shows. I also want to share my story so that anyone else experiencing the agony and isolation of getting left behind right now — knows they’re not entirely alone.”
The Offpsring’s upcoming tour schedule includes gigs at The Fillmore in Charlotte, N.C. Sept. 11; Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville Sept. 18; The Complex in Salt Lake City Oct. 1 and Summit Music Hall in Denver Oct. 6. The band is also appearing at Danny Wimmer Presents festivals Aftershock in Sacramento, Calif., Oct. 9 and Welcome To Rockville in Daytona Beach, Fla., Nov. 13.   

As of post time, The Offspring has not responded to Parada’s statement on its own social media. Pollstar reached out to The Offspring’s manager and agent for comment and has not yet received a response.
Parada ended his Instagram post by saying he’s working on launching a project and releasing music with his daughter. 
“I have no negative feelings towards my band,” Parada wrote. “They’re doing what they believe is best for them, while I am doing the same. Wishing the entire OFFSPRING family all the best as they get back at it! I’m heartbroken not to be seeing my road community, and I will miss connecting with the fans more than I can express in words.
 
The Offspring released its 10th studio album, Let The Bad Times Roll, in April, marking its first studio album in nearly nine years. 
Reports submitted to Pollstar’s Boxoffice for The Offspring include a Dec. 2, 2019, co-headline show with Sum 41 at Sandman Centre in Kamloops, British Columbia, that sold 4,330 tickets and grossed $243,098 (CAD$322,912).
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