Crime & Safety

[UPDATE] Collegville's Bloodhound Gang Deported from Russia, Attacked After Ukrainian Concert

The band's bassist reportedly stuffed a Russian flag down his pants.

The Bloodhound Gang, fronted by Perkiomen Valley High School graduate James Moyer Franks (Jimmy Pop) has been banned from Russia and could face “hooliganism” charges after the band’s bassist apparently made a mockery of a Russian and Ukraine flag in Ukraine.

While performing in the Ukranian port city of Odessa, Jared (Evil) Hasselhoff allegedly put a Russian flag in his pants, took it out and threw it  at the crowd, saying “don’t tell Putin," according to the New York Times.

A video has also surfaced of Hasselhoff urinating on a Ukrainian flag.

Find out what's happening in Perkiomen Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A video of the Russian flag incident went viral in both countries, and the band was deported from Russia, where they had arrived to perform at the Kubana Music Festival.

“Bloodhoung Gang packing suitcases,” Vladimir Medinsky, cultural minister to Russia tweeted Friday, according to Rolling Stone.  “These idiots won’t perform in Kubana.”

Find out what's happening in Perkiomen Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

After Hasselhoff put the Russian flag down his pants, Jimmy Pop is heard in the video telling the crowd that he disagreed with the act.

“Russia is better than America,” Jimmy Pop said, according to NBCNews.  “So I disapprove of that.”

A Russian law enforcement agency threatened to press criminal charges for desecrating the national flag; Hasselhoff has since apologized publicly for his actions.

Locals in Russia allegedly threw eggs and tomatoes at the band, and some individuals allegedly attacked band members while they waited for a flight home; one band member was allegedly smothered with an American flag.

This isn't the first time musical performers landed in hot water over performances in Russia; two female members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot were imprisoned last year on charges of "hooliganism" for a one-minute performance in a priests-only section of Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior. They are set to be released in March of 2014, and a recent HBO documentary documents the band's experience.

American performers Lady Gaga and Madonna are also facing punishment in Russia for violating terms of their visas to enter the country, according to ABCnews.com.  The investigation into the visas was urged by a lawmaker who spearheaded Russia's anti-gay campaign; Lady Gaga and Madonna were previously accused of spreading "gay propaganda."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.