Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Westboro Baptist Church Joins The War On Ska
By
Jen Carlson
Published Apr 20, 2011
Modified Apr 20, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Apr 20, 2011
Modified Apr 20, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Ska band Less Than Jake (playing in New York this summer!) had a run in with the Westboro Baptist Church this week, according to a press release we just received, along with several reports on the internet. Drummer Vinnie Fiorello says they "have no idea" why they were attacked, and added, "Less Than Jake doesn't exactly send parents running for cover. The fact that we do have a certain amount of obscenity and are fairly liberal could and obviously did ruffle some Christian feathers." But... aren't there bands that are ruffling more Christian feathers than this '90s ska troupe? Is this some sort of publicity stunt for Westboro to win over other ska-haters (aka normal America)?
Maybe not. Fiorello told AltPress it most likely just "had to be a slow night at the bible study [that] night."
Amongst the complaints of the protesters were claims of: "whore mongering, adultery, [and] sin." But if they're like us, maybe they should focus their hate on the "whoa whoa's."
Either way, at press time, we are still allowed to express our dislike for Let's Go Bowling and Cherry Poppin' Daddies, which Westboro has been mum about.
Tagged
Less Than Jake
protest
ska
westboro baptist church
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
"Kelly Clarkson has put us in danger," says the co-owner of Art of Play.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 13, 2026 at 3:17 p.m. ET
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
Thanks to Dua Lipa, Kim Kardashian, Timothée Chalamet and more, the rideshare program is having a moment.
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Arts & Entertainment
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
Thanks to Dua Lipa, Kim Kardashian, Timothée Chalamet and more, the rideshare program is having a moment.
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?
By
James Ramsay
What happens when NYC kids take lessons in rock music? Really good bands.
By
Jayson Greene
Inside a photographer's journey to visit every neighborhood in New York City
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .