Since the allegations of abuse against Ryan Adams surfaced last week, a lot of people have shared their reactions to the news. Fellow musicians have offered responses, and now some of Adams’ collaborators have also spoken up, revealing that ultimately, they find it easy to believe his accusers.
Adams’ guitarist Todd Wisenbaker shared an imagine of text on Instagram, in which he wrote:
“There were times when I chose to believe his insane version of the truth because it was easier than believing that anyone is capable of being this much of a monster. It’s sickening and embarrassing. I’ve recently learned that pretty much everything he’s ever told me is a lie upon a lie upon a lie. There are excuses and denials for everything. Some time ago I told him to get help and he asked me to help him. I don’t regret and will never regret trying to help someone in real need — I believe in forgiveness, redemption and recovery, but my life has become a complete sh*tstorm of someone else’s utter delusion. I didn’t want to say anything because I’m actively afraid for the safety of my family, but I do realize that I have a responsibility to speak up. The women that spoke out are brave beyond words.”
The post was also captioned, “This is incredibly hard for me to do but Ryan please get help.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuB6cGJhhmb/
Meanwhile, Thomas O’Keefe — the tour manager of Adams’ previous group Whiskeytown between 1997 and 2000 — shared a message in the “Ryan Adams Archive” private Facebook group. He said that while he never saw Adams abuse women, he thinks the accusations made against him are “easily believable.” He described Adams as “a musical genius, funny and charismatic,” but also as “mean,” “vindictive,” “showing little to no empathy for people,” “retaliatory,” and “manipulative.”
Find Wisenbaker’s post above, and read O’Keefe’s full post below.
“Since the news about Ryan broke a few days ago, many people have contacted me, so I wanted to share my thoughts.
I was the tour manager of Ryan Adams’s band Whiskeytown from early 1997 until they broke up in the spring of 2000. I wrote a book about that experience called Waiting To Derail, which was released in June 2018.
During my time with Ryan, I never witnessed any abusive behavior towards women. However, this was over 20 years ago, long before he had any real success.
I knew him to be a musical genius, funny and charismatic. He could also be mean and vindictive, showing little to no empathy for people.
Many times, I saw him use people — almost always to advance his art or his career — and then suddenly, without warning, ghost them and disappear out of their lives.
He did the same to me in late 2000, since then I’ve had very little contact with him.
Sadly, I find these disturbing stories about Ryan to be easily believable. He is very smart and charming and is quick to use that to be retaliatory and manipulative.
By coincidence, I also worked with Mandy Moore when she was a teenager. I found her to be a kind and honest person.
It saddens me to hear these stories. These brave women are heroes, as it’s hard to call out a bully, especially a bully that hides behind promises to make your career — and threats to break it.
We all should stand with these women. I hope they can find some resolution and not lose their faith in their talent or in the power of music. Music can be one of the world’s most positive and unifying things. It’s disgusting to see it used as a cover for such unacceptable behavior.”
