REO Speedwagon drummer opens up about SeaWorld cancellation

Reo Speedwagon rocker Bryan Hitt has opened up about the band’s decision to pull out of a show at SeaWorld, Florida over the themepark’s killer whale treatment scandal, insisting there are “two sides to every story”. The group joined the likes of Trisha Yearwood, Barenaked Ladies and Willie Nelson in cancelling 2014 performances at the venue after 2013 documentary Blackfish exposed questionable behind-the-scenes actions at the tourist attraction.
On Thursday (16Jan14), the Beach Boys and Pat Benatar became the latest celebrities to withdraw from shows at Florida’s Busch Gardens – another venue owned by SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment bosses – and now Hitt has spoken in detail about his stance on the controversy.
The drummer reveals the arguments laid out in Blackfish played a big part in the band’s decision to pull out of their February (14) gig, but he insists the case against the park bosses isn’t clear cut, and admits REO Speedwagon simply didn’t want to get caught up in the politics of the situation.
He tells TMZ.com, “It was a great film. There’s always two sides to every story. Nobody is a hundred per cent correct on either side, we just felt like that’s SeaWorld’s fight, not our fight.
“We politely bowed out. I think they do a lot of good in some instances. I don’t, personally, like having big animals captive in small places.”