Botch bassist Brian Cook responds to Sargent House allegations
Bassist Brian Cook (Botch, Russian Circles, SUMAC, These Arms Are Snakes) who has been a Sargent House artist for 17 years, took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the situation involving accusations against Sargent House founder Cathy Pellow and former associate Graeme Flegenheimer. Cook claims to know a lot of the petty drama and dirt that goes on behind the scenes at Sargent House, but is not privy to any scandals.
Cook states that he does not know what is actually going on in this situation and urges people to consider that they may not have the full picture either. He applauds people for being angry given the information they have at hand, but cautions against jumping to conclusions before all the facts are known. Cook also notes that people fear internet mobs more than anything right now, and urges people to be careful before casting stones.
The full statement reads:
Hi.
I've been a Sargent House artist for 17 years. I'm friends with a bunch of the artists & employees past and present. I know who's slept with who, who's mad at who, who lied to who, who has been privately talking to who… I know so much petty drama and dirt that you don't.
Cathy can be blunt and uncouth, but I've never witnessed anything warranting public outrage. Maybe I'm just lucky. Conversely, I've seen her routinely bail people out of bad situations. She's housed people, paid medical bills, co-signed mortgages, talked people off of ledges.
In many instances, I know why certain people were let go and why other people have chosen to leave over the years. Sometimes the private grievances don't line up with the public explanations. But I'm not privy to any scandals.
I know which shit adds up and which shit doesn't. And I still don't know what the hell is actually going on, but I know people fear internet mobs more than anything right now. So if you want a public statement, here it is:
I applaud people for being angry given the information they have at hand. But if I don't know what's actually going on, then consider that maybe you don't have the full picture either. And I'm not casting stones until I know who I can actually trust in this mess.
Sorry for the cryptic thread. Been living in the most convoluted and crappy soap opera this last week and I'm just trying to assume the best about all my friends in this situation, but a bunch of shit isn't lining up.
Artist Noelia Towers responded to Cook's tweets, bringing attention to the fact that some who have denounced the alleged abuse and assault may have skeletons in their own closets.
Botch bandmate, and Minus the Bear guitarist David Knudson, also responded to Cook's tweets, praising him for his perspective, saying:
"Well said as always"
83 comments
Post CommentI know who's slept with who, who's mad at who, who lied to who, who has been privately talking to who… I know so much petty drama and dirt that you don't. Is this dude 15?
These dudes are going to catch HEAT for even daring to question this "victims" claims.
She lives in a house of that size with a label full of nobodies?
I'm not the rapist. These people are. Be mad at the groomers and not the people who noticed.
Hopefully everyone involved and everyone that cares is boosted
So the artists stepped away from her for mental health and now she's stepping way from herself for mental health. Got it.
So Botch stands by with this enabling company cuz hey they gotta cash in. Fu ck Botch.
Can you believe the nerve of this guy not throwing his friends of decades under the bud because some washed up twink decided to lash out at everyone when his career floundered and make allegations without proof?
Can you believe the cowardice of this guy for not dumping his enabler friends of decades because he & his band Botch need to cash in as much as possible - fixed that for you, you simp. If this woman is sooo innocent why has her company not allowed her on the company's socials huh?
^ because she clearly still owns/runs the company but this makes it seem like she "stepped away" when she actually didn't
Hey Bitch Boy I mean Botch Boy, The chick is out of the company so the allegations are true so you are sticking with a company who has enabled her. Therefore you are a fu cking scumbag POS. Also you are speaking out with your claptrap so you can keep cashing on Botch. Your let's not jump to conclusions BS is just that. She's out thus guilty & your pals at Sargent House knew it.
because she clearly still owns/runs the company but this makes it seem like she "stepped away" when she actually didn't ^^^ Bottom line is she did what she did. And this bearded plaid shirted fatass doesn't care.
You can't successfully come out of the closet without putting out allegations trying to ruin someone's career
Lol and 2 weeks ago Bitch fans were wondering why people were calling them and their fans beta males and homos
Coming out of the closet is gendered. Please respect and embrace an entire spectrum of poly-they/thems.
But is he vàxxed and boosted? Does he stand with Ukraine? Does he fly the pride flag loud and proud? Does he believe all women, even if they are a biological male? Does he have preferred pronouns in his bio? I must know these things before I can pass judgment.
This is very funny. Past employee here- he mentions paying medical bills and housing people etc. She payed bills to essentially buy artists and put them in her own form of debt entrapment so they can't leave. She housed people so she would always have someone to abuse. People always wanted out.
Brian Cook is a better person and musician than anyone posting in these comments and y'all know it... yes I am his next side piece.
New webby first heard Botch in 2019 so now will post every small tidbit related to them to overcompensate and pretend he's been on the scene since the 90s
This is very funny. Past employee here- he mentions paying medical bills and housing people etc. She payed bills to essentially buy artists and put them in her own form of debt entrapment so they can't leave. She housed people so she would always have someone to abuse. People always wanted out. Not Botch. They only see $$$$$
Good thing companies have never fired people arbitrarily because they don't want to deal with public pressure. Her stepping down only means she doesn't want to deal with all these blue hairs and the shlubby white knights who go on and on about accountability in hopes they'll one day get to f*ck them before they eventually get crucified too. When did music get dominated by these hall monitor weirdos?
^ Seriously. So many people are soo triggered and zero emotional control or any capacity for critical thinking. They read something like this and then immediately begin short-circuiting because they're poorly wired robots. Also, this type of shit is lame as hell: "So Botch stands by with this enabling company cuz hey they gotta cash in." These woke babies always tweak when other people don't immediately react out of their emotions like they do.
I'll buy your sergeant house vinyl at a discount since they are a bad company and all.
This comment section is pretty vile. Attacking the sexual orientation of individuals and spewing hatred isn't contributing anything. I take Brian's statement to mean that he is withholding judgment on those involved since he doesn't have all of the information. He's not saying that he supports her actions, simply that as close as he is to the situation, he has no idea what the facts are. One way or another, I think this will mark the end of SH. I know they're keeping the label side open, but I'd imagine that once they fulfill any contractual obligations they'll fade out.
You just know this groomer is quadboosted and vàxxmaxed.
Two queers in the same band cupping each other's balls because money's on the line now. If you were smart, you'd bail now and collect on all these shows yourselves on the principle that your label owner is a greedy bitch who enables gay kid f*ckers. But no, you're a bitch.
But is he vàxxed and boosted? Does he stand with Ukraine? Does he fly the pride flag loud and proud? Does he believe all women, even if they are a biological male? Does he have preferred pronouns in his bio? I must know these things before I can pass judgment. THIS. The other issues aside, these are the things we need answers to first.
This guy has his head so far up his own ass it has ended up back on his shoulders. We barely care what he says pertaining to Botch and now he's out here like a publicist for Sargent House?
Also, this type of shit is lame as hell: "So Botch stands by with this enabling company cuz hey they gotta cash in." These woke babies always tweak when other people don't immediately react out of their emotions like they do. Oh STFU you simp. The woman did what she did & no way whoever at SH didn't know about therefore they are enablers you asleep old moron. Botch is fencesitting only because they don't want their cash-in to be jeopardized.
I'm on her side and by extension his because anyone who accuses another person of anything is a whiny attention seeking bitch
I'm on her side because I'm a whiny attention seeking bitch Fixed that for you.
This is all so pathetic. Someone is mean, or rude or what-the-fck-ever. This cycle of public announcements, then people rush to pick a side, and the arguments ensue… it's just so silly and unproductive. Let the fella who had his wiener touched take it up with the authorities and go from there. Social media has created a toxic cesspool of constant b.s signaling its nauseating. Just stop already. No one should cares. Enablers, trauma, gaslighting, mental abusers, manipulators- people are not always going to treat you like you think you deserve to be treated. Be with those that treat you well and learn from your mistakes.
The left loves throwing stones like they are perfect. f*cking hypocrites! The left will be the downfall.
Anyone found to make false allegations to bring attention to themselves or for financial gain need to go to prison
why do I even come to this site anymore? i literally wish everyone who posts on here a bad life.
I have no idea what she's wearing but it looks like cultural appropriation.
Legendary band reunited and now participates in social media banter for clout
^^^ So why post? Idiot. "Moron here. I feel compelled to pick a side." Right, the side of a sexual abuser/manipulatir to "own the libs." Go jerk off to Tucker Carlson some more clown.
Congratulations to all of us for the emptiness and self loathing needed to generate 60 comments on this utterly meaningless circle jerk of scenester trash
"Moron here. I feel compelled to pick a side." Right, the side of a sexual abuser/manipulatir to "own the libs." Go jerk off to Tucker Carlson some more clown. It applies to both/any sides here, smart guy. Maybe he's saying it for the wrong reasons, but this botch fella is dancing around the right idea. If you truly care about social progress then you'd be wise to helping this movement for justice and equitable access to it advance past the reactionary internet mob stage. Or are you just in it for the sport? Pay attention, care, work for positive change when these instances arise OR be another knee jerk internet shithead obsessed with the scoreboard.
Right, the side of a sexual abuser/manipulatir to "own the libs." sexual abuser/manipulatir manipulatir manipulatir manipulatir manipulatir manipulatir manipulatir manipulatir manipulatir manipulatir manipulatir manipulatir manipulatir manipulatir manipulatir manipulatir manipulatir
justice and equitable access justice and equitable access justice and equitable access justice and equitable access justice and equitable access justice and equitable access justice and equitable access ^ ok, commie
Lambgoat publishes pretty crappy articles. Your authors talk about allegations and past problematic behavior, but don't say what it is. Why even mention it if you're not going to name it? You might counter that by saying "do your research", but if I have to research the basic premises of your articles, then why should I even read your articles? I can get the news from the outlets from which I am researching. Do better. Write better.
Lambgoat publishes pretty crappy articles. Your authors talk about allegations and past problematic behavior, but don't say what it is. Why even mention it if you're not going to name it? You might counter that by saying "do your research", but if I have to research the basic premises of your articles, then why should I even read your articles? I can get the news from the outlets from which I am researching. Do better. Write better. "News"
Reading these comments is so depressing. So many personal agendas, on all sides. How people are weaving in Ukraine, gender preferences, flags, sports, etc. into this story is insane. Did the pandemic warp everyone's brain? And before you go all cuckoo responding to this, don't.
^^^2016 broke the internet, it's when politics invaded every possible corner of online discussion whether you wanted it or not. Psychological marketing tactics have culminated in rage bait being the easiest, most profitable, and loyalist forming of angles to hit people with, and polarization only serves to galvanize these tactics. It's amazing how far reaching its impacts are where you have people across the ocean more focused on American left-right shit than they are about what's going on at home.
Reading these comments is so depressing. So many personal agendas, on all sides. How people are weaving in Ukraine, gender preferences, flags, sports, etc. into this story is insane. Did the pandemic warp everyone's brain? And before you go all cuckoo responding to this, don't. ^ New Harley
It's satisfying watching you idiots eat your own. Granted, Brian Cook was part of the hardcore scene back when free thought was still allowed and open, absolute fealty and ideological lockstep on every single social issue wasn't a baseline requirement in order to have any relevance in the "scene". What a ridiculous joke this entire story is. I wonder how long before Brian and David come back with statements about how they talked to a friend who educated them on how insensitive they were and how Botch reunion is over so they can go and do "the work". Barf. Huttons Great Heat Engine.
This guy is the new "has anyone confirmed the Deftones are okay?". Every article just needs a response "Has Brian from Bitch given his opinion on this?".
Why do any of you self-righteous losers care about what Brian Cook has to say about what some nobody has to say about what Cathy Pellow did or didn't say/do about what said nobody said some gay guy wanted to, or tried to do 10 years ago but failed by hopping over a wall back into Pellow Manor after closing hours to try to get some butt? Who cares!! Also, why only mention Botch? yeah that is an easy cash-in but this guy has been an active member of an active SH band: Russian Circles for the past what....17 years? Whatever though, you all (including Brian and Cathy) probably think that people who aren't vaccinated are bigots and that silence is violence and black people can't be racist because of "systematic oppression" and support Ukraine blah blah. 98% of the people that make and listen to this scene of music are worthless so keep "holding each other accountable". A depraved scene of brainwashed degenerates. Brian, withstand the urge to walk back your comments they won't forgive you.
Now even the jaded lurkers are coming out. I love this shit. Webmaster take note you stupid pussy. This is what it is.
It applies to both/any sides here, smart guy. Maybe he's saying it for the wrong reasons, but this botch fella is dancing around the right idea. If you truly care about social progress then you'd be wise to helping this movement for justice and equitable access to it advance past the reactionary internet mob stage. Or are you just in it for the sport? Pay attention, care, work for positive change when these instances arise OR be another knee jerk internet shithead obsessed with the scoreboard. She stepped down, her company enabled her & Botch stand by the company because of $$$. If Botch wasn't playing a cashgrab tour you'd never hear from them. Keep simping for a coward who won't leave Sargent House because it'll hurt his wallet or have the balls to seay that's the real reason why Botch is staying with SH. He's a fencesitter.
Whatever though, you all (including Brian and Cathy) probably think that people who aren't vaccinated Oh STFU about the vaccine already you lunatic. Lambgoat/music scene tactics: 1. Report about an abuser. 2. Report what a band dude thinks about the situation. If he's cool with the abuser or on some let's wait & see shit, stop reporting cuz band guy's word is law.
Leave it to botch simps to give an honest crying in the comments
are we all supposed to know all about this or something? some stupid arthouse drama?
"Whatever though, you all (including Brian and Cathy) probably think that people who aren't vaccinated are bigots and that silence is violence and black people can't be racist because of "systematic oppression" and support Ukraine blah blah. 98% of the people that make and listen to this scene of music are worthless so keep "holding each other accountable". A depraved scene of brainwashed degenerates. Brian, withstand the urge to walk back your comments they won't forgive you." you shouldn't be calling anyone else "brainwashed" when your entire rants sounds like a terminally online reactionary bingo card
Related News
He def goo'd on her