Trump supporter says lead singer of popular band beat him up mid-show over politics

Tim Hildebrand of Galt, California, says that the lead singer of Social Distortion physically attacked him in mid-concert over an apparent disagreement on politics.

What's the background?

According to KOVR-TV, Hildebrand attended the Social Distortion concert on July 17 at the Ace of Spades club in Sacramento.

An initial report on the incident said that police were investigating after the band's lead singer, Mike Ness, jumped into a crowd of concertgoers and began pummeling one of the audience members.

The initial report called the concertgoer a "heckler."

According to the report, Ness punched the concertgoer several times and went back up on stage to resume the concert.

The concertgoer was ejected from the venue after the scuffle.

What are the latest details?

Hildebrand, who is speaking out for the first time since the July incident, has identified himself as the "heckler" who was assaulted at the show — and said that the frontman's attack came as a result of Hildebrand's political leanings.

During the show, Hildebrand said that Ness began verbally bashing President Donald Trump as well as the United States at large. Hildebrand — a Republican farmer, according to the station — said that he wasn't pleased with the political rhetoric at the concert — so he stood there with his middle finger up at the stage for two songs straight.

“I stood pretty much with my silent protest with my middle finger up for the next two songs,” Hildebrand said, noting that he paid for the band's music, and not their politics.

Hildebrand's finger apparently caught the attention of Ness, who called Hildebrand to the front of the stage and spit into the concertgoer's face.

Hildebrand said that he and Ness were shouting at one another when Ness jumped off the stage and physically attacked Hildebrand.

“[He] [t]akes his guitar off, jumps off the stage and proceeds to punch me multiple times in the head,” Hildebrand said.

Hildebrand said that he suffered two black eyes, a busted lip, and a concussion as a result of the vicious attack. Hildebrand also added that he almost lost one of his teeth.

“I wasn’t able to defend myself because people in the crowd were holding me back,” he said.

What happened next?

After the attack, Hildebrand said that he was ejected from the venue by security. Once outside, Hildebrand said that he filed a police report with cops who were outside of the club and has plans to press charges against Ness.

“Someone that has the status that he does shouldn’t get away with assaulting someone,” Hildebrand said, and revealed that he'd also be willing to have a face-to-face chat with the man who reportedly beat him up.

“If he wants to have a talk someday, man to man, I would love that but he would have to not be a child about it,” Hildebrand said.

The station reported that the Sacramento Police Department is investigating the incident.

The band's manager provided no comment when contacted by KOVR.