MANILA — Wolfgang frontman Basti Artadi has addressed a viral video showing him ordering the removal of a disruptive concertgoer who shouted political remarks during a tribute segment at the band’s show in Davao.
In a video posted on his Facebook page on March 31, Artadi said the interruption happened while he was honoring the late Wolfgang bassist Mon Legaspi, making the outburst particularly inappropriate.
“At that moment, I was paying tribute to a very important person in our band who’s no longer with us,” Artadi explained. “A couple of people chose that moment to try and separate people, and that was bastos.”
Legaspi, a longtime member of the iconic Filipino rock band Wolfgang, died from cardiac arrest in October 2022.
Artadi stressed that the band’s performances are meant to unite fans and create a positive atmosphere rather than become a platform for political disputes.
“We’re here to make people smile, bring people together, and for everyone to have a good time,” he said, lamenting that the video circulating online has turned the incident into a political issue.
The singer also warned that social media can deepen divisions among people when situations are taken out of context.
“The people should love each other,” he said. “At the end of the day, we help ourselves—not the politikos, because the politikos will take care of themselves.”
The viral clip showed a concertgoer shouting profanity referencing “BBM,” a nickname commonly associated with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.. Artadi initially asked the crowd to ignore the remark and focus on the show.
However, when the heckling continued, he instructed security personnel to escort the individual out of the venue.
“If you want to exercise freedom of speech, go to the hallways and do it there,” Artadi said during the concert. “Right here, this is rock ’n’ roll country.”
Wolfgang is currently touring the country for its reunion concerts, with the final stop scheduled in Cebu on April 19.
