Blues Traveler frontman and harmonica virtuoso John Popper was arrested near Spokane, Washington on Tuesday afternoon. Officers who stopped his SUV, which was blues traveling at over 100 mph, found four rifles and nine handguns in hidden compartments throughout the vehicle.
Popper is best known for writing and performing the single “Runaround”, which earned Blues Traveler a Grammy in 1996. In those days, his bandolier was filled with spare harmonicas instead of banana clips for his many automatic weapons.
When asked to speculate on why the singer was speeding near Gonzaga University with a cache of weapons, Popper’s musical associate DJ Logic said “1996 was a long time ago, cuz. While we’re working on this new joint, John gotta make ends meet somehow. You know, live the life to which he’s become accustomed. I ain’t gonna say what for, but let’s just say Josh Heytvelt owes The Popper some money, or some product, and John ain’t going home empty-handed.”
Heytvelt, the center for the Gonzaga basketball team, was arrested and charged with felony drug posession in late February. He has maintained that the psychedelic mushrooms were not his.
Popper had been rumored to be collaborating with former NFL prospect Maurice Clarett on a hardcore rap/harmonica duet titled “Getting My Goose On (You Said You Loved Me America)”, but production had to be put on hold due to the former Ohio State star’s incarceration.
Popper and his driver were released on their own recognizance. Speeding, posession of concealed weapons, and reckless driving are all misdemeanors in Washington state.
[…] would have been better off marching than driving: Blues Traveler’s John Popper was arrested March 7 after being caught driving 111 MPH having pot, four rifles, nine handguns, a Taser, and night […]