New Pornographers drummer arrested for alleged child pornography possession

The New Pornographers drummer Joseph Seiders has been arrested in California on charges related to child pornography, Riverside County police announced Friday.

The 44-year-old musician was arrested on April 9 and booked at the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio, Calif., for alleged possession of child pornography, annoying/molesting a child, invasion of privacy, and attempted invasion of privacy.

The arrest came after Palm Desert police were dispatched Monday, April 7, to a “suspicious circumstance” in the region’s Dinah Shore Drive area, where it was reported that an unidentified man recorded an 11-year-old boy while he was using a restroom at the location.

Two days later, on April 9, deputies received another report at the same location, where “an employee stated a male was entering and exiting the restroom with juvenile males at the business,” reports a press release.

Shortly after, police identified him as the suspect and, thinking he was the same individual reported from the earlier incident, arrested him.

“The Palm Desert Station Investigations Bureau continued the investigation, serving search warrants for Seiders’ residence, vehicle, and cell phone,” the release reads. “Evidence was located implicating him in the two reported incidents, along with additional crimes, including possessing child pornography.”

In the wake of Seiders’ arrest, the indie-rock band released a statement overnight on Instagram.

“Everyone in the band is absolutely shocked, horrified, and devastated by the news of the charges against Joe Seiders,” the statement reads. “And we have immediately severed all ties with him. Our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted by his actions.”

When reached for comment, a representative for the New Pornographers pointed Entertainment Weekly to the statement released on social media as the group’s response, and indicated that an individual contact for Seiders was not immediately available.

Additionally, Riverside County Public Information officer Deirdre Vickers told EW, “This is an ongoing investigation; the only information available was provided in the press release.”

The New Pornographers formed in 1997 and have released nine studio albums between 2000 and 2023.

Of those releases, seven have charted on the Billboard 200, including 2014’s Brill Bruisers, which reached No. 13, making it the band’s highest-charting album to date.

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The group’s music has also been featured in numerous projects, including TV shows like Queer as Folk, The Office, Heroes, Weeds, and Gilmore Girls, as well as movies like Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and Waiting.

Current New Pornographers members continuing on with the group include Kathryn Calder, Neko Case, John Collins, Todd Fancey, and Carl Newman.