Hostage crisis in the Garden State featuring Titus Andronicus

Civil War re-enactors got word of Scharpling's actions and were not happy.

Tom Scharpling is a 21st Century Renaissance man: he’s been a comedy writer, host of “The Best Show” on WFMU, and director. Now he’s added hostage-taker to the list.

Scharpling is a friend and fan of one of my favorite bands, Titus Andronicus, a post-punk outfit based out of New Jersey. He’s talked them up on his show and recently directed the music video for “No Future Part Three: Escape From No Future” from their latest release, “The Monitor” (a great album that I highly recommend you pick up NOW).

But Tom also has a dark side.

Not content with the 45,000 views the music video received on YouTube, Tom sent the following threat to the band and its fans:

“I have in my possession a live clip of Titus Andronicus performing an AMAZING version of “A More Perfect Union” shot in New Brunswick during our one-day tour of New Jersey as documented in the “No Future Part Three: Escape From No Future” video that we dropped a couple weeks ago. You can watch the “No Future” video by going HERE.

I will put the new clip online if we can get the “No Future” video to 100,000 views before Titus Andronicus play New York City on June 7th. But if we don’t get to that goal, the only video I will release will be one of me DELETING THIS VIDEO FROM EXISTENCE.

I am not joking about this – on June 8th you will either get a video of Titus Andronicus rocking out, or you will get a video of me sending this footage to the great trash icon in the sky. The choice is yours, and if you want to see some new Titus Andronicus action, you need to get the “No Future Part Three” clip to 100,000 views by June 7th!”

Folks, he’s serious. The man has made his demands, and if they’re not met this video WILL disappear forever. So please, for the sake of the band’s fans, watch the video and help it get to 100,000 views.

It’ll also be a great way to raise awareness about a great band who just released a great album. And, as Thomas the Jackal himself mentioned, they’re playing New York City on June 7th.

Don’t let Tom win. Fight the good fight. These colors don’t run. Let’s roll.