The Man Who Shot President Raegan Wants You to Join His Band

John Hinckley Jr., the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan in 1981, is looking for musicians to form a new band.

“I’m starting a band. I’m looking for a bass player, drummer, and lead guitarist. If you would like to be in my band and are serious about this, send bio to P.O. Box 240 Williamsburg, Va. 23187,” John Hinckley typed up on Twitter.

Hinckley was declared not guilty on 13 charges by reason of insanity in 1982 for attempting to assassinate the President in a delusional plot to impress actress Jodie Foster. He had been fascinated after viewing her in the 1976 film Taxi Driver. Reagan, who was struck in the chest by ricochet, was one of four people injured in the shooting.

One of the casualties, Press Secretary James Brady, was severely crippled and died 33 years later as a result of his injuries. Because of the bullet wound, he received during the initial attack; his death was deemed a homicide.

Hinckley remained in psychiatric care for decades after the court ruling until a judge concluded in 2016 that he no longer represented a threat to himself or others, and he was freed a month and a half later with a list of strict bans and conditions.

After his release, Hinckley revived his love for songwriting as a young adult and surreptitiously shared music online. Then, in October 2020, a federal court determined that he might openly release and commercialize various art forms, including music, under his name. So Hinckley established his record label, Emporia Records, and a YouTube account swiftly. So far, he has released 26 original songs; all of them have a folk/rockabilly feel to them.

Now, he’s set his sights on a whole band, which drew the attention of Against Me! frontwoman Laura Jane Grace, who responded to Hinckley’s tweet. “I think you should let me play bass in your band. I’m pretty good and very focused on music,” she wrote with a strong sense of sarcasm, probably.