Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel has appeared from the blue, breaking his musical silence to spread a message in support of Bernie Sanders. The message was shared on Twitter by his wife Astra Taylor.
Neutral Milk Hotel mastermind Jeff Mangum is almost famous for the lack of public statements or appearances he makes, choosing to live a quiet life since 2015. In a message shared by his wife Astra Taylor however, he took a moment to endorse Bernie Sanders and his presidential candidacy.
“Hello, my friends! just writing to ask you to please vote for Bernie,” he wrote.
Mangum last toured with Neutral Milk Hotel in 2015. While he hasn’t released new music in a long time, Mangum has long been outspoken about political causes. Last year he was spotted at a New York City climate strike, and in 2011, he performed at Occupy Wall Street.
My husband Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel just sent out a message in support of Bernie Sanders and I endorse his endorsement. pic.twitter.com/h27VrmBmwf
— Astra Taylor (@astradisastra) March 2, 2020
Last fall, Mangum popped up at New York City’s Global Climate Strike. He was seen holding a sign reading, “Climate Denial is Death”. Other than these random political moments where we see Jeff Mangum, there isn’t really much else to go off.
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Mangum attended the Climate Strike event with his wife, filmmaker Astra Taylor.
Mangum joins a long list of indie rockers to have endorsed Sanders. In recent weeks, The Strokes, Vampire Weekend, Bon Iver, Miike Snow, Lykke Li, Tenacious D and even newly minted US citizen Neil Young have all shown their support for the Democratic presidential candidate. So has Public Enemy’s Chuck D, though his participation in a Sanders campaign rally led to Flavor Flav’s firing from the group.
Mangum has kept a relatively low profile since Neutral Milk Hotel wrapped their reunion tour in 2015. Last we heard from him he stoked rumours of a new Neutral Milk Hotel album with a series of cryptic drawings, but ultimately nothing came from it.
