That publicity stunt, in a drunken NYC radio interview, was VERY stupid and it REALLY hurt him financially. Fans here in the Maritimes booed and threw glasses at him at two charity concerts. He certainly didn't help matters when he swore and spat at the audience in return. He even had to leave a couple of paid venues when some in the audience, who had paid to get in, went bad on him at the beginning of his performance. Some radio stations pulled his tunes. He lost many bookings, had to sell off property, almost lost his fiddle. I saw him on the tube playing in Dublin with The Chieftans for St. Pat's and he was a crowd pleaser. Never said a word... good idea.