Steely Dan Founder Charged With Assault On His Wife

Steely Dan founder Donald Fagen was charged with misdemeanor assault and harassment on Tuesday. The incident that started the whole thing is described as a domestic dispute between the Steely Dan foun...
Steely Dan Founder Charged With Assault On His Wife
Written by Lacy Langley
  • Steely Dan founder Donald Fagen was charged with misdemeanor assault and harassment on Tuesday.

    The incident that started the whole thing is described as a domestic dispute between the Steely Dan founder, 67, and his wife, Libby Titus, 68.

    The assault happened on Monday. Libby Titus claimed that Fagen shoved her into a marble window frame, which caused her to fall to the floor.

    According to the criminal complaint, Libby Titus suffered “bruising and swelling to her right arm, as well as substantial pain,” from the Steely Dan musician.

    When asked about her condition, Libby Titus said, “I don’t feel good,” and “I’m very tired, and I’m divorcing my husband.”

    “’I’ll tell you what I like about our group [#SteelyDan],’ says Fagen. ‘What I like about us, outside of our technical accomplishments, is that our music scares me more than anybody else’s. The combination of the words with the music – like a cheerful lyric and a sad or menacing melody, or vice versa – I find that irony frightening. The idea is frightening, the idea that somebody would think of recording that. I am attracted to music that frightens me. Like Coltrane’s tone on the saxophone. It used to tear me to shreds. Not music about doom and melodrama – that kind of stuff isn’t really frightening.’ He waves the idea away. ‘What’s really frightening is mediocrity. The mediocrity of everyday life, the mediocrity we see around us. That frightens me.’" From the August 15th, 1974 issue of Rolling Stone

    A photo posted by Rolling Stone (@rollingstone) on

    Looks like it’s the end of that chapter for Steely Dan founder Donald Fagan. He was released without bail shortly after his arrest.

    Steely Dan have had a prolific and rewarding career since they first came on the scene back in 1972. Steely Dan sold 40 million albums worldwide and pumped out hits such as “Reelin’ In the Years”, “Rikki Don’t Lose that Number” and “Deacon Blues”.

    Steely Dan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.

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