”My band turned an Aaron Carter concert into a TMZ headline.”

What really happened the night pop star Aaron Carter got into a brawl at a dive bar in Bradley, Illinois?

In this episode of This One Time in Kankakee, Jake LaMore sits down with local artist and musician Tommy Solis—the man right in the middle of the chaos—to set the record straight on one of the most bizarre nights in Kankakee County history.

It was a night that started with 90s nostalgia at The Looney Bin and ended with police lights, ambulances, and a TMZ headline that went global. For years, the internet has known it as the time Aaron Carter was "attacked" by a group of locals. But the truth involves a misunderstood security request, a racially charged insult ("Bye, Felipe"), and a tackle that looked like it belonged in the NFL.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Setup: How a local hip-hop fusion band ended up opening for—and doing security for—the former teen idol.
• The "Bye Felipe" Incident: The exact moment a fan interaction turned into a viral confrontation.
• The Fight: A play-by-play of the "Troy Polamalu" style tackle that stopped the show.
• The Aftermath: Debunking the rumors of a brutal beating, the truth about Aaron’s "injury," and the cancelled encore show.
• The Legacy: Tommy reflects on the eerie "Final Destination" reality that he is the last surviving member of the main trio involved in that night.

Join us for a narrative journey into the collision of fading Hollywood glitz and Kankakee grit.

Guest: Tommy Solis (Member of Ill State and All The Cool Molecules)

Links & Resources:

• Submit your own Kankakee County story: jake@milnermediapartners.com

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