Staind Singer Aaron Lewis Apologizes for Botching National Anthem Before Game 5 of the World Series

"I am completely torn up about what happened," the rocker wrote in a statement immediately after flubbing the lyrics to the "Star-Spangled Banner"

It's gonna be a while before Aaron Lewis lives this down.

But in the meantime, the Staind frontman is sorry for botching the lyrics of the national anthem, which he was called upon to sing before Game 5 of the World Series in San Francisco last night.

Enrico Palazzo, er, Lewis started off OK but ended up warbling "were so gallantly streaming" instead of "at the twilight's last gleaming," a noticeable flub that resulted in immediate boos from the capacity crowd at AT&T Park.

Yeah, that one's gonna leave a mark.

After joining an ever-growing list of "Star Spangled Banner" manglers, Lewis tried to beat the Monday-morning bum rush and immediately took to his website last night to apologize.

"All I can say is I'm sorry and ask for the Nation's forgiveness," he wrote in a heartfelt statement that, we've got to admit, has us hoping for a swift national pardon. "My nerves got the best of me and I am completely torn up about what happened. America is the greatest country in the world. The Star-Spangled Banner means so much to so many, including myself. I hope everyone can understand the intensity of the situation and my true intent of this performance. I hope that the Nation, Major League Baseball and the many fans of our national pastime can forgive me."

 

The tension was at least mitigated by the tribute to Bay Area favorite Robin Williams featuring Billy Crystal and the late comedian's kids Zak,  Zelda and Cody, all wearing jerseys with their dad's name on the back.

Zak threw out the ceremonial first pitch and they said in a statement, "We are honored to be here in support of the tribute to our father, someone who loved his hometown and especially the giants. For all of us, it is a tremendous delight and a little surreal to throw out the ceremonial first pitch of a World Series game for our team to our dad's best friend."

From one hero to another...

Happily for the home crowd, the Giants didn't disappoint. Pitcher Madison Bumgarner lowered his World Series ERA to a record-low 0.29 and they beat the Kansas City Royals, 5-0. Their 3-2 series lead leaves them one victory away from their third World Series win in five years, so at least Lewis can rest assured that his bobble won't be the play that everyone remembers.

For too long, anyway.