Orville Peck Kissed a Raiders Player — and Got His Permission First

Orville Peck has kissed a Raiders player, and he is not sorry about it. On the song “Ring the Bell” from his new album Mule, the masked country singer casually admits that he once “made out with a guy on the Raiders.” Speaking with Variety, Peck confirmed the lyric refers to an actual player and said he cleared the reference with him before putting it on the record.

“I did receive permission to sing that lyric from the subject in question, and he was very thrilled,” Peck said.

The Kiss and the Permission

Peck’s admission sounds casual, like a throwaway joke. But he is not joking. He told Variety that he asked the player directly before recording the track, and that the player was happy about it. The song appears on Mule, his fourth studio album, which landed on September 18th.

Peck isn’t identifying the Raider whose identity remains a secret, although he suggested the person probably wouldn’t have objected to being named. He additionally emphasized that he wouldn’t have recounted the meeting at all if it risked exposing someone who wanted to keep their sexuality under wraps.

For now, he’s left the rest to listeners’ imaginations.

The Song and the Album

“Mule” is Peck’s fourth studio album, and “Ring the Bell” is one of its tracks. It can be heard, though the site where it sits is not named in the announcement. The album arrived on September 18th.

The song itself is a casual admission dressed up as a throwaway line. Peck doesn’t make a big deal of it, but the fact that he made the admission at all is telling.

The Ticket Offer

Before Peck’s “Man Turned Mule Tour,” which runs from late October through November, the album arrives. Fans can save $20 on an order of $200 or more via Vivid Seats, with promo code COS20 applied at checkout.

That deal is worth noting for anyone planning to see Peck live.

Key Facts at a Glance

Here is what matters:

1. Album: Mule, released September 18th.
2. Tour: “Man Turned Mule Tour,” late October–November.
3. Ticket offer: $20 off $200+ orders via Vivid Seats, promo code COS20.
4. Raiders player: unnamed, permission granted.

The Verdict

Peck’s admission is a win for honesty and a win for storytelling. He took a personal moment and turned it into a song, and he did so with the subject’s blessing. The kiss is not the main event. It is a detail, a note in the margin. But it is a detail that tells you something about the man behind the mask.

Peck has chosen to share openly, and he does so with permission. He is not concealing himself.

See the video the story is built around at Consequence.

album review · country music · Orville Peck · Raiders · tour dates