Andrew W.K. performing October 24 in New York. (Getty Images/Mark Von Holden)

Andrew W.K. was all set to fly to Manama, Bahrain on Saturday on behalf of the United States’ diplomatic efforts in the Persian Gulf island nation. The musician, known for his wild on-stage persona and love of partying, probably would not be most people’s first, second, or tenth thought of an emissary of U.S. culture, but that just made W.K.’s news all the more exciting.

Until reporters started checking with the State Department and got some bummer news, that is. Was Andrew W.K., who blitzed into the rock scene in 2001 with I Get Wet, an album featuring his bloodied face on the cover, really traveling to strife-torn Bahrain to deliver a rousing motivational speech? A spokesperson told DCist Monday morning that the trip was canceled after it was decided W.K. did not meet the department’s standards. At a press briefing that afternoon, the State Department’s press secretary, Victoria Nuland, said inviting W.K. to Bahrain was discussed but never got beyond a preliminary stage.

But W.K. says the trip was first discussed in September 2011 when he received a curious email from the U.S. Embassy in Manama. And after more than a year of planning, to have the trip yanked away was a surreal turn. He also says the State Department knew full well of his entire body of work—the hard-partying stage antics, his appearances as a motivational speaker at colleges and conventions, perhaps the department even saw the debut of his pizza guitar.

W.K. tells DCist that despite how things played out, this experience left him full of patriotism. “I feel very American,” he says,” and I was very humbled that the U.S. government thought I was very American too.” But perhaps more importantly, the party will go on.

Andrew W.K. spoke to us by phone from London earlier today.

What was your reaction when you heard that the trip had been canceled?

Bewilderment. It was something that we had worked on for so long and in such detail. Had tickets booked, itinerary confirmed. Less than six hours after we received all the final confirmation on this project we had worked on for over a year, total bewilderment. You want to wake up and realize had all been a dream. When someone goes against their word—that’s how I felt.

There were probably about 5,000 articles about your trip to Bahrain. Do you think it’s possible there was too much publicity?

To me, an ambassadorship or trip of this nature is to bring attention to this trip, to the land that you’re representing, and the cultural event that’s taking place. I would like to know who canceled this. I don’t imagine we’ll ever get the answer. Our questions are not replied to at all. Everyone was well-aware of every aspect of what I do, how I look, my music. My gut is that it was someone outside the State Department.

You’ve said this was planned since September 2011. How were you first approached?

Quit simply, the subject of the email was “U.S. Department of State Sponsored Trip to Bahrain for a Motivational Speech.” As I understood it, the State Department was aware of my work outside rock music, and they wanted me to represent the United States in an inspirational and positive way. When we received this, I was completely amazed. I couldn’t believe it. I never took it for granted. It was always incredible and amazing.

What is the “power of positive partying”?

Living life to the fullest, being glad you’re alive. Considering the gift of life a miracle and celebrating it every day. Pride is not a feeling I’ve experienced too often, and this is a moment I’ve felt pride and astonishment and an opportunity to represent this country. I’ve never been to the Middle East and I don’t think anyone like me could exist anywhere besides the United States. I feel very American, and I was very humbled that the U.S. government thought I was very American too.

Even though the State Department trip was called off, would you go to Bahrain as a civilian?

That’s been the most wonderful result of this. There’s been an incredibly positive response in Bahrain asking us to come. The kindness and support has been really moving and truly powerful. We are actively looking to ways we can go outside the initial ambassador trip.

Any idea who that would have been?

I don’t know who made this last-minute decision to cancel this thing. I have my instincts that someone saw a picture of me. It has the feeling of judging a book by its cover. It’s a real shame because it seems to go against the idea of projects like this and certainly goes against the spirit of the United States of being an all-inclusive place for freedom of expression. Who knows? Maybe they were protecting my own interests? I’m not taking it personally as much as possible.

Bahrain, like much of the Middle East, has experienced public uprisings for almost two years. Could they have used some partying?

I’m well aware of the conflicts and the strife and the questionable activities that have been going on on all sides. But it’s difficult to gauge these things without seeing it, which is why it was important to go. All I do is read things or hear things on the radio but to actually go there through the government.

Despite the unfortunate situation, there still is reason everywhere in the world to experience joy with other people. I felt very excited to bring any amount of celebration to a place where they could use good vibes. Just because a place is going through turmoil doesn’t mean they don’t deserve the right to feel joy.

Was the State Department sending you just to speak to people or were you going to play a show, too?

I was going to play music with other musicians there. But certainly the tone of the trip that had been scheduled by the State Department had been an all-encompassing cultural exploration. If I go it would be to play a concert for sure.

Not yet. All my interactions for the trip were through the State Department. Since the trip got canceled through the computer there’s been a ton of outreach. There’s a rock scene there, a metal scene. Even if it’s a small handful of people, that counts. The impression that I’ve got is that Bahrain is a hard-partying place. It wasn’t Bahrain that told me I couldn’t go; it was my own country, that’s supposed to be the most open-minded country.

Back to the State Department. Have you heard anything from them since Monday?

Our contact that we worked with is a wonderful gentleman. The press secretary on Monday was trying to make it seem like a different situation than what actually happened. I’m not sure if she was misinformed. This was in the works for a year, and someone pulled the plug who was not involved in the process.

Because it’s been canceled, it’s more than reasonable for me to explain the story. The idea of someone getting in trouble because of me is ludicrous. Much more ludicrous than the idea of Andrew W.K. going to Bahrain.

Certainly the reaction that I saw was that this would have been a great idea.

I’m really grateful for the solidarity. In a way I represent everybody. The idea that anyone can go and represent their country, it wasn’t about “this guy” going, it was about a mindset. But it’s OK. The party keeps going and is even stronger. They can’t stop the party.