www.rollingstone.com/news/newsarticle.asp?nid=19029

Rockers Unite to Oust Bush

Moby, Henley, Matthews ask fans to "get involved"

Bruce springsteen told a crowd of 50,000 New Yorkers on October 4th to "shout a little louder if you want the president impeached." Two weeks later, John Mellencamp posted an open letter to America on his Web site, declaring, "We have been lied to and terrorized by our own government, and it is time to take action." Meanwhile, Moby, Eddie Vedder and Michael Stipe are organizing a TV-ad campaign that will run anti-Bush commercials during the week of the State of the Union address in January; Dave Matthews is railing against the war in Iraq in interviews; and at press time, at least three multiband rock tours planned to take aim at Bush-administration policies. Green Day, NOFX, Tom Morello, Dixie Chicks, Don Henley, Willie Nelson and Steve Earle have all played (or plan to play) for political candidates or causes. Hip-hop stars have also gotten involved. "We have a voice and a responsibility to speak out," says Jay-Z, a member of Russell Simmons' Hip-Hop Summit, which aims to register 4 million voters before the 2004 election. "People listen to us."

Welcome to the increasingly partisan world of popular music -- where President George W. Bush is a marked man. Thirty major artists interviewed for this story cited many concerns: U.S. policy on Iraq, the Patriot Act, the Bush administration's assault on the environment, the economy and the media. But they all agreed that as the 2004 presidential election gets closer, it is time to mobilize. "The America we believe in can't survive another four years of George Bush," says Moby. Adds Lou Reed, "We must all unite and work for whomever opposes Bush, regardless of whatever differences we may have. Our motto: Anything but Bush."

Many artists aren't afraid to get their hands dirty in the democratic process, either: At Punkvoter.com, more than 100 bands, including NOFX, Green Day and Offspring, are creating voter-registration drives, a political action committee and a Rock Against Bush Tour. Willie Nelson recently called Dennis Kucinich to offer his time and a slogan, "Kucinich: His middle name is sin," and dozens of other artists are contributing money to campaigns and performing in swing states and in televised public-service announcements.

"Musicians have an obligation to get involved," says Henley, "not necessarily because they have a forum but because they are citizens."

Donna Brazile, Al Gore's 2000 campaign manager, says that artists are important to this campaign, because "musicians have reach that politicians need in order to motivate people to take an active interest in their future." With that in mind, eight Democratic candidates filmed ads for a November 4th Rock the Vote event designed to woo young voters. In his spot, Wesley Clark even name-drops OutKast.

It's not always easy for artists to speak out. Recently, New Jersey radio station WCHR banned Jethro Tull after the band's lead singer, Ian Anderson, was quoted in a local paper saying, "I hate to see the American flag hanging out of every bloody station wagon. It's easy to confuse patriotism with nationalism. Flag-waving ain't gonna do it."

Eight months ago, Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines told a London audience, "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." More than fifty radio stations pulled the Dixie Chicks' songs off the air, and DJs and fans launched protests. Says Maines, "I thought, 'Why am I, a country singer who has never been involved in politics publicly, the one asking questions?'"

In July, Dixie Chicks contributed $100,000 to Rock the Vote -- the largest single band donation in the nonprofit's history. Maines says that she hopes the London incident will help rally eighteen- to twenty-four-year-old women to vote. "I had gotten too comfortable in my life," she says. "And I wasn't necessarily active for things that I believed in. It inspired me." Maines' experience may have scared some musicians away from speaking out, but it angered others enough to get involved. Merle Haggard, who recorded his own anti-war song, "That's the News," this year, says that the attacks on the Chicks "reminded me of things I'd read about Berlin in 1938. It pissed me off."

The notion that musicians shouldn't get involved in politics is "ridiculous," says Mike Burkett (a.k.a. Fat Mike), lead singer of NOFX and founder of Punkvoter.com. "Everyone should be involved in politics: cabdrivers, lawyers . . . everyone." Artists are in a unique position to understand the mood of this country, too. "We travel," says Henley. "We see what the economy is like in every city. We take the temperature of between 10,000 and 20,000 people four nights a week."

Musicians hope that by getting involved they will inspire their fans to do the same. James Taylor, who has supported Sen. John Kerry, says that the administration has benefited from "a failure of citizenship." "Americans are asleep at the wheel," Taylor adds. "We're not getting involved in our own political process."

Mellencamp says that the goal of his open letter and his song "To Washington" is to turn such apathy into action. "My whole purpose of being here, to write songs or write a letter like that, is to put the idea forward that some conversation needs to take place here, as opposed to accepting the [government] line," he says.

But can musicians actually tilt the electoral scale, especially at a time when voter turnout among eighteen- to twenty-four-year-olds is at an all-time low? Republican strategists are skeptical. "People tend to choose candidates on the issues that they stand for -- and not the position of their favorite musician," says Christine Iverson, spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee. Brazile begs to differ. "People come out because they're attracted not just to [the candidate] but also because the candidate is being endorsed by their favorite artist," she says. "It matters."

Artists clearly agree. Many say they are convinced that they're reflecting a national mood that is "disturbed," in the words of Haggard, or "agitated," as Morello puts it, and that fans can be motivated to get involved. "What you have to realize," says Russell Simmons, "is that it's a cultural step, not only a political step. It's in style to be at the rallies. It's in style to give money back to education." Adds Fat Mike, "If we get a few hundred thousand kids together, we will be a force to reckon with. If anybody wants our votes, they're going to have to give us some of the things we want. If the NRA can do it, why can't we?"

Bruce springsteen [red]Wash out, His time has passed[/red]
John Mellencamp  [red]Wash out, His time has passed[/red]
Eddie Vedder [red]One who likes to hear himself talk[/red]
Michael Stipe [red]Captain ENVIROWHACKO??[/red]
Dave Matthews  [red]Ahh the rainbow coaliton band leader... I was waiting for his political rhetoric on gun control when I found out his sister was gunned down.[/red]
Green Day [red]Are they still around?? Wasnt the first line of their song "Do you have the time, to listen to me whine?" .. Uhhh No.[/red]
NOFX [red]Who?[/red]
Tom Morello [red]Once again... Who?[/red]
Dixie Chicks [red]They havent learned the first time have they? guess they just wanna finish themselves off.[/red]
Don Henley [red]Wash out, His time has passed[/red]
Willie Nelson [red]Ahhhh. Mr. Imgonnagivepoliticaladvise from AKA Mr. Taxevasion.[/red]
Steve Earle [red]Another "Who?"[/red]
Jay-Z, a member of Russell Simmons' Hip-Hop Summit, [red]THAT says a lot.[/red]
Moby [red]One hit wonder has clout?[/red]
Lou Reed, [red]Wash out, His time has passed[/red]

We know that gun owners vote so this doesn't really apply too much to the crowd here.

And exactly what percentage of the people motivated by a "rocker" to vote are actually going to step to the polls on election day?

America's youngest adult generation -- Generation Xers -- are the least politically active of any generation. Statistic after statistic tells the story of a generation that turns out to vote less frequently than others; the numbers also show that young adults are voting less than they once had.


According to Voter News Service exit polls and U.S. Census Bureau population estimates, in the 1996 presidential general election Generation X represented 33 percent of the voting-age population but accounted for only 24 percent of voters, making them the only generation to under-represent its voting-age population in the election.

In the 1998 midterm election, according to Voter News Service, turnout was even lower, with Gen X representing 39 percent of the voting-age population and accounting for only 28 percent of voters.

http://www.thirdmil.org/neglection2000/voting/behavior.html
(cold on purpose)

Did any of these people even graduate high school?

Fuck'm and their charmed life.


-HS

I would think that rockers would love Bush after Bush gave a tax cut which meant more money to spend on entertainment.  Well, I guess we can't say much for the rockers IQ.

i think president bush has been one of this country's best president's.i will boycott anybody who says different. [:D]

have a nice day

The sum total of their IQ's is less than 100.

Who cares what they think???

Most of the bands on that list suck. Dave Mathews is a liberal fag and Michael Stipe is literally a fag!
Willie Nelson, liked some of his music but as a self proclaimed pothead and tax evader he can suck it too. Most musicians were the wierdos in highschool and college that had no friends, smoked pot, and felt all "artsy". So they bring some shit records out, get rich, blow it on smack, start buttfucking each other and we are supposed to listen to them when it comes to politics and the economy??????

[b]Green Day, NOFX, Tom Morello, Dixie Chicks, Don Henley, Willie Nelson and Steve Earle [red]have all played (or plan to play) for political candidates or causes.[/red] Hip-hop stars have also gotten involved. "We have a voice and a responsibility to speak out," says Jay-Z, a member of Russell Simmons' Hip-Hop Summit, which aims to register 4 million voters before the 2004 election. "People listen to us."[/b]

all the article says is that these artists plan to play for political causes or candidates...it doesnt specify which artists plan to play for what causes or candidates...so dont start black flagging people just yet....although..i'll be watching and listening closely.....i just dont understand why some of these artists insist on committing career suicide.  

Write letters to these has-beens, threatning to send back all recordings you have of them in unuseable condition.  And explain they are why music swapping is so popular.

Hit these idiots where it hurts.  And ask them to SHUT UP AND SING.  We don't pay to listen to them talk politics just like we shouldn't elect leaders based on their voices.

 

I never thought John Mellencamp was such a numbnuts.

*shrug*

This is why I steal their music rather than buy it.

HA HA! Take that hippies!

me too, its a great feeling.

however, its not rockers that are getting to me lately, its people like Tim robbins that just came out with a anti-war propaganda play. to be honest, i don't care for any celeberties.

When you here them yapping, thier opinions are always based on pure ignorance. It's aggravating because they can actually hold an audience.

Artists my ass, they're singers, entertainers and such.  So entertain me, and shut the hell up when you're done singing.

Most people (wrongly) assume if you’re popular, you *have* to know what you’re talking about. [rolleyes]  As though celebrity status gives you political insights that are denied the common man.  Such arrogance!

Goes right along with the “Well, I saw it on TV so it MUST be true!” mindset.

In other words it’s easer for most people to follow blindly than to do all that pesky research and form their own opinion on a subject.

Evidently you haven't listened to Scarecrow or The Authority Song much. (Others I forget)
He has always been a socialist goober.

Screw 'em and the horse they rode in on.  Little pimps.  

Ahem....




THEY CAN ALL SUCK MY COCK.

Tom Morello is the guitarist for Audioslave and the defunct Rage Against the Machine. Talented as hell, but is quite fond of wearing apparel adorned with the hammer and sickle. I loved RATM's music but I threw away my CD when their ideology began to piss me off.

faggot

I am glad that I don't listen (or like) any of those commie bastards.

May they all rot in France.

Don't forget to add 'System of a Down' to the list.

Bunch of anti-war, anti anyone getting their toe stubbed, pussy liberal whining bitches.  They made some stupid anti-war video that I saw on the net.

Pity, I used to like their music.[:(]

Yip,
I haven't rented a movie in six months. Download all of them.  I love not giving money to hollywierd yet still watching what I want.

Don't mis the AXIS OF JUSTICE!!!!!!

( I couldn't make this shit up)

[url]http://www.axisofjustice.org/[/url]

And people wonder why I use Kaaza.

Fortunately I do not own music put out by a single one of these artists.

What's that got to do with anything? Do you think everyone here finished high school?
AB

"Shut Up and Sing"  Ann Coulter

I play lead guitar in a local country/classic rock band here in the West. I am lucky because I don't play to such anti-patriotic crouds as these people. I think (and hope) that if such rhetoric were being spewed at the bars that I play in, the person saying it would get their asses kicked fast. But the drummer for our band and our roadie are pretty liberal. It keeps them up at night knowing that I own an AR-15 (they call it an "AK-47" because they're too damn stupid to know the difference).

At any rate... if I ever get the chance to meet one of these traitorous celebs, it will be all that I can do not to kick their ass right then and there. From Michael Moore to Eddie Vedder, they all make me want to puke and aren't worth the effort it would take to throw them out with the trash. I have been a very active boycotter this past year. I refuse to put money in their pockets. Shutting them up by shutting them down (George Clooney who?) is the way to go.

[size=1]pssst... It's Laura Ingraham! [;)][/size=1]

Still, you beat me to it! [:D]

[size=6][b]SHUT THE F#$% UP AND SING![/b][/size=6]

Well, its a mixed bag, really.

If you went to PS, I'm glad you got out of that hell hole early.

In another way, if you didn't finish high school, you were too short sighted to see the benefits (tell tale sign of minimal intelliugence) and / or you lacked the parental support structure fo FORCE you to finish.

Hey....you asked.

Don't shoot the messenger for giving you the message you asked for.

Willie Neslon is a tax evading pot head.  Steve Earl is an anti gun pot head.  Both were probubly just stoned and would say anything you asked them to for a bag of Dorito's.

Amyone else see Willie and John Mellencamp on Farm-Aid last night???

I miss the days when I didn't know Willie was a piece of shit. [>(]

IDEA!

They should put their ass on the line for their beliefs, just like our troops.

So all those rockers and Hollywood stump monkeys should fly into Baghdad Airport, get on a regular ol' Humvee and ride into Baghdad to do a concert for the poor supressed Iraqi people.

I bet they would turn around after the first IED blew a chunk of schrapnel into Susan Sarandon's head.

God, I'm so sick of the crap that I have to hear each day from the media, Hollywierd and the Dems.  

Speaking of Dem's - why didn't Hillary go out on patrol?  

Is no one but the Right putting their ass's on the line like our troops are?  

Steve is into heroin pretty good; did time for it.  Ever see these lyrics?
------------
About the time that Daddy left to fight the big war
I saw my first pistol in the general store
In the general store, when I was thirteen
Thought it was the finest thing I ever had seen
So l asked if I could have one someday when I grew up
Mama dropped a dozen eggs, she really blew up
She really blew up and I didn't understand
Mama said the pistol is the devil's right hand

The devil's right hand, the devil's right hand
Mama said the pistol is the devil's right hand

Cool, eh?

I see no reason to shoot anyone. My question was very general in nature. Intelliugence? [rolleyes]
AB

Most but not all so called "rockers" are arrogant,airhead,bone smoking,shit for brains "entertainers".Remember....Ted Nugent IS NOT.....The ones that don't blab this "I wannabee a war protester" bullshit like those dumbfuck"Dixie Chicks"who forgot that their fans were not movie stars but all us white trash hillbillies,are perhaps not supporting this Bash GW shit.All rockers arn't bad just the fucking few that have careers that are basically over,and whose time is spent trying to re-live the 60's when it was "cool" to be a kommie and spit on the flag,and to hate everything our nation represents.    

Eddie Bed-wetter, huh?  GOD I HATE Pearl Jam!!  WHAAA WHAAA WHAAAA!!!!

That whole list of people are nothing but cry babies.