tagged w/ Rage Against the Machine
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A group of prominent musicians are joining a campaign to close Guantanamo Bay and demanding the release of records about what music was used during the potential torture of detainees there and at other facilities.
Some of the more famous names in the music industry are formally lending their prestige to an effort being led by retired generals, progressive groups and a former member of Congress to shut GITMO down. The list includes Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, R.E.M., Pearl Jam, Jackson Browne, Rise Against, Rosanne Cash, Billy Bragg and the Roots, all of whom are joining the broader National Campaign to Close Guantanamo which was launched earlier in the week.
Hoping to cast further light on the potential illegalities that took place at the detention facility, the group is also working to obtain records about why and how music was used (under laws authorized by the Bush administration) to effectively torture suspected terrorists. The musicians have officially endorsed a Freedom of Information Act request for the declassification of all secret government records pertaining to music utilized during interrogations. At least two members of the coalition, Reznor and Morello, have had their music linked to interrogations.
"Guantanamo is known around the world as one of the places where human beings have been tortured -- from water boarding, to stripping, hooding and forcing detainees into humiliating sexual acts -- playing music for 72 hours in a row at volumes just below that to shatter the eardrums," said Morello, in a statement provided by the NCCG. "Guantanamo may be Dick Cheney's idea of America, but it's not mine. The fact that music I helped create was used in crimes against humanity sickens me -- we need to end torture and close Guantanamo now."
The National Security Archives will be officially filing the FOIA request on behalf of the National Campaign to Close Guantanamo (NCCG)
lA group of prominent musicians are joining a campaign to close Guantanamo Bay and... more
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FROM THE NEWS BLOG:
This week a group of musicians launched Close Gitmo Now, a movement with an eponymous objective. Why is a group of artists as diverse as Rage Against the Machine, REM, Billy Bragg, Roseanne Cash, Pearl Jam, Jackson Browne and Steve Earle getting involved in the debate over Guantanamo? Because of the use of popular music by military interrogators.
From the Guardian (UK):
"Several references to music as an interrogation tool appeared in a US senate report last year. Records were used to "stress" Mohamedou Ould Slahi during questioning in 2003, including repeated plays of a song by hard-rockers Drowning Pool. Other tracks that were reportedly played at high volume near prisoners include David Gray's Babylon, Metallica's Enter Sandman, Don McLean's American Pie, Queen's We Will Rock You, songs by REM, Pearl Jam, Nine Inch Nails, Bruce Springsteen, and even theme tunes from Sesame Street, Barney the Dinosaur and the Meow Mix commercials."
While the Meow Mix cats have yet to get involved, a wide range of other musicians have. Plenty of artists are plenty pissed about their music being a torture device. Ask Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello:
“Guantanamo is known around the world as one of the places where human beings have been tortured – from water boarding, to stripping, hooding and forcing detainees into humiliating sexual acts - playing music for 72 hours in a row at volumes just below that to shatter the eardrums. Guantanamo may be Dick Cheney’s idea of America, but it’s not mine. The fact that music I helped create was used in crimes against humanity sickens me – we need to end torture and close Guantanamo now."
Vanguard's Adrian Baschuk took a trip down to Gitmo last year and even spent the night. What going on at the most controversial jail in the world? (posted below)FROM THE NEWS BLOG:
This week a group of musicians launched Close Gitmo Now, a... more
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"Last June, Actors' Gang artistic director Tim Robbins, above, and his colleagues at the Culver City theater company received some paradoxical advice. The world economy was still shaky. Donations to the theater were down. The best short-term strategy for the theater troupe, the Gang was told, would be to save money by not putting on plays.
A theater company that doesn't make theater? Robbins' none-too-subtle response gave birth to the festival title.
The Actors' Gang's "WTF?! Festival," starts Oct. 13 (a Tuesday) and will run Tuesdays through Saturdays through Dec. 19. It's an ambitious lineup of rotating activities that will encompass live music, poetry, theater and dance performances, readings and film and documentary screenings. Some events will be free.
To longtime Gang watchers, this aggressive approach to battling the recessionary blues seems in character for the Ivy Substation-based company, which is known for its boldly experimental new works and intrepid interpretations of the classics. Conventional wisdom holds that lean economic times require artists and arts groups to rein in their ambitions. The Gang maintains that the opposite is true.
"This is exactly the time, when things are falling apart, when the economy is bad, it's the time to drop ticket prices, it's the time to create free nights, it's the time to figure out how to produce even though the economics say 'don't produce,' " Robbins says.
The new festival, he believes, will allow the company to maintain its artistic goals, preserve its extensive community outreach programs and bring new audiences to the theater while riding out what he calls this "crap economy."
The Oscar-winning actor is curating festival programming, which will bring artists such as Jackson Browne, Tenacious D, Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie to perform at the Gang's 99-seat space.""Last June, Actors' Gang artistic director Tim Robbins, above, and his colleagues at... more
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A rousing video of Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello talking about the significant personal and political impact of Obama's election, also cautioning "not to get caught up in the euphoria..." Clips from his live show as "The Nightwatchman" at The Vic Theatre in Chicago as well as some incendiary but witty stage banter.A rousing video of Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello talking about the... more
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Spesso canzoni famose sono state usate durante le torture sui detenuti di Guantanamo, alzando al massimo il volume per non far sentire le grida. In questi giorni in cui si festeggia il 60esimo anniversario della Dichiarazione universale dei diritti umani, numerosi cantanti chiedono che si ponga fine a questo orrendo uso della loro musica: tra loro Bruce Springsteen, Massive Attack, Elbow, Tom Morello dei Rage Against the Machine e tanti altri.Spesso canzoni famose sono state usate durante le torture sui detenuti di Guantanamo,... more
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Arale
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11 months ago
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Nessun nuovo album in vista per i Rage Against The Machine, almeno nell'immediato futuro: Tom Morello esclude un ritorno in studio del gruppo in un'intervista con Billboard.com e dichiara che il suo progetto più importante è Nightwatchman, pseudonimo con cui ha pubblicato il suo album solista, di cui spera di occuparsi il più a lungo possibile.Nessun nuovo album in vista per i Rage Against The Machine, almeno nell'immediato... more
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danito
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11 months ago
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With the most historic election upon us, Current Music goes to some of today's hottest artists to get their perspective on issues they see critical to our country, and find out what they are doing to get involved. From street poverty to street art, blogging to battle, we bring you a half hour of election news musician style, on this special edition of Music and Politics '08.With the most historic election upon us, Current Music goes to some of today's hottest... more
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Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine released his anticipated solo album, The Fabled City, on September 30th. The 11-song album, produced by Brendan O'Brien (Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam), is the first release to bear the political and social activist's birth name and features appearances by System Of A Down's Serj Tankian and Shooter Jennings. With more complex electric arrangements than displayed on the sparse solo debut One Man Revolution, The Fabled City is the synthesis of his groundbreaking work as an innovative rock guitarist and revolutionary acoustic troubadour. For the first time, this album bridges the gap between Tom Morello, the acoustic protest singer and Tom Morello, the guitar legend.
The tour in support of The Fabled City will display both sides of Morello's guitar prowess with both an acoustic set and full-band electric set performed each night. In regards to the format of the performances, Morello stated "On The Fabled City Tour, I will be playing both acoustic and electric guitar. I want to start off with the darker acoustic songs and then build to some of the wildest electric guitar playing I have ever unleashed on stage in my career. The idea is half Dylan/Half Hendrix. I have been practicing my ass off and can't wait to rock."
In addition to the tour, Tom Morello has been confirmed to appear at the annual New Yorker Festival in New York City on Saturday, October 4th. Morello will be performing songs and talking with James Surowiecki, staff writer at The New Yorker since 2000. The performance and interview takes place at the Acura Stage at Cedar Lake Theatre, 547 West 26th Street.
The Fabled City Tour:
11/01 - San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
11/02 - Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom
11/05 - Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
11/07 - Salt Lake City, UT The Depot
11/08 - Aspen, CO Belly Up Aspen
11/09 - Boulder, CO Fox Theater
11/11 - Minneapolis, MN Fine Line Music Cafe
11/12 - Milwaukee, WI Turner Hall Ballroom
11/13 - Indianapolis, IN The Vogue
11/20 - Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory
11/21 - New York, NY The Fillmore NY at Irving Plaza
Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine released his anticipated solo album, The... more
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KefKef
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1 year ago
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This is explosive stuff.....
Never has there been a time when Americans needed to rage more against the machine. As we weather a perfect storm of a Great Depression-like financial meltdown, a war that's more costly (in so many ways) than Vietnam, and daily scandals that make Watergate look like a Boy Scout prank, guitarist, singer and songwriter Tom Morello is raging hard, on stage, on CD, and on the streets, where he's repeatedly risked his own life and liberty fighting what he believes are the true forces of evil.
A Harvard Political Science graduate, Morello has seen democracy in action both as an insider, while working for a United States senator, and on the frontlines. He faced a pitched battle with 700 riot police while participating in protests outside the Pepsi Center in Denver during the recent Democratic National Convention and days later was threatened with arrest while attempting to perform with his band at a rally on the Capital Lawn in St. Paul during the Republican National Convention. Despite skirmishes with the authorities at both events, Morello refused to be silenced.
Click on link above for full interview in which Morello talks about what REALLY happened at both the Republican AND Democratic conventions!This is explosive stuff.....
Never has there been a time when Americans needed to... more
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According to The Pulse of Radio, artwork by members of Rage Against The Machine, Modest Mouse, Spoon, R.E.M., Death Cab For Cutie, and My Morning Jacket will be auctioned off to benefit the War Child International charity starting tomorrow (September 30). The donated pieces are all protest signs designed by the musicians to reflect their take on today's political climates.
Members of Ok Go, The Dresden Dolls, Built To Spill, British Sea Power, The Decemberists, and Supergrass also contributed to the project.
All of the protest signs involved appeared in the "protest issue" of Under The Radar magazine earlier this summer.
The auction lasts for a week on eBay.
According to The Pulse of Radio, artwork by members of Rage Against The Machine,... more
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KefKef
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1 year ago
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Here’s a behind-the-scenes postscript about the lengths to which the planners of the Republican National Convention went to ensure the appearance of a discord-free GOP: They tried to scuttle Ron Paul’s counter-convention across the river in Minneapolis and the next night’s Rage Against the Machine concert as well.
Speaking on background, well-placed sources at City Hall and Target Center have confirmed to MnIndy that in the days before Ron Paul’s Rally for the Republic at Target Center was publicly announced, representatives of the RNC Host Committee contacted officials at Target Center and the city of Minneapolis (which oversees the facility) to push for the cancellation of the event. They also sought the cancellation of the Rage Against the Machine concert that took place at Target Center on September 3, the third night of the RNC.
A City Haller familiar with the situation says that Mayor RT Rybak’s office was contacted by Host Committee members who wanted the mayor’s assistance in seeing to it that the events were canceled. He refused to cooperate, adds the source. I phoned Rybak’s office; he declined to be interviewed. But his communication director, Jeremy Hanson, had this to say: “We don’t dispute the characterization of events, but the mayor’s office doesn’t wish to comment further.”
I left a message this morning seeking a response from Jeff Larson, the RNC Host Committee’s CEO. He has not returned the call. If/when he does, I’ll add an update.
(Larson is perhaps better known as a founder of the Feather Larson Synhorst group, a top-drawer GOP fundraising/marketing outfit, and as Norm Coleman’s DC landlord.)Here’s a behind-the-scenes postscript about the lengths to which the planners of the... more
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As we remember a day that has forever changed our nation, the Daily Fix recalls how 9/11 affected radio.As we remember a day that has forever changed our nation, the Daily Fix recalls how... more
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Videos of Rage Against the Machine, Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Gates and others are hot today. See what else made our list and suggest your own today.
To watch the full versions of all five videos just click on the links in the comments section below.Videos of Rage Against the Machine, Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Gates and others are hot... more
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It's sad how little progress we've made since 2000.
So now it's 2008. What's new? Not much.It's sad how little progress we've made since 2000.
So now it's 2008. What's new?... more
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asherp
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1 year ago
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Rage Against the Machine performs at the RNC in protest, not support. Proving to be a more hostile event, the Daily Fix shows you the chaos and protests outside the convention.Rage Against the Machine performs at the RNC in protest, not support. Proving to be a... more
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Tony Webster is a Minneapolis photojournalist who went to the Target Center to document the end of the Rage Against the Machine Concert Wednesday night. St. Paul Police Chief and the Ramsey County Sherrif had been telling the media that the concert was going to be wild and that protests would surely ensue.
When Webster arrived 45 minutes before the concert ended, there were already police in riot gear, mounted police, police with wood batons all waiting for the concert to end. Exactly the sort of thing the a crowd of Rage against the machine fans will take in stride coming out the concert.
When the concert ended, a small crowd (out of all the thousands of concert goers) gathered--around itself not around the police--and was yelling expletives about republicans. Three people were clearly trying to create chaos. As the protest crowd got wilder, peace activists and Target Center employees tried to separate them from the police. The police back off and then led the protesters down a path where they were soon surrounded.
Tony Webster, despite having all his press credentials out and repeatedly telling the police officers, including Police Chief Dolan, was arrested and flicked off by an officer. By his account, this protest was CREATED by the police forces present.
His account is intense and links to photos he took that night. He explains that in the past, he's been highly supportive of local police efforts to make the city more livable, making him all the more disgusted at these events.
This an another very unfortunate example of police escalation and disregard for the presses role. Tony Webster is a Minneapolis photojournalist who went to the Target Center to... more
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Clad in Guantanamo-style orange jumpsuits with black hoods cinched over their heads and their hands behind their backs, Rage Against the Machine were led onstage to deafening air raid sirens and cheers in Minneapolis last night.Clad in Guantanamo-style orange jumpsuits with black hoods cinched over their heads... more
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Rage Against the Machine werent allowed to perform at the RNC protest so they do what they do best, take a peaceful and passionate stand for what they believe in. Got to love this band for their talent, their conviction and their pride.
Rage Against the Machine werent allowed to perform at the RNC protest so they do what... more
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Rage Against the Machine frontman Zach De la Rocha and guitarist Tom Morello played an impromptu a cappella set for a crowd on the lawn of the Minneapolis State Capitol Building.
Apparently, when they were told they couldn't get onstage at a free event there, they grabbed a bullhorn and did it carnie-style.Rage Against the Machine frontman Zach De la Rocha and guitarist Tom Morello played an... more
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