Pearl Jam and REM have joined The National Campaign to Close Guantanamo, a coalition of musicians supporting Barack Obama’s efforts to close the controversial prison. The bands join Jackson Browne, Steve Earle, Roseanne Cash, Billy Bragg, Bonnie Raitt, and Rage Against The Machine in the coalition.
Several artists are particularly upset about their music being used to interrogate prisoners. The BBC reports that a document published in November 2008 by the Senate Armed Services Committee made several references to the technique. The news service also reports that the National Security Archive states that tracks by AC/DC, Britney Spears, the Bee Gees, and Marilyn Manson have been played into detainees’ cells at Guantanamo, as well as the Meow mix cat food jingle, the Barney theme song, and Sesame Street songs. The CIA told the BBC that music was played “at levels far below a live rock band,” and that it was used only for security, rather than “punitive purposes.”
REM said in a statement: “We have spent the past 30 years supporting causes related to peace and justice. To now learn that some of our friends’ music may have been used as part of the torture tactics without their consent or knowledge, is horrific. It’s anti-American, period.”
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Well good for them!
Let the stars that want to support the closing take prisoners into their homes to pamper them for the rest of their lives…AND pay for security for them!
I’d like to know their reaction of a prison was built near THEIR home!!
yea, good for them
http://omicrongames.com
I Love Pearl Jam & REM, and a lot of those others, but they are crossing a line here. Don’t sell your music (and get rich off of it) if everyone isn’t allowed to use it how they want. They are talking about putting these terrorists in prisons here in Michigan. WE DON’T WANT THEM HERE! We have enough REAL problems in this state – unlike millionaire cry-baby musicians. Make music. Don’t talk. Your opinions are no more relevant than ours!
Oh yeah, and I take that back. I’m no longer a fan of any of those bands. You rich, whiny people don’t deserve me as a fan any longer if that’s all you have to cry about, I am truly saddened by that. If you want to make a difference – sign-up for the servive and go to Afghanistan. Come to Michigan and do some benefit concerts for our struggling state. I bet none of you will. That’s an open challenge to ALL of you. Don’t say you don’t have the power to do so. It’s so much easier to attack our great military (without which – you would be making NO music, or be able to speak freely as you do). Suit up or shut up!
Suit up or shut up? Really? That doesn’t even make sense. These bands aren’t attacking our military or the good job the troops have done, and have always done. Not one of the musicians wants to pamper the people in Guantanamo, they just don’t want their music used as a torture device. “Make music. Don’t talk.” Again, really? They are citizens just like the rest of us and have every right to speak their minds. And finally, do you have any idea how much Pearl Jam, in particular, gives and donates? They are one of the most philanthropic bands out there. Do some research and see how much Pearl Jam has donated to your state whenever they play there. You’d be surprised. How much have YOU given to your state?
I second that.
Took me two seconds on Google to find an article on Pearl Jam donating to the State of Michigan. http://detroitsummer.blogspot.com/2006/06/detroit-summer-receives-donation-from.html
These musicians are joining a coalition to close guantanamo. How is closing Guantanamo going to stop anyone from using their music for torture? Is that location somehow better at playing their music?
I too was a fan of Pearl Jam, and once REM, but these people seem to have to get in the political arena for some reason. Let these people along with Bono take them and support them. Ill not buy another song from any of these zero-bama supporters.
I don’t know what their problem is, they have been torturing us for years with their pathetic excuse for music. Why would they be worried about bothering the terrorists. I hope that someone publishes a full list of the coalition band members so I know exactly whose albums to burn and boycott. The can all line up and goose step right along with “our Dear Leader” Obama. What is this world coming too. Fascists to the Right of us and Marxists to the Left, wake up America, quit being manipulated into providing PR for the Government.
Meow meow meow meow
Meow meow meow meow…
torture!
You people are a bunch of shills. Musicians have the right to voice their opinion that they don’t want their music used for torture, no matter whether that music has made them rich or not. You people are a bunch of confused fearful idiots if you don’t get that this is WRONG.
Before they show America how unpatriotic they are, they should find out where the Dixie Chicks are waiting tables, so they can still have a job.
right on. I loved REM from the start of my youth but will now forget them without looking back. Dave Mathews band dropping their crap coverty on a bridge and claiming “GREEN” …REM & Stipe now with their infalated egos. These guys suck now, along with many others….. Hated Ted Nuget growing up but he is now making a lot of sence. Screw the Hollywood crowd and liberal entertainers who support our countries demise. They should move out and perform elsewhere.
Let these non US citizen, non Geneva Convention compliant terrorist mercenaries rot to death at Gitmo. Their agenda includes banning music. Stick that in your pipe, romantic liberal musicians.
MAYBE IT WOULD BE BETTER IF THE U.S. GOVERMENT JUST CUT THIER HEADS OFF AND PUT IT ON THE INTERNET…
who gives a rat’s A$$ what they have to say or want…when did they becomme of such import?
I went to a Steve Earle concert 2 years ago, and he had a large hammer and sickle flag hagging up behind the drum kit – no joke. He also interrupted the show to go on leftist political rants throughout. When I got home, I threw all of his CDs that I owned in the trash. That these artists are in this same group as him says it all. Thanks for providing a partial list of other “artists” I can boycott.
Come one now children, put your fear and hatred away.. it’ll be ok. Promise. Just your like your pin-up-poster-boys like Limbaugh and Hanity use their pulpits to speak freely, these artists can do the same. Good for them. I also want that published list of artists that signed onto this so I can go out and buy them all
Clueless clowns,play your music and stop
useing your brains
Great, a bunch of bands nobody listens to anymore want their music to stop being played in guantanamo. If they’re successful almost nobody will hear them anymore. Billy Bragg? Rosanne Cash. Jackson Browne. Just hearing their crap on the radio is torture enough. just shows how out of touch they are with reality. Nice coalition banding together 9 months after Obama says close them. Way to make an impact. Not.
Wow, artists complaining about their music being played for people that would gladly kill each and every one of us in the United States is just sad. There are horrid things happening to people in different countries across the planet and this is their gripe? And for Larry…I doubt that Limbaugh or Hanity would whine like this about their broadcasts being used for such a thing.
limbaugh and hanity are already instruments of torture! and by the blatant lack of intelligence exhibited in some of these messages, it is painfully clear where such myopic reasoning derives from…..
Funny how some of you keep talking about these radio hosts being torture. Speak up on who you listen to and then we can look at their ratings…oh wait, liberal talk radio is basically a dead end.
you d…asss.
We have to have balance here people–Terrorists on one side (George Bush) and pacifists on the other (Ed Vedder). Thank you, Eddie, for all of your wonderful music.
Typical Obama worshiping liberal but unfortunately you’re too ignorant to understand that hugs and kisses won’t stop terrorists from attacking the United States.
YEAH! I agree, Obama should keep Guantanomo open and put the REAL terrorists in their, LIMBAUGH, CHENEY, BUSH, & RUMSFELD. Ah, might as well include all REPUBlICANS.
For those of you that want to shut down Gitmo. Why don’t you give the terrorists your home address so they can come live with you.
For those extremists saying that terrorists will suddenly be in your living rooms when Gitmo closes…you’re not seeing the big picture. Closing Gitmo will boost the U.S. reputation internationally and could help our leaders when dealing with other countries. We have tortured people and done unjust, un-American things that EVERYONE knows about. Gitmo stands for everything that we as Americans stand against. It needs to go. The prisoners will be housed in new prisons, but there are prisons everywhere and they provide great sources of labor and benefits to local residents and military. They will not be in your living room. You need to turn down the ignorance and come to realize that Change must occur.
The artists can complain all they want but as long as the music was purchased they have not right to say who can or can’t listen to their music. It was not broadcast so they have no legal right and they are just complaining to get in the media. Wierd that Pearl Jam has a new cd out and they are now making headlines. What a joke. Just a bunch of nutty left wingers making much ado about nothing. We really need some moderates in this country to take control so we don’t have such large political swings.
I work 60 hours a week at a non-union supplier to the great big three that have screwed this state up so much. I make less than $40,000 a year and I donate to the ASPCA, Goodwill, the United Way and a few others (I don’t have to list them for you any way Sara). I do my part – don’t question that. You people talk about torture – have you not seen what these savages do to us when they imprison us? If not, watch a video of it and then try to eat a sandwich. Watch a blade be pushed slowly through a young mans neck. And quite frankly, based on the actions of countries like France (who would be speaking German to this day if it wasn’t for us) and all of the other openly anti-semitic nations out there; I don’t really care what the rest of the world thinks of us. We are talking about music being used for torture here. This is ridiculous! If music is torture than torture me all day! If I was locked in a cell I would be glad to be able to hear Pearl Jam, but I don’t think they let you do that in the Wayne County Jail. But if you blindfold me and put a blade to my neck, I MAY feel my RIGHTS are being just a bit violated. You know, if we keep showing these terrorists that we are going to play slow-pitch while they play hard-ball; this country is going to lose 6,000 innocent people in one day again, or, it will be even worse next time. I appreciate that Pear Jam has donated what they have. But that’s exactly the point – put it behind a worthy cause. Come to Detroit and walk the streets with me. That’s where these millionaires need to put their money – not helping people that are getting what they deserve. Don’t try to help your buddy in justifying a non-deserved Nobel Peace Prize. And also, I am not a Republican or a Democrat. I will not put blinders on. Like my friend Jack White says “I’m not here to share my personal life or beliefs with the world – I’m here to share my music.” If you all hate this country so much – get out. And please go to Iran, a great place where they hang 16 year-old girls in the town square for not wearing proper dress.
Oh yeah and I wonder whose tax money is going to pay for their three meals a day, TV, and lets not forget MUSIC, plus a bed and roof over their head when they come to Michigan. It will come out of my check – not Eddie Vedders or the flag burning RATM!
23 hours of the real Slim Shady. Thats some serious royalties the Army owes Eminem.
If Montana wants the detainees, stop being puds and let them have them. Sheesh!
Yeah Sara, Pearl Jam has every right to say what they want. And I am happy with them if they have helped our struggling state of Michigan. But this cause… come on. Like what was said above – come to Detroit City. The poor kids who don’t have winter coats should be getting A LOT MORE attention than criminals (and criminals is a label that is way too conservative – these are pieces of trash). I’m so tired of musicians crying about stupid, unworthy causes. Please don’t send terrorists to Michigan. We have enough problems without having to worry about people who are hell-bent on killing us all living right down the road. Sounds to me like Obama needs some help in getting something done he said he would do a long time ago. And I don’t want my favorite bands alienating me because they want to help him. Oh yeah, and if this country is soooo bad, and we are so cruel – get out.
The reason Gitmo should be shut down is because it’s unconstitutional. These people were taken and put in jail without due process. If they are true terrorists, the UN should be prosecuting them, not the US.
If they are playing REM I would consider that torture. Force them to look at pictures of Michael Stipe and they will break down in no time.
The UN… prosecute? Bwah ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Favorite hit single I like by Rem is their 1989 song Orange crush.
Rely on the UN? Read up on Rwanda idiot! They really came through for all of the thousands that were hacked to death with machettes over there. They sat there and watched. Give me ONE example of the UN serving their “meant” purpose. Due process – do you think Muslim extremists follow rules? Do you think Kennedy, Nixon, Bush, and Bush Jr. abided by the constitution? That’s just a few. (And even though I like him, Obama will show his true colors soon enough and join this exclusive rich and powerful club of people who can do whatever they want and get away with it) Now, because it’s trendy to be a liberal, the constitution comes into play?!? There is no reaching the stupid young liberals of today. You’re reaching hard now. Give it up. They deserve to die – let alone be forced to listen to Britney Spears. What would you want done to them if they cut the head off of one of your loved ones? Would you still refer to the constitution? Which was written by slave-owners by the way, but you should know that. Or maybe you don’t.