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.”
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.