Rage Against Torture: Top Musicians Demand Records On How Bush Admin Used Their Songs Against Detainees
Rage Against Torture: Top Musicians Demand Records On How Bush Admin Used Their Songs Against Detainees
In 2004, documents were released showing that FBI agents witnessed abusive treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay that included “detainees being chained to the floor for extended periods of time and being subjected to extreme heat, extreme cold or ‘extremely loud rap music.’” In fact, the use of loud music as “torture lite” has been a common tool employed at not just Guantanamo, but also at prisons in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Last year, a coalition of musicians, along with British human rights charity Reprieve, created an anti-torture initiative called “Zero db” that sought to end the use of music in torture. Now, a new coalition of international musicians, including Trent Reznor, R.E.M., Pearl Jam, Jackson Browne, Rage Against the Machine, Rosanne Cash, Billy Bragg and the Roots, is launching a new protest against the use of music used during torture and are joining the National Campaign to Close Guantanamo.
As part of their protest, the musicians are supporting an effort seeking the declassification of all secret government records pertaining to how music was used in interrogations. From the group’s press release:
“At Guantanamo, the U.S. government turned a jukebox into an instrument of torture,” said Thomas Blanton, executive director of the National Security Archive, a freedom of information act organization that is assisting the musicians in seeking the documents. “The musicians and the public have the right to know how an expression of popular culture was transformed into an enhanced interrogation technique.” [...]
On behalf of the campaign, the National Security Archive is filing a series of FOIA requests today seeking still-secret documentation from CIA, U.S. Special Operations Command, and FBI, among other agencies, pertaining to how the music was chosen and the specific role it played in interrogations of detainees at the base.
For the musicians, Guantanamo is a symbol of the legacy of torture the Bush administration left behind. “As long as Guantanamo stays open, America’s legacy around the world will continue to be the torture that went on there,” said R.E.M. in a statement. “Guantanamo may be Dick Cheney’s idea of America, but it’s not mine,” said Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello. “The fact that music I helped create was used in crimes against humanity sickens me – we need to end torture and close Guantanamo now.”
“When we found out that music was being used as part of the torture going on at Guantanamo, shackling and beating people – we were angry,” said The Roots. “Just as we wouldn’t be caught dead allowing Dick Cheney to use our music for his campaigns, you can be damn sure, we wouldn’t allow him to use it to torture other human beings. Congress needs to shut Guantanamo down.”
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Good for the musicians…
There remains a “score” to be settled, as well as criminal charges to be filed against the war criminals and torturers.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:42 amIt’s a sad day when MUSICIANS are the ones leading the call against torture. Meanwhile, Tricky Dick and his fear mongering daughter are going aroud rattling the sabers for war.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:45 amRage Against Torture: Top Musicians Demand Records On How Bush Admin Used Their Songs Against Detainees
– - REAL torture would have been if the Bush Admin used Johnny Cash cover songs from Nine Inch Nails.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:47 amIt won’t be long before Fox News calls rock musicians “terrorist sympathizers” and declare certain guitar solos “terrorist code words”…. and the trolls buy into it….
Geeeez.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:48 amRight on! Though, judging by Reagan’s use of Springsteen in ‘84 and McCain’s use of…several musicians in ‘08, don’t expect an apology or any legal action forthcoming.
At the very least, these people should be allowed to sue for royalties and lodge a civil complaint for copyright infringement.
Wait, nevermind about that last one…the RIAA is so deep in the pockets of the GOP that the case would never see the light of day (much like the prisoners who were subjected to the music torture)
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:49 amHeeeey, ‘Downward Spiral’ was a great album, but I STILL think Johnny Cash did a better version of “Hurt”. Reznor may have been going through heroin withdrawal when recording. Johnny Cash was actually dying. It lends an air of authenticity to the pain.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:50 amRock On!
DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT MESS WITH MUSICIANS!
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:51 amwhere have all the flowers gone?
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:57 am…long, long time ago….
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:58 amThe musicians have a point.
This is a very interesting development.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:59 amFred@8, LOL! This in a way is hysterical. This very week, the Gallup Poll found that Americans are ready to legalize pot. LOL! What’s a Repug to do?
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:00 amBush Lite and his minions are nothing short of thugs who were all paranoid schizophrenics who stole and election in 2000 and then stole the soul of America all in the name of enemies that didn’t exist in great numbers. I still believe that Bush Lite knew that there were hijackings planned for 09-11-01 and hoped to be able to talk the hijackers down after they provided him with a legitimate excuse for invading Afghanistan and then Iraq. The real reason for all of this loss of blood and treasure was that Bush Lite claimed that Saddam had tried to “kill my Dad.”
I hope someday to urinate on the man’s grave.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:03 amCeline Dion is a WMD
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:03 amP.D. says:
Fred@8, LOL! This in a way is hysterical. This very week, the Gallup Poll found that Americans are ready to legalize pot. LOL! What’s a Repug to do?
Simple. The Repukes play the fear card by declaring that rock music and marijuana breeds terrorists… and the teabaggers buy into it… Such simple-minded fools.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:04 amWhat I don’t understand is why the torturers used music from musicians sure to complain about it, when they could have used Ted Nugent? In fact, Nugent would probably been willing to record special material for the purpose of inflicting torture, for free.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:04 amCan you imagine how upset you would be if you were a musician and your songs were used to torture? I hope these musicians fight hard, they are musicians not politicians, so they don’t have to worry about getting elected, they are free to fight the good fight.
FIGHT THE POWER!
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:04 amIt’s good to see that Rage is still fighting the establishment after the establishment used Rage’s music of anti-establishment fundamentalism for their own dirty deeds.
Whoa. That hurts to think about. Rage sings about anti-government virtues, only for the government to use that music to conduct acts which could possibly spawn more Rage music.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:06 amOne more issue. Perhaps there’s a band out there that can write a song with the title “Piss on Bush”. I prefer the key of G.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:06 amParlezvous says
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:03 am
I hope someday to urinate on the man’s grave.
_____________________________________________________________
I’m sure you’re not the only one with this wish. In fact, this sentiment is likely shared by enough people that authorities will probably take steps to make his grave urination-proof.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:07 amTed Nugent doesn’t do anything for free. When was his last good cause charity concert?
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:09 am18. Funny he shaped that chord on the wrong fret. On the third fret instead of the second.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:09 amhttp://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blbushfishingvacation.htm
Addendum to 21.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:10 amMissMolly,
Never mind the authorities. Where there’s a will there’s a wee.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:11 amBilly Bragg, what a gem.
The work he did with WILCO by recording unfinished works by Woody Guthrie in the Mermaid Avenue series (I & II) is simply breathtaking.
MUSICVIDEOLINK
Indulge yourself, you won’t regret it.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:12 amThat would have been torture for the torturers as well.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:12 amParl@20, I think just being in the same room WITH Ted Nugent would be torture. But your right, good ole Ted doesn’t do anything for free. Plus he’s busy shooting exotic animals and being a mouth piece for the Repug Party.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:14 amIt’s a sad day when MUSICIANS are the ones…
Often, they’ve less to lose than the average joe, therefore, more to gain by speaking out.
Plus, nothing moves the masses quite like music – the only truly universal language.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:16 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
I’m sure that the great Nugent-Republican anthem “Wang Dang Sweet Poontang” would have done wonders for helping to inflict torture.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:17 amAt a boy alajandro, take on the people opposing torture and hold thier feet to the fire.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:21 amDNFP, Have you noticed that NO musician really wants to be associated with the Repug Party? Remember the hassles the McCain campaign had when the artists claimed they didn’t have permission to use their songs? I don’t remember who they were, but I remember the was a bruhaha.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:21 amAlejandro says:
“This news came out 5 years ago….”
“The Wheels of the Gods grind slow,
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:22 amYet exceedingly fine…”
Ted Nugent sucks.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:22 amMusicans have often led the way.
csny
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:23 ambob dylan
pete seeger
woody guthrie
sam hill
P.D. says:
DNFP, Have you noticed that NO musician really wants to be associated with the Repug Party? Remember the hassles the McCain campaign had when the artists claimed they didn’t have permission to use their songs? I don’t remember who they were, but I remember the was a bruhaha.
Ann and Nancy Wilson from Heart (Barracuda) and Jackson Browne (Running on Empty) cross my mind…
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:24 amwe musicians have always been at the forefront of social change
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:26 amthe right has musicans:
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:26 amToby Keith
Allen Greenwood
ted nugent
Pat Boone
hitler played a mean accordian
nero was a kick ass fiddler
The devil played fiddle too
If Joe Strummer was alive today, he’d be all over this.
Know Your Rights.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:27 amIn@35, That’s it! Usually I remember inane trivia. But I guess I must be getting old.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:28 amThe secret to a successful hunt is patience.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:31 amAnd I’ve got all of eternity, Ted…
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Just more evidence that Rage was right all along —
Some of those that wear forces
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:33 amAre the same that burn crosses…
Ale@41, Go back to your troll hole.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:34 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Kenneth says:
If Joe Strummer was alive today, he’d be all over this.
Now that’s torture!
Care to explain?
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:38 amToby Keith
The only reason he wants to “Put a Boot in Yer A$$” is because his pud is too small, and his hands busy with the reach-around…
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:39 amRoyalties on a song played 24/7 for weeks on end can add up.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:39 amWhat’s The Frequency, Kenneth?
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:40 ampoor little victim. I’m sorry. Can you forgive me for making fun of you pretending that people speaking out against torture didn’t do it in a timely fashion?
You must be right. You say it in a stern and forthright manner. Why should I question you or your message?
After all you posted it on the internet for millions of people to see as a representation of your stance on torture.
Irony, you guys just don’t get it.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:40 amAleassclown says:
41.
Why aren’t you in school today little boy?
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:40 amAle@45, YOU get a frigging job.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:43 amAlejandro says:
And where the hell is Barney in this fight? I guess Barney is pro-torture.
Barney’s creator is anti-torture. It says so on the article itself.
Bob Singleton, who wrote the theme tune to the US children’s TV show Barney and Friends, was outraged to discover it was being used to interrogate prisoners at Guantanamo. “It absolutely ludicrous”, he wrote in the Los Angeles Times.
There. Barney is anti-torture.
“A song that was designed to make little children feel safe and loved was somehow going to threaten the mental state of adults and drive them to the emotional breaking point?”
Speaking as the parent of a 1 year old who loves Barney… I’ve gotta say, it sometimes feels like torture.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:52 amSurprisingly, Toby Keith is a Democrat. Pretty damn conservative, but it’s Oklahoma.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:58 amYeah, well tell me why asking “what took you so long?” is considered “going after” them.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:59 amHaha…they could’ve picked “The Wiggles” instead…now THAT’S torture…LOL
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:01 pmAn Evangelical Wingnut’s Night-time Prayer
Now I lay me down to sleep
Pray to God my soul to keep
I voted for Bush the Texacutioner
Who put more people to death than an executioner
The highest execution rate of any governor in history
How he was elected president is still a mystery
The biggest serial killer since Timothy McVeigh,
mocks Karla’s pleas for clemency during her final days
I hold stoutly to my world view
Despite being contradicted by what is proven true
I believe the earth to be only 4000 years old
“Intelligent” design is the view I hold
Even though evolution explains how life changed and adapted
verified by countless experiments not retracted
the scientific facts should be stricken as inadmissible
teaching creationism to our children is permissible
Take some parts literally, others out of place
And I can use the Bible to judge the whole human race
Pat Robertson said 9/11 was a punishment from God
That innocents died instead of him he didn’t find odd
For lifestyles of feminism, liberalism, and being gay
Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson said over 3,000 people died that day
That God will punish them for their remark
Pride has hidden from a judgmental heart
“After the last tree standing is felled”
“Christ will come back” I heard James Watt tell
you see evangelicals don’t care about generations
because they won’t have to be here to face elimination
“compassionate” conservatives fantasize about journeying through the air
As Left Behind: The Series plays out below everywhere
While pollution they caused brings about ecological collapse
It doesn’t bother them that people will die perhaps
by Cherokee American
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:01 pmNo! You! *sticks out tongue*
(I love TP. Best comments section ever.)
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:01 pmPurple State,
Joe Strummer
Listening to Joe was torture! What the heck was he screaming about?
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:04 pmIt always deteriorates when you show up. Do you have anything to contribute?
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:05 pmYeah, well tell me why asking “what took you so long?” is considered “going after” them.
Do you know the difference between speaking out against something and forming an organization to fight it is?
PS- the ‘torture playlist’ was put together last year by Mother Jones and almost every artist listed spoke out immediately… where do you get your ‘five years ago we knew all this nonsense?’
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:32 pmhttp://www.motherjones.com/politics/2008/02/torture-playlist
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:33 pmHave any of you ever listened to Anita Bryant singing “God Bless America?”
That is torture of a very significant kind.
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:36 pmWell, you do have the right to free speech, Kenneth…
Know Your Rights.
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:37 pmTheir music probably should be considered TORTURE to listen to. Crap is crap.
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:41 pmMr.Duke says:
Jokes about torture are crap.
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:44 pm“Bulls On Parade”
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:24 pmThese people need to get over themselves. People were tortured and killed and these dickheads are worried about how their “music” was used. Most of it is crap even at normal levels.
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:41 pmScrew this; I want to know who the GOP illegally wiretapped.
They tapped every member of congress republican and democrat alike. They probably even illegally tapped every state legislator.
How else could idiots like Kyle, Bachmann and others say and do the stupid things they do – blackmail by the Bushies, that’s how.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:21 pmIm curious what the rule of law will be here. Obviously torture is a terrible crime against humanity, but the use of their music? How can they sue for this? The perpetrators better hope they didn’t use napster…
70. There was an interesting interview on NPR less than a year ago with a guy who was working out west for a huge communications company. He was reporting that the government simply wire-tapped the communications company, so essentially every one whose communications went through that company were being tapped into. I believe it was an internet provider though.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:51 amAre you seriously trying to compare listening to music as torture? estetik! We should release all the prisoners across the globe if that is the case estetik. Then you can argue the food we serve to the prisoners, or the cots they sleep on gögüs estetigi (if not comfy enough) constitutes torture! Grow up burun estetigi. You know as well as I do, listening to apparently distasteful music is not QUITE the same thing as being beaten, humiliated (supposedly thru religion gögüs büyütme) or losing one’s head! Why don’t these AMAZING artist write some great SONGS about Bush gögüs estetigi, Cheney and the Republican machine, the torture, the things that make people across the glove HATE us gögüs küçültme. and get this into the new generation’s field of vision karin estetigi? All they hear is Rush, Cheney, and the goons from FOX. (which some of them naively think is actual news) vajina estetigi. So your argument is that because others engage in torture and similar violations of human rights lazer epilasyon, it is okay for us to do so? If so then where is the difference between us and them karin germe? Are we civilized human beings who do not descend to the level of barbarians who engage in such reprehensible behaviour or are we simply saç ekimi another group of thugs who are engaged in a power struggle with a similar group of thugs? Well, I guess this in one way to get attention. Haven’t heard from some of these bands for awhile. vajina daraltma Maybe some lawsuits can be forthcoming for torturing those detainees with their music. I’m sure a lot of people who weren’t at Gitmo gögüs büyütme, felt a little tortured when they heard some of this music. I think they would have been more tortured if they played HavaNaGila (spelling probably wrong). gögüs küçültme or some music from another place. Why don’t these musicians be more concerned about our economy and other things gögüs diklestirme. How about why they shut Detroit down.
October 29th, 2009 at 6:41 am