Next to family and friends I would consider music to be the most important thing in my life.

I have been to over 250 concerts (prolly driven around 10000 miles to see them), own around 250 studio albums and almost 1000 live recordings.

And nothing pisses me off more than to hear someone up on stage spewing their political beliefs. When I go to a concert I don't want to know who that person would vote for. I could really care less.

Now, that being said I don't mind a few political messages in the lyrics, but at least make them subtle.

Before I get flamed I would like to say a few things. I realize this is America and they have the right to say whatever they want. I am proud of that right. However, I would never pay my money (or even go for free) to a concert where the musicians are lecturing me on polotics. I also realize that many young people aren't politically motivated and that music is a good way to change that fact. However, I think the best way to do that is to encourage someone to vote, not encourage them to vote for a particular party/candidate.

My favorite band of all time is/was The Grateful Dead. When Clinton was elected president he invited them to play at the White House (it was because Al Gore is a big fan, not Clinton). They said no. They didn't want to be associated with any political party.*

They did/do endorse Vermont senator Patrick Leahy, but I think it was due to the fact that he is/was a Deadhead and not because of his politics.

Posted this b4 and i agree with Alice Cooper

Music should not use their stage for political forums... 1 thing is to tell ppl to vote another is to tell them who to vote for.. i agree urge them to vote... but i dont want to go to a concert to listen to their political views...

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/art...E_ID=40127

Shock-rock legend Alice Cooper calls rock stars campaigning for Democrat John Kerry treasonous morons.

The 56-year-old Cooper says he was disgusted to learn the likes of Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, R.E.M., Sheryl Crow, James Taylor and Dave Matthews were hitting the road for a series of concerts designed to help defeat President Bush.

"To me, that's treason," Cooper told the Canadian Press. "I call it treason against rock 'n' roll because rock is the antithesis of politics. Rock should never be in bed with politics."

"When I was a kid and my parents started talking about politics, I'd run to my room and put on the Rolling Stones as loud as I could. So when I see all these rock stars up there talking politics, it makes me sick.

"If you're listening to a rock star in order to get your information on who to vote for, you're a bigger moron than they are. Why are we rock stars? Because we're morons. We sleep all day, we play music at night and very rarely do we sit around reading the Washington Journal."


Linda Ronstadt

"Besides," he continued, "when I read the list of people who are supporting Kerry, if I wasn't already a Bush supporter, I would have immediately switched. Linda Ronstadt? Don Henley? Geez, that's a good reason right there to vote for Bush."

As WorldNetDaily previously reported, Linda Ronstadt was escorted off the property of a Las Vegas casino after publicly supporting Bush-bashing film director Michael Moore, and singer Don Henley was subsequently booed on stage in Orange County, Calif., for expressing support for Linda Ronstadt during one of his own concerts.

Cooper, whose real name is Vincent Damon Furnier, is reportedly a strong Republican who joins Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., at NBA games in Phoenix.

He continues his own summer rock tour, with upcoming dates in the Northeast, Canada, California and Las Vegas.

Yeah, I commented on this post as well.

However, I was hoping to hear from some other folks.

Quote from CGriswald309B : Next to family and friends I would consider music to be the most important thing in my life. I have been to over 250 concerts (prolly driven around 10000 miles to see them), own around 250 studio albums and almost 1000 live recordings. And nothing pisses me off more than to hear someone up on stage spewing their political beliefs. When I go to a concert I don't want to know who that person would vote for. I could really care less. Now, that being said I don't mind a few political messages in the lyrics, but at least make them subtle. Before I get flamed I would like to say a few things. I realize this is America and they have the right to say whatever they want. I am proud of that right. However, I would never pay my money (or even go for free) to a concert where the musicians are lecturing me on polotics. I also realize that many young people aren't politically motivated and that music is a good way to change that fact. However, I think the best way to do that is to encourage someone to vote, not encourage them to vote for a particular party/candidate. My favorite band of all time is/was The Grateful Dead. When Clinton was elected president he invited them to play at the White House (it was because Al Gore is a big fan, not Clinton). They said no. They didn't want to be associated with any political party.* They did/do endorse Vermont senator Patrick Leahy, but I think it was due to the fact that he is/was a Deadhead and not because of his politics.

Wow Gris, Quite the audiofile aren't you. I think your on the money. I feel the same way about actors. With actors you can never tell if its the truth or a performance.

Quote : I feel the same way about actors. With actors you can never tell if its the truth or a performance.

See, to me that's different.

Actors blab about politcs in their free time. They don't come to the cinema and jump up in front of the screen before the movie starts. So, if I don't want to listen to them I don't have to and it isn't costing me money.

But, if a musician does it at a live performance then they are talking away from my musical experience.

My $0.02.

Quote from CGriswald309B : See, to me that's different. Actors blab about politcs in their free time. They don't come to the cinema and jump up in front of the screen before the movie starts. So, if I don't want to listen to them I don't have to and it isn't costing me money. But, if a musician does it at a live performance then they are talking away from my musical experience. My $0.02.

but they will do it when on stage to receive an award which i see as being the same thing

Quote from HuTcH : but they will do it when on stage to receive an award which i see as being the same thing

Really? I don't see it as the same thing as all.

If they did it at a live theatre performance then okay, but an awards ceremony isn't a artistic performance...at least not to me anyways.

It bothers me when they strongly voice their opinions, subtle things do not bother me.

The reason it bothers me is becasue it is almost a form a brain washing. Lots of fans would die for their favorite band, these people are also uneducated(why would you die for a band?) and they can vote. That is scary, to think that bands can influence voters opinion based soley on how the band itself thinks and nothing else.

People should really look at the facts and their beliefs as to how they vote, not a bands view.

Bob Dylan should be the only person who can talk politics in music. Anyone else gets shot.

I do because if it was not for their performance they would not be on the natinal stage

they are using the fact their movie or tv show or whatever did well to geton stage and voice their beliefs..this does happen predominantly with those leaning left tho

Quote from HuTcH : I do because if it was not for their performance they would not be on the natinal stage they are using the fact their movie or tv show or whatever did well to geton stage and voice their beliefs..this does happen predominantly with those leaning left tho

I do not follow, are you agreeing or disagreeing?

Quote from Cyncus : I do not follow, are you agreeing or disagreeing?

I think he wanted to quote me, but quoted you instead.

Quote from CGriswald309B : I think he wanted to quote me, but quoted you instead.

Ahh, okay I understand now.

Quote from lunch36 : Bob Dylan should be the only person who can talk politics in music. Anyone else gets shot.

Is that because we can't understand what he's saying when he does talk? Heheeheh