True Rock and Roll is About Freedom
by Joseph F. ConnorI have never heard Tom Petty talk politics. When it comes to performers, that generally is a good thing.
Last week my wife and I took our kids, 13 and 11, to see Petty and the Heartbreakers. Having seen them a few times before, they put on a predictably tremendous show, (though doing “Jammin’ Me” and “Change of Heart” would have been great). Mike Campbell, Petty, and crew belted out raw, old fashion rock and direct, soulful, no nonsense lyrics. Awesome.
As the band played “Refugee” I couldn’t help but focus on the audience, including my children, singing in unison “everybody’s got to fight to be free.” Like many Petty lyrics, its a simple, direct, powerful line; easily repeated but probably rarely internalized.
—–
We, as Americans, do have to fight to be free.
The upcoming generations need to understand that. Our grandparents had to fight to be free of Nazism. Our parents and my generation (though we can discuss The Who at another time) fought to be free of Soviet style communism.
But for this generation and the at least the next, not only do we have to fight to be free of radical Islam but more insidiously we have to fight to be free from the tyranny of our own federal and even local governments’ designs on our liberty. We, who are parents, have a responsibility to educate our children. Our freedoms are threatened by those within and without.
We must teach our children about the Declaration, the Constitution, our God given individual rights, the brilliance, morality, sacrifice, and bravery of our forefathers and instill in our kids the motivation to become active participants in guaranteeing their own freedoms. Pink Floyd asked, “Mother, should I trust the government?” The answer is “no.” It is filled with too many people who would gladly step in and decide our freedoms for us.
The best rock and roll has always brought inspiration. Its time we took Petty’s advice; stand our ground, not get turned around and don’t back down or we may all be living like refugees.
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57 Comments
Anyone who had a recurring character on "King of The Hill" is OK in my book.
The only time that I heard Tom Petty get "political" was when he wrote some lame song, "Peace in L.A.", just after the Rodney King riots, pleading that people calm down (admirable sentiments, but the song was still lame) – it was certainly not in the same league as "Learning to Fly" and my favorite, "American Girl". Oh yeah, and his character, "Lucky", on "King of the Hill" was funny – not "Dale Gribble" funny, but funny all the same.
Ok, now Won't Back Down is stuck in my head. Tom Petty was also the only star to survive the movie The Postman with Kevin Costner.
It would come as a terrible disappointment to me to hear Tom Petty talk politics. I have gone sour on so many fine musicians that used to keep their mouths shut about their personal opinions, political or otherwise. It was the kiss of death for many of them Bruce Springsteen comes to mind. People don't feel the same about him since he came out against President Bush about the 9-11 ordeal. When he criticized America he spewed bitterness in our direction and we counterpunched by making him UN-spokesman for US!
He showed his true colors. We were wrong about him. He was just another La-La land liberal who didn't know his arse from a hole in the ground!
Our Mistake
I'm not quite sure what to think. At heart, rock music can be seen as a conservative thing, but liberals have pretty much claimed it as their own. How many conservative rockers do you hear about anyway besides Ted Nugent? Even Alice Cooper and Gene Simmons are as likely to vote for liberals as they are for conservatives.
"The world is often cruel to shiny things."
Funny, I have never claimed to be a Petty fan but I always listen to his songs when they're played…with the exception of Last Chance for Mary Jane.
I too believe that musicians, celebrities and their ilk should keep their politics to themselves. And not because I don't think they have a right to voice their views but because they, many times, ruin their credibility and disappoint a lot of their right wing followers.
Petty is great and I cannot stop singing Refugee now. Next: Good Love is Hard to Find (cool video)
Just Sayin'
There are some groups that are liberals but are smart enough not to put it in their lyrics. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are one of those groups. Also on this list is Bon Jovi. He never put politics in his lyrics but he's very liberal himself. Now as for John Cougar Mellencamp. I know he's a liberal but I don't know if he put politics in his lyrics or not.
I've been a fan of TP & HB's since I first saw them back in 1982 or '83. Caught their show about 8 times over the years, including the tour with Bob Dylan. Always a good time.
And I do agree, he's smart enough to keep politics out of his music.
That being said, he's a hard core lefty. http://www.morethings.com/music/tom_petty/!-al_go…
Even if he was the worst character on an otherwise wonderful show.
That tour with Dylan was awesome — I caught it at MSG.
I caught it at Saratoga Performing Arts Center – a beautiful setting for shows. Funny thing is I wasn't even all that familiar with Bob Dylan in those days. I went to see TP & HB's.
But after watching Dylan, I became interested, and followed up, now I'm a huge Dylan fan too. And from following Dylan I was introduced to the Grateful Dead. I had hard core Dead Head fans as friends, but I never paid much attention to their music till I started hearing Dylan covers.
I was so disapointed in Springsteen when he broke his political silence. His fans all knew where he stood, but to squander it all on John Kerry……John Kerry, one of the wealthiest, fat cat, kept-man, career politicians…….John Kerry……..dayum
I don't think TP is a big fan of the war in Iraq.
I love him. He is from Gainesville, FL. Must be something in the water there b/c lots of great rockers born/raised there.
I liked Lucky, though his buddies Elvin & Mud Dauber stole the show whenever they were on. "Are you rockin' in the free world? Well, are you?!?"
music (particularly rock) and politics simply do not mix – in fact, they are arguably antithetical. The current fad of bands acting as the mouth pieces of the current administration is nauseating – hacks and shills, every single one of them.
Here's some rock -n roll that is truly about freedom…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UtmTALMkU4
Hmmm, the Ramones, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Five for Fighting . . . I think there were also some rumors about 3 Doors Down and Nickleback–at least they were strong supporters of the Troops. Gene Simmons and KISS contributed to Glenn Beck's fundrasing auctions for the Restoring Honor rally and the SOWF.
Apparently the author hasn't read any of Petty's politcal rants. Here's an interview he gave w/ regards to The war in Iraq and George Bush: "Iraq is shameful. Whether you're pro or con Bush, you've got to admit it: The guy lied. And he continues to do so. I can't understand why he's just not run out on a rail. To send somebody's kids off and have them killed for no good reason– he's going to have his day in hell for that. I wouldn't want that karma. When you kill somebody's little sister with a missile, he's going to hate you forever. And the next generation will hate you even more." Just one more reason why Petty and the rest of them should shut up and sing!
Bon Jovi may not put it in his lyrics, but he pontificates publicly. I haven't listened to his music since he scolded the American public about some liberla nonsense a couple of years ago. I don't care if the are liberal, I just don't want to hear about it. They don't want to hear what I have to say. I say, just shut up sing! Entertain me! That's what you're paid to do. Otherwise, shut up and look pretty. No need to speak.
A lot of otherwise far left musicians have written some excellent songs with strong conservative messages….perhaps without even realizing it. George Harrison's "Taxman" comes to mind.
Neal Peart from Rush (drummer & lyricist) has described himself as a "left leaning libertarian", whatever that is, after being asked time and again if he's conservative. Back in the 70s, you see, Rush used very strong imagery in their songs regarding the dangers of the large, oppressive state and the moral supremacy of the individual. It's hard not to read the lyrics for something like "The Trees", for instance, and not draw anti-communist parallels through its tale of forced equality ("The trees are all kept equal by hatchet, axe and saw"). The band has consistently denied this or said the song was really a joke. Yet albums like "2112" are dedicated to the "genius of Ayn Rand." Hmmm…..
Yet Peart is an avowed atheist whose lyrics sometimes blatantly call for the overthrow of religion entirely. My take? He's a bright guy, but not particularly political. I think he reads a massive amount of prose and informs his philosophies through it. I think a lot of musicians are like that.
Cat-Fistin' — and of course, Stickin' !
It was one of the best Dylan shows I saw (I went for Bob, but TP was real good too).
Petty and Heartbreakers were definitely Dylan's second best back-up outfit, after those Canadian (well, 4/5, anyway) guys.
(I never could abide the Dreadful Grate, though).
When it comes to Simmons, it's important to note that he voted for Obama in 2008. He may express annoyance with some of his policies, but at the end of the day, he was one of the many people who fell for the "Hope And Change" silliness and got Obama into office.
Edit: Here's a 2009 interview where Simmons talks about his conflicting feelings regarding Obama: http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/movies/simm...
I know that it's an American right to question your leaders, and that's what Simmons was doing in that interview, but it was still disheartening to read that he voted for The Zero…
Well, Joey was as liberal as Johnny was conservative (Dee Dee was strung-out and I really don't know about the various drummers).
Maybe too many people misunderstood the lyrics as "everybody's got a right to be free."
Runnin'n down a dream–best driving tune ever
"i don't care who, but someone is gettin' hit with a stick tonight."
that shut up and sing thing, does that go for Ted Nugent too?
No, because he's intelligent about what he says, and he does not lie.
In my experience, a majority of the really talented musicians are waaaay far left. I think it is because it appeals to their emotional side. Those that actually have any business acumen are not the same and have fully formed brains. The emotion drives the music and their politics drives us crazy. Almost a fair trade if they would just keep their politics off the stage. Who really cares, but aren't they glad they know, that some artists taste like they're a sheet of toilet paper short of being done.
Gene admits to being Pro-Democratic party, but he's a very "Pro-American" when it comes to his opinion on our foreign actions… and he is VERY Pro-Military… So you know what, I can live with his social liberal beliefs., but he's also HIGHLY critical of any celebrity who uses their politics to get in the limelight.
"Everyone is so touchy about the forthcoming election. And for the record, I don't believe any celebrity should be using their bully pulpit to coerce their fans to vote either way. I refuse to tell anyone what my political leanings are. I agree with both parties on certain issues and strongly disagree with both candidates on other issues. Vote for either candidate, but vote."
Well this doesn't apply to the rock I have witnessed over 60 years. Dope , sex , left wing politics and irresponsible acts.
South Africa fell while white rockers worshiped the great Mandela . And fed him too. I have known a lot of musicians . They were/are total self absorbed wankers . Maybe Petty and company are secret geniuses on par with the founding fathers and I just did not notice.
I have not met one rocker who was sober , straight nor smart.
Crazy Phil Spector was par for the course . Rock music has nothing and I mean nothing to do with freedom , it's worship of the left is astonishing.
Bono the super wanker with his miniscule intellect and ego the size of a planet would sell America down the drain for a wooden nickel. Anyone who thinks rockers are on the side of freedom is an idiot. GO to any left wing cause over the last three decades and find the rockers there , they are into power .
Which reminds me of the number of rockers in the sixties and seventies who persistently turned up at parties dressed as SS officers. It never failed to happen . Talk to them and all you heard was how great Hitler , Stalin , Lenin or Mao could have been "if only."
I guess the rock culture really did pull the wool over conservative eyes.
I guess if you scrambled your brains enough you might get to like it though , which is funny really since your enemy is coming at you with box cutter and all you can do is singalong with a rocker. Hilarious.
Well this doesn't apply to the rock I have witnessed over 60 years. Dope , sex , left wing politics and irresponsible acts.
South Africa fell while white rockers worshiped the great Mandela . And fed him too. I have known a lot of musicians . They were/are total self absorbed wankers . Maybe Petty and company are secret geniuses on par with the founding fathers and I just did not notice.
I have not met one rocker who was sober , straight nor smart.
Crazy Phil Spector was par for the course . Rock music has nothing and I mean nothing to do with freedom , it's worship of the left is astonishing.
Bono the super wanker with his miniscule intellect and ego the size of a planet would sell America down the drain for a wooden nickel. Anyone who thinks rockers are on the side of freedom is an idiot. GO to any left wing cause over the last three decades and find the rockers there , they are into power .
Which reminds me of the number of rockers in the sixties and seventies who persistently turned up at parties dressed as SS officers. It never failed to happen . Talk to them and all you heard was how great Hitler , Stalin , Lenin or Mao could have been "if only."
I guess the rock culture really did pull the wool over conservative eyes.
I guess if you scrambled your brains enough you might get to like it though , which is funny really since your enemy is coming at you with box cutter and all you can do is singalong with a rocker. Hilarious.
Love me some Tom Petty.
But I think of Sammy Hagar. http://www.newsmeat.com/celebrity_political_donat...
Obviously, VOA is a pro-American conservative song. I also think of Marching To Mars. Maybe I'm reading to much into it, but I hear that song and think that having other people solve your problems is as futile as "marching to mars." Not that it's against going to Mars, but problems here need to be solved by individuals that are responsible for their own lives.
And of course, "Won't Get Fooled Again", neither conservative or liberal, but a strong mistrust of either side.
So in that vein…… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nPvwmk-F7A
Check out Micheal Anthony's expression at 4:18
But for this generation and the at least the next, not only do we have to fight to be free of radical Islam but more insidiously we have to fight to be free from the tyranny of our own federal and even local governments’ designs on our liberty.
After we were attacked *supposedly* by Arab immigrants (in the past Israel has repeatedly attacked us and tried to blame the Arabs before so who is to say that wasn't the case on 9/11? Very little proof other than a suspiciously convenient suitcase that "missed the plane" yeah right.) Bush's inaction on the border and immigration means one of two things:
1)The 9/11 story was a hoax – probably carried out by Mossad. Either way the threat must not be Arab immigrants because this was not stopped.
2) Bush and the Military Industrial Complex WANT a threat here because it justifies ever increasing government.
True rock 'n' roll is about rebellion.
Jazz is about freedom.
Oh yea, Ted's a regular Rhodes Scholar. He goes on FoxNews and pretty much reads from the Conservative/Tea Party guide book but he manages to do it louder than anyone else on the network. Plus, one of his album covers features a girl hogtied on a dinner plate with a grenade in her mouth. He's friggin' brilliant.
Meanwhile, whether if what Petty said is intelligent or not is up to the reader but he never lied about anything, just gave his opinion.
That is one of the best descriptions of John F'n Kerry that I've read, and he was in Vietnam too!!
I saw it at the Meadowlands Arena.
Bon Jovi is a partisan Democrat. He admitted this in a recent 60 Minutes piece. Also check out this video for a song called "We Weren't Born to Follow" that was released after Obama won the election:
http://new.music.yahoo.com/bon-jovi/videos/view/w...
The video includes stills of many big-time lefties such as Obama, Al Gore, RFK and more. It's sickening and completely over the top and you'll notice not one single conservative or Republican "hero" in his video.
Could you imagine how long a rock star's career would last if he put in a favorable image of Ronald Regan, Richard Nixon or Bush (take your pick)? Not very long, that's for sure.
wow – youre a nutjob.
sorry about that…
no really…. you need help.
Regarding Neal Peart, there's a big difference between being intelligent and having wisdom. I used to be a big fan of Peart but he's since abandoned his respect for Ayn Rand (which was revolutionary in the left-wing mileu of the rock world at the time) and become another simpering pathetic leftie.
What I said was purely logical. You are emotional.
and you are a tin foil hat wearing loon.
I hope they have your padded room ready and waiting.
dont bother with reply.
I know Im not going to be able help an idiot who is off his meds.
Unlike the other KOTH characters, he was too simplistic a stereotype. He was essentially a Beverly Hillbilly. And it bugs me that Luanne spent several seasons trying to climb out of a trashy lifestyle, only to wind up with the clown prince of the heap; he all but ruined her character arc.
What you said was your usual waving the bloody shirt, trying to whip up anger in the hopes that we'd join your lynch mob.
Not going to happen. You are not anyone's friend here. You are just another enemy.
I haven't lost my respect for his accomplishments, intelligence and lyrics. But I absolutely agree that none of these things equate to wisdom. All the same, as disappointed as I am in some of Peart's philosophical transgressions, I still love much of Rush's music and wouldn't require their viewpoints to be 100 percent in agreement with my own (i.e., the line hasn't been crossed yet). To be fair, they rarely speak about specific political views, and I admire that.
Nudge may be nuts, but he at least walks the walk with regards to what he advocates. The same cannot be said for any left-wing rocker.
Most of these supposedly outspoken musicians neither know nor care about what issue they're shooting their mouth off for that week. They're just puppets who say what their prodcuers and agents tell them to say. They stump for dems and give them big campaign contributions and in return get big tax breaks–ya know, the very thing they accuse republicans of doing.
Yeah but the Springsteens and Mellencamps of the world don't seem to understand you can't be both a rebel AND the establishment at the same time.
2112 and Free Will aside, Peart's actually a pretty crappy songwriter who has no concept of song structure whatsoever (on te other hand, Rush is semi-prog and that's sorta this genre's calling card). People ovelook that becaue he's an amazing drummer.
Kerry Livgren of Kansas once called into Hannity's show, so there's another.
Care to elaborate?
Well, to each his own. But really, no concept of song structure? Come on. I'm not saying he's the best or anything, but when I look at the lyrics for something like "Subdivisions" and compare it to anything by Eminem, whom the MSM keeps telling me is a "genius", I just laugh. There is no comparison. How far we have fallen! Think what you will of Peart, but at least he strives to utilize an interesting vocabulary, intellectual curiosity and doesn't stoop to the level of profanity. That's got to be worth something…..well, maybe not much these days.
yeah, but I still love Bon Jovi…
Punk is about rebellion. Rock 'n' roll is about gettin' some. IYKWIMAITYD.
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