Music is Not Just Music

As is usual I was listening to Derringer in the morning on Q107....half way through my drive into work the topic of conversation turned to that of Roger Waters bringing expounding his political views on stage to an audience that paid hear his music. The question that arose was whether or not this is something that artists like Waters should be doing.

A few brief points should basically end the debate.

Waters is political. Political people will use the forums that they have access to as a means of spewing whatever their agenda is. It is the power of having a forum. Should he? Well, since he is so well known as a very politically vocal artist, fans should know this going into a show and make their decisions to buy tickets based on such. Would anyone be surprised to see Bono do the same at a U2 show, or Neil Young, or Dylan? No. If you don't agree with it or don't want to hear it, don't buy the ticket. It would be somewhat different if one was at an Ozzy or Motorhead show and suddenly the show is interrupted by a 20 minute tirade against some political agenda. It is not unacceptable - they have the right to say what they want (within reason), but just not expected...word will get out and people stop buying tickets if they don't like it.

In addition, when did it change to the point where we did not want artists (as musicians are artists) to wax political if the need was felt by them? Or is it we don't want it to happen when we may not agree with it or not expect it? Rock's embrace of the late 60s peace and love ideology, Woodstock, Haight-Ashbury, and later We Are the World, Live Aid, etc. all show an engrained political vein in popular music. Music is not just music. Look at the entire punk movement at its core.

You have to make the choice - which do you value more....hearing the live music, or not hearing the political agenda? It is up to you.