IF ART THRIVES IN OPPOSITION... WHERE IS IT?

by **HMKGrey** » Thu May 04, 2006 2:39 am

I was given an advance of the new Red Hot Chilli Peppers CD tonight. It's actually very good. I was really blown away by it, truth be told but, as with so many major artists today, I was sorta shocked that there was no comment on it. Yet another great band wit ha great set of tunes and the capacity to change so much and they've ignored it. Just leaves me slightly hollow, I suppose. Anyway, I paid their site a visit and was confronted by this: Date: Tues, May 2 Subject: From: "Michael Balzary" To: members@redhotchilipeppers.com when i woke up this morning i was was confronted with the news that our record has been leaked to the internet it does not come out til may 9 but now it has leaked and not that i know alot about this kind of thing but i guess now it is possible to down load it for free if you want well that's not very nice if you down load it now off one of these file sharing sites you will be getting a pale imitation of the record it will be of the poor sound quality of the technique they used to get it on there and that will break my heart it will break john frusciante's heart it will break anthony kiedis's heart and it will break the heart of chad smith yes, we worked for a year and a half to make the epic record of our lives and it is sad to me for the business reasons of course i think we are selling something really cool and we put all we had into it, 28 songs, 2 hours of the best that we can offer and i think it is a fair deal for everyone and for people to just steal a poor sound quality version of it for free because some asshole stole it and put it on the internet is sad to me but, equitable business reasons aside the thing that really bums me out is we worked so hard, and so thoughtfully, all of us, for so long to make this record sound as warm and full from top to bottom as was possible we spent day and night for a year making sure every little sound was just right that they were all put together in the most beautiful way we could we did not leave a stone unturned in doing that work i can not put in words how much this record, stadium arcadium, means to us how sacred the sound of it is to us and how many sleepless nights and hardworking days we all had thinking about how to make it be the best sounding thing we could and now, for someone to take it and put it out there with this poor sound quality it is a painful pill for us to swallow let me tell you this bums all of us out and i know that, as sensitive as john frusciante is about sound the idea of anyone getting and hearing this thing that way will devastate him for people to not hear the work the way we meant it to be will really hurt him deep inside and all of us will hurt yes, it is stealing from us, and that is lame everyone has to live with their own conscience on that one let it be your guide but to take a version that has been defiled sound wise a version in which some idiot has taken our year and a half of soul baring work and pissed all over it that will break our hearts sincerely, flea  Now, maybe I'm just an old wanker or something but this really got my back up. God love the Chilli Pepper's and all. The album rocks but am I supposed to feel sorry for this fucking guy who lives in a gated mansion in LA and lives one of the most privileged life styles on the planet? I mean, it's not like he and his pals are exactly doing anything about my situation is it? Here I am trying to make my way and keep my family safe through the twilight of the American Democratic Experiment and this twat and his pals can't even bring themselves to write a song about our predicament. Not fucking one. At least that guy from Coldplay has drawn some black lines on the back of his hand to put the frighteners on Bush and Cheney. And, Bono? Well, at least he had the good grace to hold his album back a year so as not to be on tour during the elections and have people in the audience wondering why he wasn't saying rude things about Georgie Boy. But the Chilli Peppers... not even the premise of siding with us. No, just some self-pity about 'equitable business reasons'. C**ts. Thank goodness for sixty-something Canadians!

by **Lizzy Dearborn** » Thu May 04, 2006 3:21 am

Great freakin question! Green Day has been about all.<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/mad.gif ALT=">:">

by **4911** » Thu May 04, 2006 6:39 am

maybe hed be less pissed if the bootleg was in good quality?

by **steve vegas** » Thu May 04, 2006 6:54 am

What a crybaby, what's the matter flea, can't afford hair transplants because somebody stole your record? That email really pisses me off.

by **TroubleFunk** » Thu May 04, 2006 8:39 am

If they didn't want it leaked, they shouldn't have released promos. In fact, if they deserve to be heard at all, it should be for free, having released some of the very worst records of the 90s (we deserve our money back). I'm in agreement with most of you - and I don't really see what Green Day had to say that would spare them my bile. AMERICAN IDIOT, while having the veneer of meaning, had none really, and was Green Day's final cop-out/buy-in away from punk and into truly richboy self-righteousness. Hey, September's over, we can all quit playing that damn song now!

by **thoughtographer** » Thu May 04, 2006 10:15 am

<blockquote>Quote:<hr>yes, it is stealing from us, and that is lame everyone has to live with their own conscience on that one let it be your guide but to take a version that has been defiled sound wise a version in which some idiot has taken our year and a half of soul baring work and pissed all over it that will break our hearts<hr></blockquote> Jiminy Cricket? Is that you? P.S. - Why are you looking for opposition from rich musicians on major labels? There's much, much more out there. "A crooked stick will cast a crooked shadow."Edited by: <A HREF=http://p216.ezboard.com/brigorousintuition.showUserPublicProfile?gid=thoughtographer>thoughtographer</A> at: 5/4/06 8:53 am

by **Sarutama** » Thu May 04, 2006 11:15 am

I must sound like I work for their record label, but if you are into hip hop at all pick up "Pick a Bigger Weapon" by The Coup (On punk mainstay Epitaph record). Sample lyrics, from the song "Head (of state)" Bush and Hussein together in bead Giving H-E-A-D head Yal Muthaf**kas heard what we said Billions made and millions dead In a land not very far away from here George W. Bush was drinking beer His daddy was head of the CIA Now listen up close to I say The CIA worked for Standard Oil And other companies to whom their loyal In a whole 'nother land by the name of Iran The people got wise and took a stand Told the oil companies "Hey, aint sh*t funny" "This is our oil, our land, our money" CIA got mad and sent false info To Iraq to help start the Iran-Iraq war Pronounced war if I have to say it proper The CIA is the cops, thats why I hate the coppers Sadam Hussein was their man out their They told him to rule by keeping people scared They said any opposition to him he must crush He gassed the kurds, they gave him a budget Said you gotta kick ass to protect our cash Step out of line and feel our wrath You know the time with out lookin at the little hand Time came for them to cut out the middle man Children, man, with no legs and sh*t Cause of bombs over - You know the Outkast hit And they really want you to hate him dead When just the other day they made him head War aint about one land against the next Its poor people dyin so the rich cash checks Bush and Hussein together in bead Giving H-E-A-D head Yal Muthaf**kas heard what we said Billions made and millions dead

by **LoganSquare** » Thu May 04, 2006 11:35 am

I caught a World Music Program on Link TV (Channel 375) that was totally uplifting. These artists are definitely facing tremendous opposition and adversity in their native countries (such as Africa) and they are definitely thriving. Have you seen the documentary "Some kind of Monster"? I have not followed Metallica but that film seems to me to capture the negative effect of money on art.

by **HMKGrey** » Thu May 04, 2006 12:00 pm

<blockquote>Quote:<hr>P.S. - Why are you looking for opposition from rich musicians on major labels? There's much, much more out there.<hr></blockquote> Oh, I totally agree with you, Thoughtographer. It's just that these guys and people like these guys have so much capacity to change things or at least shape opinions and start conversations. But they completely ignore this. Eminem's 'Mosh' video was fantastic and the lyrics were amazing but it came out a week or maybe two before the election. It was too little too late. There is a lot of good stuff out there but it's marginal. Meanwhile, what really pisses me off is that wankers like Bono and Chris Martin actually have reputations as these great humanitarians/rebels... when really they're just working both sides of the house and never ever taking their eyes off market dynamics. Bono cares so much but doesn't actually write songs about what he cares about because it's been focussed grouped and his handlers have told him that he'll lose middle-America in a heart beat if he goes down that road. I guess I have this old fashioned view that like the media and our elected representatives, these peopel owe us something - not the other way around.

by **johnny nemo** » Thu May 04, 2006 12:21 pm

The song "No Dreams" was written in 1981. The lead singer of the band, The Wanderers, had been listening to a radio personality named Dr. Bremer, who had convinced him that we would soon be living in a police state. 25 years later, many of the lyrics are eerily prescient. rooftop cameras monitoring the streets cancer causing chemicals in the food you eat zero population the family is banned frustration suicide, it's part of the plan genocide, kill the old, ain't useful anymore no more resources, we'll have to go to war corporation/government they're run by the same start thinking for yourself you'll get in the way no dreams - left for you no dreams - nothing to do no dreams - inside your, inside your bed got no dreams unemployment, no enjoyment is your legacy machines don't go on strike don't need you or me television valiums keep you of the streets so don't talk to strangers you might find the truth sirens singing in the night police riot - a show of might the rich stay in cause they can't afford to be safe ya got no money so you're in the race stop scheming - stop screaming - stop dreaming too For something a bit newer, The Rolling Stones have just released a song called "Sweet NeoCon" "You call yourself a Christian, I think that you're a hypocrite. You say you are a patriot, I think that you're a crock of sh*t. And listen now, the gasoline, I drink it every day. But it's getting very pricey and who is going to pay. How come you're so wrong, my sweet neo con.... It's liberty for all 'cause democracy's our style, Unless you are against us, then it's prison without trial. But one thing that is certain, life is good at Haliburton. If you're really so astute, you should invest at Brown & Root.... How come you're so wrong, my sweet neo con. If you turn out right, I'll eat my hat tonight. It's getting very scary. Yes, I'm frightened out of my wits. There's bombers in my bedroom, yeah and it's giving me the sh*ts We must have lots more bases to protect us from our foes. Who needs these foolish friendships, we're going it alone. How come you're so wrong, my sweet neo con. Where's the money gone, in the Pentagon. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...neo con."

by **sussurus2** » Thu May 04, 2006 1:10 pm

But Mick of the 'Stones is knighted, eh, and thus part of the machine? So has he had second thoughts after figuring out some of the bigger picture? Rhetorical question, I know. Driven to Tears by the Police was always good. Black Flag. Minutemen's Maybe Partying Will Help. Fugazi's Waiting Room. I'm dating myself... S.

by **Rigorous Intuition** » Thu May 04, 2006 1:29 pm

Shameless plug: about eleven hours of it on <a href="http://www.live365.com/stations/rigorousintuition">RI radio</a>. Like Bin Laden by Immortal Technique (featuring Mos Def, Jadakiss and eminem): [Mos Def - talking] Man, you hear this bullshit they be talkin' Every day, man It's like these motherfuckers is just like professional liars YouknowwhatI'msayin? It's wild Listen [Hook - Mos Def] Bin Laden didn't blow up the projects It was you, nigga Tell the truth, nigga (Bush knocked down the towers)--[Jadakiss] Tell the truth, nigga (Bush knocked down the towers)--[Jadakiss] Tell the truth, nigga Bin Laden didn't blow up the projects It was you, nigga Tell the truth, nigga (Bush knocked down the towers)--[Jadakiss] Tell the truth, nigga (Bush knocked down the towers)--[Jadakiss] [Verse 1 - Immortal Technique] I pledge no allegiance, nigga fuck the president's speeches I'm baptized by America and covered in leeches The dirty water that bleaches your soul and your facial features Drownin' you in propaganda that they spit through the speakers And if you speak about the evil that the government does The Patriot Act'll track you to the type of your blood They try to frame you, and say you was tryna sell drugs And throw a federal indictment on niggaz to show you love This shit is run by fake Christians, fake politicians Look at they mansions, then look at the conditions you live in All they talk about is terrorism on television They tell you to listen, but they don't really tell you they mission They funded Al-Qaeda, and now they blame the Muslim religion Even though Bin Laden, was a CIA tactician They gave him billions of dollars, and they funded his purpose Fahrenheit 9/11, that's just scratchin' the surface [Verse 2 - Immortal Technique] They say the rebels in Iraq still fight for Saddam But that's bullshit, I'll show you why it's totally wrong Cuz if another country invaded the hood tonight It'd be warfare through Harlem, and Washington Heights I wouldn't be fightin' for Bush or White America's dream I'd be fightin' for my people's survival and self-esteem I wouldn't fight for racist churches from the south, my nigga I'd be fightin' to keep the occupation out, my nigga You ever clock someone who talk shit, or look at you wrong? Imagine if they shot at you, and was rapin' your moms And of course Saddam Hussein had chemical weapons We sold him that shit, after Ronald Reagan's election Mercenary contractors fightin' a new era Corporate military bankin' off the war on terror They controllin' the ghetto, with the failed attack Tryna distract the fact that they engineerin' the crack So I'm strapped like Lee Malvo holdin' a sniper rifle These bullets'll touch your kids, and I don't mean like Michael Your body be sent to the morgue, stripped down and recycled I fire on house niggaz that support you and like you Cuz innocent people get murdered in the struggle daily And poor people never get shit and struggle daily This ain't no alien conspiracy theory, this shit is real Written on the dollar underneath the Masonic seal (I don't rap for dead presidents I'd rather see the president dead It's never been said but I set precedents)--[eminem] (Shady Records was 80 seconds away from the towers Some cowards fucked with the wrong building, they meant to hit ours)-- [eminem]

by **nomo** » Thu May 04, 2006 1:54 pm

"When The President Talks To God" When the president talks to God Are the conversations brief or long? Does he ask to rape our women's rights And send poor farm kids off to die? Does God suggest an oil hike When the president talks to God? When the president talks to God Are the consonants all hard or soft? Is he resolute all down the line? Is every issue black or white? Does what God say ever change his mind When the president talks to God? When the president talks to God Does he fake that drawl or merely nod? Agree which convicts should be killed? Where prisons should be built and filled? Which voter fraud must be concealed When the president talks to God? When the president talks to God I wonder which one plays the better cop We should find some jobs, the ghetto's broke No, they're lazy, George, I say we don't Just give 'em more liquor stores and dirty coke That's what God recommends When the president talks to God Do they drink near beer and go play golf While they pick which countries to invade Which Muslim souls still can be saved? I guess god just calls a spade a spade When the president talks to God When the president talks to God Does he ever think that maybe he's not? That that voice is just inside his head When he kneels next to the presidential bed Does he ever smell his own bullshit When the president talks to God? I doubt it I doubt it Free iTunes download: <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playlistId=41654272">phobos.apple.com/WebObjec...d=41654272</a>

by **johnny nemo** » Thu May 04, 2006 3:46 pm

Black Flag. Minutemen's Maybe Partying Will Help. Fugazi's Waiting Room. I'm with ya on Black Flag, never was a Minutemen or Fugazi fan. Don't forget all the political punk from the 80s of Subhumans, TSOL, Dead Kennedys, MDC, Shattered Faith, Social Distortion, Circle Jerks, etc. In fact, much like the lyrics to Wanderers "No Dreams" were eerily prescient, lyrics to Circle Jerks "Paid Vacation" were as well. It's not Vietnam It's just another oil company scam Salute that flag for Uncle Sam Get your money out Place your bets It's Afghanistan

by **HMKGrey** » Thu May 04, 2006 4:10 pm

Heh-heh. Funny that punk has come up. I found myself digging some of my old UK punk discs out recently: Conflict, Crass, Flux of Pink Indians etc. There's some amazing stuff there but, of course, it's a bit dated. Most Americans who hear this stuff love it, BTW. It's faster and rawer than most US hardcore but the playing is always amazing and the lyrics are stinging about Thatcher and Raygun. Quite a bit of humor too. Crass, in particular, were a whole social movement when I was a kid. I'm sure that Ian Mckaye of Fugazi was hugely influenced by them. Still, it's a shame to have to go back so far in time to get that fix. It wasn't that long ago that there were posters and songs and t-shirts everywhere about Thatcher and Reagan condemning them as International terrorists. Perhaps I move in the wrong circles now but their crimes seem as nothing compared to this crowd and yet I don't seem to see or hear much at all. Perhaps I should now reiterate my oft made point that the internet is the greatest soporific ever invented.

IF ART THRIVES IN OPPOSITION... WHERE IS IT?

IF ART THRIVES IN OPPOSITION... WHERE IS IT?

Re: IF ART THRIVES IN OPPOSITION... WHERE IS IT?

Re: IF ART THRIVES IN OPPOSITION... WHERE IS IT?

Re: IF ART THRIVES IN OPPOSITION... WHERE IS IT?

Poor lil' billionaires

Re: Poor lil' billionaires

Re: Poor lil' billionaires

Where is it?

Re: Where is it?

I put these lyrics in another post

Re: I put these lyrics in another post

There's really some great stuff out there

Re: There's really some great stuff out there

Gald I'm not the only one who listens to punk

Re: Glad I'm not the only one who listens to punk

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