Politics have always been close to Tom Morello’s heart. Last Saturday, however, marked the first time the Rage Against The Machine guitarist actually endorsed a political candidate when he performed a benefit concert in San Francisco under his folkie alter-ego The Nightwatchman for anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan. “It is an honor to perform at Cindy Sheehan’s fundraising event because I strongly believe she is the kind of uncompromising righteous voice for justice that this country so desperately needs,” Morello said. “Her unwavering commitment to peace and human rights as well as her intelligence and fortitude are inspiring and stand in dramatic contrast to the lame parade of mealy-mouthed sell-outs and red state war-mongers we are normally forced to choose between.”
Sheehan, who is best known for camping outside President George W. Bush’s Texas ranch after her son Casey was killed during his service in the Iraq War, is challenging Congressional House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California’s 8th district, which covers most of San Francisco. Sheehan announced her candidacy in protest of the inaction she perceived on the part of Democrats, particularly Pelosi, in standing up to Bush on the war and other issues. For more info: www.cindyforcongress.org.
“Music can inspire, entertain and agitate–and we intend to do all three on this tour,” taunts Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello, while talking to The Fix on the eve of announcing his unique 7-city “Justice Tour”. Morello’s solo project and onstage alter ego, The Nightwatchman, will be the core performer on a distinctive tour that combines a day of local activism with a night of star-studded rock. Underscoring Morello’s belief in the power of local, grassroots action, the tour bills local bands in each city alongside names like Perry Farrell, Slash and Ben Harper.
Morello will be inviting a changing line-up to share the stage with him and bring awareness to a specific issue at each stop. Current confirmed guests (expect more surprises–both announced and unannounced) include: Slash, Ben Harper, Perry Farrell, Maynard James Keenan of Tool and Puscifer, MC5 founder Wayne Kramer, Boots Riley of The Coup, Mike Einzinger of Incubus, Sen Dog of Cypress Hill, Davey Havok of AFI, and State Radio.
Morello adds that the motto of The Justice Tour is “Feed the poor, fight the power, and rock the fuck out,” an extension of his longtime intermingling of music and politics. Despite an avid commitment to music as a teenager (Morello’s high school band was The Electric Sheep, with Adam Jones of Tool on bass), Morello went on to Harvard, graduating with honors with a degree in Political Science. His duality in rock and activism is also reflected in his various achievements in both fields, such as inclusion in Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitar Players” and being the 2006 recipient of the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award.
Justice Tour participant and Morello pal Perry Farrell, leader of Jane’s Addiction and Porno for Pyros and founder of the Lollapalooza Festival, shared some thoughts with The Fix about combining music and activism. “Activism has changed so dramatically in America. There is more of a level playing field today that allows the individual to be more important in the service of charity and aid. We can mobilize ourselves quicker and easier today to fix problems–and become our own media hub to make our point.”
Also joining forces with Morello as tour partners are Amnesty International, whose focus on the tour will be support for tearing down Gitmo, Axis of Justice, Morello’s social justice organization devoted to bridging fans of music with local activism, and Project Noise, an organization partnering with musicians and non-profits to maximize their impact through music, media and technology. Also involved is Erin Potts, who along with Adam Yauch of The Beastie Boys, brought us the Tibetan Freedom Concerts.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are $10 for all shows except the April 17 Road Recovery benefit in New York. Proceeds from each show benefit the local social justice partner.
April 15: Los Angeles: Issue: Homelessness: Tickets on sale now at TicketMaster outlets, at ticketmaster.com, and at the Troubadour box office. Proceeds benefit Axis of Justice and People Assisting the Homeless (PATH).
April 17: New York: Issue: Road Recovery benefit: Tickets for this previously announced benefit are $60, $100, and $250 and are on sale now at TicketMaster outlets and at ticketmaster.com. Proceeds benefit Road Recovery.
April 20: New Orleans: Issue: Safe, secure and affordable housing: Tickets on sale now at TicketMaster outlets, at ticketmaster.com, at the House of Blues box office and hob.com. Proceeds benefit Sweet Home New Orleans and Amnesty International.
April 22: Asheville, NC: Issue: A living wage: Tickets on sale now at www.thegreyeagle.com, or 800-594-TIXX, and at the Grey Eagle box office after 5 PM on a day with another event scheduled, at Harvest Records and at Orbit DVD. Proceeds benefit Just Economics.
April 24: Washington, DC: Issue: Iraq Veterans Against the War: Tickets on sale now at TicketMaster outlets, at ticketmaster.com, and at the Black Cat box office between 8 PM and midnight. Proceeds benefit Iraq Veterans Against the War.
April 28: Boston: Issue: Affordable healthcare: Ticket sales TBA. Proceeds benefit HealthCare-Now.
May 1: Chicago: Issue: Labor organizing: Tickets on sale now at TicketMaster outlets, at ticketmaster.com, and at the Park West box office. Proceeds benefit Service Employees Int’l Union.
When Bjork started chanting “Tibet! Tibet!” while performing “Declare Independence” during a concert in China earlier this month, she not only caused a minor international incident but joined a long list of rockers that have used the stage to make a brazen statement. Here are some of the most memorable acts of defiance in concert. Post your favorites in the comments section below.
1) Rage Against the Machine takes on the PRMC
Furious over the PRMC’s push for music censorship, during a Lollapalooza ‘93 stop in Philadelphia the members of Rage Against the Machine took to the stage buck naked with duct tape covering their mouths and the letters “PRMC” painted across their chests. The four hirsute musicians then proceeded to stand there in silence for 15 minutes while the audience grew increasingly agitated. Some people still say it was their favorite Rage Against the Machine concert ever.
2) The Rolling Stones blow off the UK’s smoking ban
Keith Richards is no stranger to civil disobedience. But when he and Ron Wood lit up their cigarettes onstage during a Rolling Stones concert in London last August as a matter of habit, the guitarists caused a national furor by defying the UK’s vast smoking ban in enclosed public places. Charges were dropped when authorities discovered that smoke just naturally emanates from Keith.
3) L7 tosses a tampon at a bunch of tossers
Sick of getting pelted by various detritus during a live set at England’s 1992 Reading Festival, L7 guitarist Donita Sparks fought back with the closest available projectile. Reaching down under her tartan skirt, she removed a bloody tampon and hurled it into the crowd, which was all too anxious to fight over the revolting memento. Classy!
4) Jim Morrison whips out Little Jim
While his intentions may not have been as noble as Rage Against the Machine, Doors frontman Jim Morrison was also concerned with the encroaching limits on his freedom of expression when in 1969 he drunkenly told a Miami audience, “You want to see my cock don’t you? That’s what you came for.” After indulging his fans, the singer was promptly arrested for “lewd and lascivious behavior” and his band was forced to cancel several subsequent tour dates. Although we suspect the last bit had more to do with people actually hearing material from its upcoming The Soft Parade album.
5) Fiona Apple takes a bite out of her critics
Fed up with a constant barrage of articles focusing on her weight and weird personality, Fiona Apple finally lashed out at her critics in front of 3000 people at a sold out show at New York’s Roseland Ballroom on February 29, 2000. After complaining of sound problems, the singer abruptly halted her set after just 45-minutes and seethed at the journalists in the room, “Fuck you! Put your notebooks away! If there are any critics here who give me a bad review because of this I’ll fucking kill you.” If only she had kept her promise, we could be writing for Rolling Stone by now.