smiles 0 #1 October 2, 2004 PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Two of the biggest forces in rock music over the last 20 years were plugging in their amplifiers Friday to kick off a high-volume effort to oust President George W. Bush on Nov. 2. Bruce Springsteen and R.E.M. were to bring a dose of music and politics to the Wachovia Center, starting a 10-day series of Vote For Change shows in battleground states. With a long list of high-profile artists from across the generational divide, the concerts will raise money for efforts to defeat Bush and other Republicans in next month's elections. The Philadelphia show was one of six Vote For Change concerts scheduled across Pennsylvania on Friday night. On the other end of the state, the Dixie Chicks and James Taylor were to perform in Pittsburgh, with other concerts in Erie, State College, Reading and Wilkes-Barre. The tour will also make stops in Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Washington, Arizona and Washington, D.C. R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe told The Associated Press that the goal is to push for an overall change in the country's leadership, including the election of Democratic Sen. John Kerry as president. Stipe said he believes the Bush administration and the nation's other leaders missed an opportunity to bring the world together after the Sept. 11 attacks. "America represents something that is maybe unattainable," he said. "That idea has become confused and squandered by the current administration." Springsteen has described the election as one of the most critical in his lifetime. Eli Pariser, executive director of political action committee and tour sponsor MoveOn PAC, said the tour's political message shouldn't surprise most concertgoers. "There is no distinction between what the artists are doing on this tour and what they've done all their lives," Pariser said. "These are people who are the town criers. Sometimes they're singing about relationships and sometimes about the environment." The tour, also featuring Pearl Jam, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, John Mellencamp and others, includes 37 shows in 30 cities through Oct. 11. Proceeds will go to America Coming Together, or ACT, a group raising money for Democratic candidates. "I think that they really have a unique voice with a lot of people who have followed their careers over the years and know that they're not your old-boy politicians," said Ellen Malcolm, president of the Washington, D.C.-based group. Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard said he wants to make it clear to voters that the Bush administration has been reckless in its foreign policy since Sept. 11. "For me personally, I very much want John Kerry to win," Gossard said in an interview. "I think that he's expressed an interest in re-engaging the world community and saying the last administration is not representative of the way America wants to do business with the world." Bands on the tour cross over many musical categories and a generational gap. John Fogerty, the former leader of Credence Clearwater Revival in the 1960s and 1970s, and James Taylor, whose folk star status began in the 1960s, will be on the same bill as R&B singer/songwriter/producer Kenny Babyface Edmonds, whose fame didn't come until the 1980s and 1990s. Voter registration information will be available during the concerts. "It's not just waging war over a very narrow group of undecided voters," Pariser said. "It's bringing in hundreds of thousands and millions of new people to the process." SMiles Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
christelsabine 1 #2 October 2, 2004 Yup. Even in Europe, that story is well known. It's just a usual tool in election campaigns, not only in the US. What's your point of view on that? dudeist skydiver # 3105 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smiles 0 #3 October 2, 2004 ahhhhhh, I am from Canada- duh! I say "yeah" for Springsteen, R.E.M., and other bands for expressing their views politically. Also -Springsteen rawks SMiles Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
christelsabine 1 #4 October 3, 2004 Quoteahhhhhh, I am from Canada- duh! *** I say "yeah" for Springsteen, R.E.M., and other bands for expressing their views politically. Also -Springsteen rawks Yeah. Springsteen and R.E.M. are so famous here, we love them and, BTW: R.E.M. knows his biggest fans are from Germany! He's giving his best . We (and I) adore him/them. Springsteen: No question, he is the one. I see no problem if folks like those show their political opinions. At least, that could help young or doubting voters to start thinking with their own brain or, finally come to a decision. Anyhow, in such important issues it seems to be highly recommended not just to sit on my fat a** but to start thinking a little bit. Canada rocks: I lived in BC and Ontario Region for more than 12 years. Wonderful times! dudeist skydiver # 3105 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MC208B 0 #5 October 3, 2004 The last administration is not represenative of the people?!? The Pearl Jam puke doesn't like Clinton? What gives? Musicians are indeed the "town criers". They cry about damn near anything. And as one of my favorite talk radio ladies says: SHUT UP AND SING! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #6 October 3, 2004 A Perfect Circle is releasing an album of cover songs on Nov 2. QuoteNovember 2nd, coinciding with the presidential election, APC will be releasing a collection of songs about WAR, PEACE, LOVE AND GREED, entitled "eMOTIVe." Featuring new material and songs like "imagine" by John Lennon, "What's goin on" by Marvin Gaye, "Let's have a war" by FEAR. This week we will release one of these new songs entitled, "Counting bodies like sheep to the rhythm of the war drums," with an animated video poking fun at our fearless leader. Hopefully, you'll find it as entertaining as we do. REMEMBER... EVERY SINGLE VOTE COUNTS. Don't let yourself be tricked into thinking it does not. It is important for us all to engage this political system and to be conscious of who is being chosen to speak for us. If you choose not to be involved with decisions that affect your life on a daily basis, in our opinion, you forfeit your right to complain about it later. THINK FOR YOURSELF. QUESTION AUTHORITY. Hopefully you will choose to vote on November 2nd. Peace, Maynard. you can listen to their version of Imagine on the website. There are some nice subtlies to it...____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,106 #7 October 3, 2004 QuoteThe last administration is not represenative of the people?!? The Pearl Jam puke doesn't like Clinton? What gives? Musicians are indeed the "town criers". They cry about damn near anything. And as one of my favorite talk radio ladies says: SHUT UP AND SING! A very niaive viewpoint. Music has been used for political commentary for centuries. You probably remember some highly political jingles from centuries ago... Three Blind Mice Mary Mary Quite Contrary Humpty Dumpty Yankee Doodle Pussycat pussycat where have you been I had a little nut tree Baa baa black sheep and many others. ("Baa baa black sheep" is a 13th century protest about high taxes, for example)... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydyvr 0 #8 October 3, 2004 "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." - Alice Cooper, commenting on the "Vote for Change" tour. . . =(_8^(1) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nick88 0 #9 October 4, 2004 Quote"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." - Alice Cooper, commenting on the "Vote for Change" tour. Its almost as pathetic as believing hollywood knows how to run the country 'cause there "famous" so we must listen to them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
juanesky 0 #10 October 4, 2004 Yes, which reminds me of the example of Sean Penn, the wife beater, touring Baghdad before the war....."According to some of the conservatives here, it sounds like it's fine to beat your wide - as long as she had it coming." -Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
