Tag: free speech

APR 29, 2013 - US magazine has an exclusive interview with Natalie Maines from the Dixie Chicks, and she doesn't regret slamming George W. Bush, and she turned out to be totally right. She of course was attacked by reactionaries in 2003 when she commented at a London concert that she was "embarrassed" that George W. Bush was from her home state of Texas. The group was dropped by many country radio stations, and she comments how she is upset at country radio and how they didn't support them when they exercised their freedom of speech. She is coming out with a solo project that is not country, yet she says she is not doing it because she is upset at the country music industry. Natalie added that "...it's not a thing I wanted to be right about. It's not a good 'I told you so' with all those people losing their lives." Read the entire interview on the US magazine website here.  (photo credit: Ron Baker/CC)

APR 22, 2013 - Yoko Ono has been hard at work in the anti-fracking activist world recently. She formed "Artists Against Fracking", which JTMP is proud to be a part of; and now Yoko has written a post for HuffPo and is saying, "Let's Give Clean Water a Chance". Using a variation of her and her husband's "Give Peace a Chance" slogan, she has written a blog abut the recent Riverkeeper's Fisherman's Ball and to protest fracking:

Yoko Ono: "I was proud to be a part of the gathering of hundreds of clean water supporters at the recent Riverkeeper's Fishermen's Ball...It was a true celebration of the power of the grassroots movement for clean water and sustainable energy. People all over New York have channeled that understanding into action. Because of this grassroots resurgence, we have seen amazing things transpire. And it is not about to stop...The anti-fracking movement is an organic one, driven by people's experiences and valid concerns about having a harmful and contaminating practice invade their land, homes and communities. For me, it started when gas companies visited my town in upstate New York to pitch a natural gas pipeline that would provide infrastructure for future fracking...I did not want to see my land destroyed."

Don't forget about JTMP Green here, and check out some awesome pics of Yoko with RFK Jr. and more, and read the entire post on HuffPo here.

APR 22, 2013 - Many musicians have showed their support for Boston following the tragedy there. Many musicians Tweeted out their support such as Miley Cyrus Tweeting, "Sending peace and many blessings to Boston", or Pink Tweeting, "Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the explosions in Boston" and Kelsie Kimberlin also joined in the support and Tweeted, "Catching up. My heart goes out to Boston and all those affected. Peace and love are the answer." The Dropkick Murphys Tweeted, "Boston your in our prayers in California...be safe everyone! Unbelievable.", and one of my favorite bands that are from Boston the Pixies Tweeted, "BOSTON, we are with you." Read more Tweets from musicians supporting Boston after the tragedy there on MTV.com here, and also on Rolling Stone here.

APR 17, 2013 - Rolling Stone has an interview of Roger Waters out, and in it he discusses that he is mulling over the possibility of ceasing his Israeli boycott stance, and has written a open letter to musicians saying that they should reconsider their Israeli boycott stance also. The Israeli Boycott by musicians is very popular, and is in response to the illegal settlements and the way Palestinians are treated by the IDF. Waters says that the illegal settlements are "an impregnable obstacle to peace", and he is "thinking all of this through extremely carefully" but he cares more about the outcome, which he hopes is peace in the region. He says he wants a "solution to the Palestinian refugee problem, and end to the occupation, security and right to lead a decent life for all citizens of Israel." Read more and see the video interview on RollingStone.com here.  (photo credit: Eddie Berman/CC)

Garrett Walker is an activist-musician out of Nashville who plays great music, but also tries to be a good person. He says when he is not on stage he is out amongst the "homeless people singing songs". Check out a small excerpt of his "Profile" from his SoundCloud site below, and then under that check out a video of the great song called "My Father's Gun".

Garrett says, "I am an artist through and through. I am a left handed illustrator, designer that writes, creates and sings. I believe in God, Jesus and that the Holy Spirit stays with me every second of every day I live. I always make it a deliberate effort to do the right thing. I find myself helping others more than I should, especially when it comes to those less fortunate. A lot of times on a Friday and/or Saturday night, instead of finding me singing at a bar or event, I can be found sitting around a bunch of homeless people singing songs and just talking about life. I do my best to make sure others know that Jesus loves them, but I do not "Pound the Bible".

No one on this earth is better than I am, and I am no better than anyone else. I don't understand the term "illegal alien". We are ALL God's children and our land is not ours, it is GOD'S! Politics do not concern me, but you do. I may forget what you say or what you do, but I will never forget how you make me feel.

I am extremely sensitive, almost too sensitive. We can never take back a first impression, so I try to make mine a good one. I pray every day for others and my heart truly hurts for those in pain. I believe anger is a choice and that madness starts with sadness. I do write music, but have no songs about Pick-up Trucks, Tractors or my dog. I do have two songs about mama. (I am a Mama's Boy, and damned proud of it). I primarily write about what matters most. Ballplayers make way too much money, I hate guns, I cannot stand people that talk only about themselves." - Garrett Walker

Check out more of Garrett's music at his YouTube, Facebook and MySpace sites:
http://www.youtube.com/user/GarrettWalkerMusic
https://www.facebook.com/garrettwalkercountry
http://www.myspace.com/garrettwalkermusic