Rock music Music and politics

1 rock music

1.1 1960s–70s counterculture
1.2 punk rock
1.3 rock vote

rock music

many rock artists, varied roger waters, crosby, stills, nash & young, bruce springsteen, little steven, rage against machine, manic street preachers, megadeth, enter shikari, architects (british band), muse, system of down , sonic boom 6 have had openly political messages in music. use of political lyrics , taking of political stances rock musicians can traced 1960s counterculture, influence of career of bob dylan, shaped politicised folk revival.

1960s–70s counterculture

during 1960s , 1970s counterculture era, musicians such john lennon commonly expressed protest themes in music, example on plastic ono band s 1969 single give peace chance . lennon later devoted entire album politics , wrote song imagine, considered peace anthem. lyrics invoke world without religion, national borders or private property.

in 1962-63, bob dylan sang evils of war, racism , poverty on trademark political albums freewheelin bob dylan , times a-changin (released in 1964), popularising cause of civil rights movement. dylan influenced folk revival, beat writers, , political beliefs of young generation of era. in turn, while dylan s political phase comes under folk category, known rock artist 1965 , remained associated anti-establishment stance influenced other musicians - such british invasion bands - , rock music audience, broadening spectrum of subjects addressed in popular song.

the mc5 (motor city 5) came out of detroit, michigan underground scene of late 1960s, , embodied aggressive evolution of garage rock fused socio-political , countercultural lyrics, such in songs motor city burning , (a john lee hooker cover adapting story of detroit race riot (1943) 1967 12th street detroit riot), , american ruse (which discusses u.s. police brutality pollution, prison, materialism , rebellion). had ties radical leftist groups such against wall motherfuckers , john sinclair s white panther party. mc5 band perform set before 1968 democratic convention in chicago, part of yippies festival of life infamous riot subsequently broke out between police , students protesting recent assassination of martin luther king, jr. , vietnam war.

other rock groups conveyed specific political messages in late 1960s/early 1970s - in regard vietnam war - include fugs, country joe , fish, jefferson airplane, creedence clearwater revival, , third world war, while bands, such beatles, rolling stones , hawkwind, referenced political issues , in more observational engaged way, e.g. in songs revolution , street fighting man , salt of earth , urban guerrilla .

punk rock

notable punk rock bands, such crass, conflict, sex pistols, clash, dead kennedys, black flag, refused, american standards, discharge, mdc, aus-rotten, anti-flag, , leftover crack have used political , controversial lyrics attack establishment, sexism, capitalism, racism, speciesism, colonialism, , other phenomena see sources of social problems.

since late 1970s, punk rock has been associated various left-wing or anti-establishment ideologies, including anarchism , socialism. punk s diy culture held attraction on left, suggesting affinity ideals of workers control, , empowerment of powerless (though arguable punk movement s partial focus on apathy towards establishment, combined fact in many situations, punk rock music generated income major record companies, , notable similarities between strains of anarchism , capitalism, meant punk movement ran contrary left-wing ideologies) - , genre whole came, largely through sex pistols, associated anarchism. sincerity of punk bands has been questioned - critics saw referencing of revolutionary politics provocative pose rather ideology - bands such crass , dead kennedys later emerged held strong anarchist views, , on time association strengthened, went on influence other bands in uk anarcho-punk , hardcore subgenres, respectively.

the sex pistols song god save queen banned broadcast bbc in 1977 due presumed anti-royalism, partly due apparent equation of monarchy fascist regime . following year, release of debut crass album feeding of 5000 obstructed when pressing plant workers refused produce due sacrilegious lyrical content. crass later faced court charges of obscenity related penis envy album, dead kennedys later did on frankenchrist album artwork.

the clash regarded pioneers of political punk, , seen represent progressive, socialistic worldview compared apparently anti-social or nihilistic attack of many punk bands. partly inspired 1960s protest music such mc5, stance influenced other first , second wave punk/new wave bands such jam, ruts, stiff little fingers, angelic upstarts, trb , newtown neurotics, , inspired lyrical focus on subjects such racial tension, unemployment, class resentment, urban alienation , police violence, imperialism. partially credited aligning punk , reggae, clash s anti-racism helped cement punk s anti-fascist politics, , famously headlined first joint rock against racism (rar)/anti nazi league (anl) carnival in hackney, london, in april 1978. rar/anl campaign credited helping destroy uk national front credible political force, aided support received punk , reggae bands.

many punk musicians, such vic bondi (articles of faith), joey keithley (doa), tim mcilrath (rise against), crucifucks, bad religion, proletariat, against authority, dropkick murphys , crashdog have held , expressed left-wing views. dead kennedys singer jello biafra, t.s.o.l. frontman jack grisham, have run candidates public office under left-wing platforms. however, punk bands have expressed more populist , conservative opinions, , ambiguous form of patriotism, beginning in u.s many of groups associated 1980s new york hardcore, , prior in uk small section of oi! movement.

an extremely small minority of punk rock bands, exemplified (1980s-era) skrewdriver , skullhead, have held far-right , anti-communist stances, , consequently reviled in broader, largely leftist punk subculture.

rock vote

rock vote american 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan organization founded in los angeles in 1990 jeff ayeroff purposes of political advocacy. rock vote works engage youth in political process incorporating entertainment community , youth culture activities. rock vote s stated mission build political clout , engagement of young people in order achieve progressive change in our country.