By Greg Schwartz
Back in the 1960s, an idea was put forth that music could
help change the world by altering the way that people think. This groundbreaking concept was
so true that the FBI started keeping files on rock stars who were considered major influences
among the "New Left." Efforts were made to manipulate and diminish the efforts of artists like
John Lennon, Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix (as documented in Alex Constantine’s book, "The
Covert War Against Rock.")
As Constantine writes, "Since the '60s, musicians have been
outspoken and powerful proponents for social change, making them a threat to those eager to
maintain the status quo. Typically fond of drugs, they also make easy targets for investigation
and exploitation."
This unfortunately helped derail the great career of
Hendrix, considered by many as the greatest guitarist of all time. But Jimi was not just
a great guitarist - he was a spiritual visionary way ahead of his time, who saw through the
facade of materialist culture and racial division and realized that the only way for humanity
to transcend its problems was through unity. He was just starting to openly advocate these
concepts in songs like "Message to Love" and "Power of Soul" - upon his untimely departure
from the planet in 1970. Many feel that foul play was involved, yet Jimi was demonized
in the mainstream press as a just a drugged-out freak; this coverage was designed to
weaken the New Left.
John Lennon was another figure the FBI kept extensive
files on. There are many who believe that Lennon's murderer, Mark David Chapman, was actually
a "Manchurian Candidate"-style, mind-controlled assassin sent to take Lennon out because Uncle
Sam feared he was the one man who might be able to re-ignite the widespread social activism
of the '60s.
But while the spirit of the '60s has been tempered
somewhat, musical activism will always live on as long as the undemocratic system of
crony capitalism rules the global economy. While many musicians are only out for money
and fame, there will always be a select few who will be compelled to speak their truth,
no matter the political tide they are up against. Some of the boldest artists from the
past decade would include:
• Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder - the band's 1998 Yield album featured a track called
"Do the Evolution," which slams the paradigm of greed that threatens humanity at the
expense of the environment. On the album's lead track, "Brain of J," Vedder warns that
the whole world will be different soon. The album cover features a road sign mostly
underwater, alluding to cataclysmic earth changes if we don't change our ways. On
2003's Riot Act album, the band became one of the first to put out an explicitly
titled anti-Bush song, "Bushleaguer."
• System of a Down - "B.Y.O.B." from 2005’s Mesmerize album is one of the heaviest
and catchiest anti-war songs ever recorded, a "War Pigs" for the 21st century.
Singer Serj Tankian also teams with ex-Rage Against the Machine guitarist
Tom Morello on the activist Web site, www.axisofjustice.org. (And speaking of
"War Pigs" - the 1969 anti-war classic from Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath -
it's been extremely refreshing to see so many bands covering what is arguably
the greatest anti-war song ever. The lyrics remain as timely as ever and Tesla,
String Cheese Incident, Umphrey's Mcgee and the Flaming Lips are among the bands
that have performed scintillating versions of the song in recent years.)
• Incubus - the band's 2004 A Crow Left of the Murder album featured "Megolomaniac"
and "Talk Show on Mute," two tracks directly criticizing the Bush regime. And the
album’s song "Made for TV Movie" suggests that the 9/11 attacks were not the surprise
that the public has been led to believe.
• Michael Franti and Spearhead - this San Francisco hip-hop/funk/rock/soul
band is among the most socially conscious in the business. Their 2001 Stay Human
album was a concept album that argued against the death penalty and corporate
take over of the media. 2003’s Everyone Deserves Music featured the anti-war
track, "Bomb the World," with the classic line, "You can bomb the world into
pieces, but you can’t bomb it into peace."