- Music
- 11 Feb 16
With Christy Moore throwing his weight behind People Before Profits' Richard Boyd Barrett as he seeks re-election, we look at Glen Hansard, Beyoncé, Noel Gallagher, U2 and others throwing their weight behind causes they believe in
With the news last week that Christy Moore is to play a fundraiser gig for People Before Profit's Richard Boyd Barrett's general election campaign, we take a look at some more artists who've taken political stands through the years.
Damien Dempsey and Glen Hansard Anti Water Charges Protest
Damien Dempsey and Glen Hansard perform "The Auld Triangle" in front of the Dáil at an anti-water charges protest in 2014.
Billy Bragg Standing Up For The Miners
Billy Bragg performs "Which Side Are You On" at a miners' protest in 1984. The location is unknown, but Bragg performed up and down the UK in the Thatcher years, supporting the miners and trade unions. In more recent times Bragg supported the Occupy protests and even more recently he supported Jeremy Corbyn in his campaign to become leader of the Labour Party.
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James Taylor and The Democratic Party
No stranger to supporting the Democratic Party, James Taylor played at both of Barack Obama's inaugurations as well as performing at the Democratic National Congress, both of which can be seen below. James Taylor is such a big supporter of the Democrats that he even performed Sam Cooke's 'A Change is Gonna Come' for fictional president Jed Bartlett's administration on The West Wing.
Beyoncé Super Bowl 2016
Since Beyoncé's performance at Super Bowl on Sunday night, debate has raged about the political nature of her performance. Her dancers wore something mimicking a Black Panthers uniform, while the famous fist-in-the-air salute was seen by the biggest American TV audience of the year. This song symbolises what is happening in middle America at the moment and maybe Beyoncé feels now is her time to say what she feels about the treatment of young black Americans.
U2 and Greenpeace Protest at Sellafield
After a 1992 show in Manchester U2 jump straight on their tour bus and make the journey to Sellafield to support a Greenpeace protest at the nuclear power plant that is only separated from Ireland by a few miles of water.
Noel Gallagher and New Labour
Noel Gallagher threw his weight behind 'New Labour' in the 1997 general election. Gallagher, who was at the height of his Britpop powers, saw it as an end to the Thatcher and Major years that had plagued his generation. I think we'll let Noel and Liam tell the story.
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Tom Morello at Occupy Wall Street
Tom Morello is no stranger to a protest, here he is at Occupy Wall Street back in September 2012 but he has also been vocal in his opposition of Guantanamo Bay, NATO and supports many trade union movements in the U.S.
Mos Def
Mos Def appeared outside the VMA's in 2006 to play a free concert on the back of a flatbed truck only to be arrested minutes into the performance. Police said he was arrested for not having a permit and crowd conditions were unsafe. Mos Def was performing 'Katrina Clap' when arrested, a song in response to George Bush and his administrations slow response to helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.