Fighting The Power

Having spectacularly failed to release any fresh material for five years, Messrs. Yauch, Diamond and Horowitz have banged out a new tune in double-quick time to protest against the war. Available for free download at www.beastieboys.com, ‘In A World Gone Mad’ contains such classic couplets as, “Now don’t get us wrong ‘cause we love America/But that’s no reason to go hysterica/They’re layin’ on the syrup thick/We ain’t waffles we ain’t havin’ it.”
“This song is not an anti-American or pro-Saddam Hussein statement,” Horovitz states. “This is a statement against an unjust war.”
Ex-Rage Against The Machine man Zack La Rocha and DJ Shadow are even more bare-knuckled in their condemnation of the American war effort.
“Who gonna chain this beast back on a leash/This Texan furor, for sure, a compassionless con, who serve a lethal needle to the poor,” spits the funk metal monster posted at www.marchofdeath.com
While not exactly noted for their eloquent politicking, www.greenday.com finds the Orange County trio sticking it to old Dubya good with ‘Life During Wartime’.
“I am not going to watch on TV, none of us are,” says Green Day-er Mike Dirnt. “We are not going to support it in any way, shape or form.”
More predictable, but none less welcome, is the Stipe-ian offering at www.remhq.com
“Now love cannot be called into question/Forgiveness is the only hope I hold/And love, love will be my strongest weapon/I do believe that I am not alone,” Mikey-boy croons plaintively on ‘Final Straw’.
Also worth a few minutes of your downloading time are Mick Jones and Tony James’ ‘Why Do Men Fight’ which resides at www.poptones.com, and the Michael Moore-directed video for System Of A Down’s ‘Boom’ which is perusable at www.systemofadown.com
“Michael Moore seemed like the only choice,” says lead singer Serj Tankian. “He’s an amazing storyteller and he’s not egotistical about his work because he approaches it from the angle of the truth and leaves himself out of it.”
We’ve also included our favourite email atachment of the fortnight which says everything you need to know about America’s pro-war brigade.