Rock stars stumping against Bush (The Boss!!!!)

[Nambe]

Associated Press

New York — In an unprecedented series of concerts in nine swing states, more than 20 musical acts — including Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam and the Dixie Chicks — will perform fund-raising concerts one month before the Nov. 2 election in an effort to unseat U.S. President George W. Bush.

The shows, which will begin Oct. 1 in Pennsylvania, will take an unusual approach: as many as six concerts on a single day in cities across the states expected to decide the November presidential race. Other stops on the tour are North Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin and the key state in 2000, Florida. ...

Other artists participating in the shows include hip-hoppers Jurassic 5, John Mellencamp, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Babyface, Bright Eyes and the Dave Matthews Band. Most have a history of social activism, from Browne's anti-nuclear concerts to Mellencamp's Farm Aid shows. Pearl Jam front man Vedder was a Ralph Nader backer in 2000. ...

Ride Don’t Drive It’s Global Cool

[LynneSin]

1. Live AID for our decade

Well, I could have went to the original Live Aid but I hope to attend the concert when it comes to Pennsylvania although I have a feeling they'll host it someplace out west where we'll need the votes!

[VolcanoJen]

2. This is SO fantastic!

Dave Matthews and the Dixie Chicks were on the Today Show this morning, talking about the tour.

Dave Matthews Band and Jurassic 5 are coming to Dayton, Ohio October 2, and I will absolutely be there!

Go to www.moveon.org for a schedule and ticket info. Be sure to sign up for pre-sale tickets, if you live in a battleground state.

"A vote for change is a vote for a stronger, safer, healthier America. A vote for Bush is a vote for a divided, unstable, paranoid America. It is our duty to this beautiful land to let our voices be heard. That's the reason for the tour. That's why I'm doing it."
- Dave Matthews

[LimeCoke]

36. Decisions, decisions...

I can walk to see DMB at the Nutter Center, or drive home to see Pearl Jam...damn the tight schedule!

[gristy]

42. Very SMART schedule

There are many different groups, and it appears all the groups appear in each state ON THE SAME NIGHT. This will make the events quite difficult for the local news to ignore.

http://www.moveonpac.org/vfc/schedule.html

[Beetwasher]

3. This Is Incredible!!

Wooohooo!!!!

[Bluzmann57]

4. Saw a guy named Grolsch last night

I guess he's a member of the Foo Fighters and he was at a Kerry rally in Dubuque, IA. He said that he found out that bush was using their music at some of his rallies and had to put a stop to it. He also said that he has traveled the world many many times as a member of the band and wants to be able to do so again without having to explain himself to people in other countries. So anyway, there's another one who is in the Kerry camp. And please don't hate me because I'm not all that familiar with the Foo Fighters. I've heard of them, just not familiar with much of their music or personnel.

[THUNDER HANDS]

6. Grohl

Dave Grohl, he was also the drummer for Nirvana.

[ClassWarrior]

9. It was Dave Grohl - he was with Nirvana before Foo Fighters.

I thanked him for doing this when they were here in Milwaukee on Monday.

And I don't hate anyone - not even Dubya.

[stanwyck]

21. I saw him a couple years ago on

Bill Maher's old "Politically Incorrect" show. I'm not familiar with his music but I was impressed with him. Very informed and thoughtful guy.

[Geo55]

5. Yeah !

BOORRN IN THE USA !

GO BRUCE !

[TaleWgnDg]

40. yeah!! remember it was Springsteen . . .

who legally demanded Ronald Reagan withdraw the unauthorized use of his song "Born in the U.S.A." from the Reagan Presidential Campaign use!

Indeed . . . and Springstein comes through, yet, again . . . a good man is he!

[johnnie]

7. Never been a Bruce fan

But I have some respect for him now. This is terrific, I hope more acts catch on. We NEED the younger votes and this is one way to get them. I am blown away by the amount of activism from a lot of groups of people this election. I guess the American public are finally waking up to the fact that this is an extremely important election.

[themaguffin]

12. Springsteen has always

...spoken for the working class, those that struggle and underdogs. He came out early in defense of the Dixie Chicks, he took heat from NYPD for his defense of the Haitian man killed by officers (his song 41 shots is about that) among other things. He actually speaks well and will be interviewed tonight on Nightline.

[Eloriel]

15. Yeah. Gee whiz. What's not to love about The Boss?

Man, oh, man. ;-)

[JerseygirlCT]

28. Almost sorry to find myself in a safe blue state...

Bruce is the genuine article, just a plain old good guy who also happens to make maybe the best rock and roll around.

Heard about him showing up yesterday at a Habitat for Humanity house-building site in Freehold...

[playahata1]

52. Correction.

Amadou Diallo, who took those 41 shots, was not from Haiti. He was from Guinea, in West Africa.

Abner Louima, the guy who was sodomized with a broomstick by NYPD cops, was from Haiti.

[brucefan]

39. Never been a Bruce fan?

You talkin to me?

[stepnw1f]

47. He Protested Alot Back in the Day

Thank You Bruce!!! Thank God we have people representing us someway, somehow. I hope it's not too late!

[Psst_Im_Not_Here]

8. Sigh...

I sure wish that I lived in one of those places! That would be something to see! What a line up!

[dray178355]

10. yahoo article

Hi. Long time no postie but.......

Rate the yahoo article.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040804/ts_alt_afp/us_vote_music_040804143348

[llmart]

13. Just rated it a 5....

Saw this on CNN this morning also.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

18. I've been using my several Yahoo ids to rate it a 5

but just as I started rating it, a tide of Freepazoids struck and the rating has plummeted. Democratic Underground must be infested with lurking Freepshits.

[tom_paine]

19. Yes, DU is infested with lurking Cowardly Freepshits

No doubt many from the ranks of the Sturmtruppen and Imperial PolitArm reposnible for the various multimedia Domestic Lie Campaigns.

[dolstein]

11. Too bad they couldn't add a Western leg to the tour

running through Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico.

[malachi]

14. Notice the headline...

"Against bush", not "For Kerry." It never stops.

[MODemocrat]

20. It seems that Bush is forever playing the victim

Just another way of trying to make everyone else look like the bad guy. W. is just a spoiled snob. I try to ignore their rheoteric.
:nopity:

[Flint-oid]

16. DC?

Too bad Washington, DC isn't a swing "state."

[Art_from_Ark]

55. Surely a lot of people from Virginia will be there

and from what I've heard, Virginia may be in play this year.

At any rate, more power to them if they can help to wake up the apathetic masses

[et in Arcadia ego...]

17. Add John Fogerty to the list...

Fogerty will be touring with the Boss! Here's the lyrics to John's 'just released' anti-war song (a beautiful song BTW):

Deja Vu (All Over Again)

Did you hear 'em talkin' 'bout it on the radio
Did you try to read the writing on the wall
Did that voice inside you say I've heard it all before
It's like Deja Vu all over again

Day by day I hear the voices rising
Started with a whisper like it did before
Day by day we count the dead and dying
Ship the bodies home while the networks all keep score

Did you hear 'em talkin' 'bout it on the radio
Could your eyes believe the writing on the wall
Did that voice inside you say I've heard it all before
It's like Deja Vu all over again

One by one I see the old ghosts rising
Stumblin' 'cross Big Muddy
Where the light gets dim
Day after day another Momma's crying
She's lost her precious child
To a war that has no end

Did you hear 'em talkin' 'bout it on the radio
Did you stop to read the writing at The Wall
Did that voice inside you say
I've seen this all before
It's like Deja Vu all over again
It's like Deja Vu all over again

John Fogerty
©2004 Cody River Music / ASCAP

[RetroLounge]

22. I Love John Fogerty...

and this is a relevant now as Fortunate Son was when bush* went AWOL.

RL

[KDLarsen]

26. Yeah..

.. and for John Fogerty's sake, I will now put my bootleg of his performance at Roskilde Festival '97 on the stereo and play some serious air guitar.

Not to mention, I wonder how Pearl Jam is doing these days - the last time I saw them, the concert was stopped at Daughter and 9 young men were pulled over the front, lifeless :cry:

[mama]

23. No Retreat, No Surrender

Springsteen's song was the one played when Kerry was introduced at the convention.

We made a promise we swore we'd always remember
No retreat no surrender
Like soldiers in the winter's night with a vow to defend
No retreat no surrender

Sounds like democratic Americans!

[madmax]

24. Hi mama!!

Welcome to DU!!!

:hug:

[Democat]

25. Great news!

I wonder if the Republicans will try to respond with their own concert? Maybe Ashcroft could headline.

[0007]

27. Thanks for the good news Nambe

I hope they talk about registering folks to vote. These concert should be a sell out.

[WillyT]

29. Damn... First Time I've Ever Wanted To Live In A Swing State !!!

Have fun y'all!!!

:bounce::hi::bounce:

WillyT, safe in California. I hope.

[Piperay]

30. TERRIFIC!! nt

:bounce:

[Blue Gardener]

31. Dixie Chicks AND James Taylor in Iowa City!

Woo Hoo! I'm excited!

[Swamp Rat]

32. I want to see Black Sabbath play "War Pigs!"

I read that during a performance of this song, they showed on a giant screen a picture of Bush next to Hitler! WAR PIGS!!!

[roguevalley]

33. of course, since we live in the time of symmetry, who do you suppose

they will have to play their "Four More Years Tour" across the red states and other places? :)

[Swamp Rat]

34. Ted "Knuckle-dragger" Nugent?

:D

[union_maid]

35. This makes me feel great!

I won't be seeing the tour. I'm in a blue state. I hope that we'll have the opportunity to support the effort by buying a DVD or CD at some point. I'd think it would be great if they put one out. It's a warm and fuzzy feeling that music still cares.

About Bruce - there's much to love, but one of my favorite things that he's done was a small thing. Fawn Hall (remember Fawn Hall, of Ollie North fame?) went to see his show during her 15 minutes of fame. He declined, saying that he really didn't have anything to say to her.

[Corgigal]

45. Fawn Hall huh

We'll Bruce talked to my 13 year old daughter back stage last fall.
He didn't have too but he asked her if she enjoyed the show and called her sweetie. He even held up the dark SUV caravan to chat with her for a few minutes. Told her at the end that he had to go to catch his plane and that he hopes to see her again sometime. Just a nice light touch with a smile.


She has a nice memory and a pissed off momma, but that's another story. lol

[goclark]

37. Come To The Blue States Too!!

We would love to pay to support the stars that have supported our campaign. So many of these stars have been bashed. They need plenty of praise.

Come to Los Angeles!

[realcountrymusic]

38. BRUCE ON NIGHTLINE TONIGHT!

Someone mentioned it above, but it deserves a headline.

If you don't love Bruce because you remember it as "jock music" from being in high school in the 70s (like I was), you ought to give it another chance. I didn't discover Springsteen until I lived abroad for a couple of years and longed to feel something good about America when I was surrounded by (largely correct) critics of my country. I was a punk-rock baby, cut my musical teeth on the Clash, then graduated to reggae and funk as a musician.

Bruce rocked my world when I listened to him "out of context." I bought Born in the USA at HMV in London, put it on my walkman and went *whoa!* I've followed him like an acolyte ever since. He's a great songwriter (he has his off moments, of course), an amazing performer, and serious progressive person. He's been a quiet hero for the poor and oppressed in this country throughout his career, never calling attention to himself in these efforts. His best work -- especially nebraska, the ghost of tom joad, and darkness on the edge of town -- ranks, for me, among the finest poetry of common working-class American experience ever produced, full of complexity, pathos, tragedy, pride, confusion, anger, never simplistic and *never* jingoistic. If he's coming out publicly and putting his reputation and standing on the line for our cause, we have a major ally, and someone who can cut through a lot of the BS out there. There are a lot of people in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Michigan, etc. who know Bruce don't lie, and he can say things no other artist can say and be taken seriously and not subject to the character assa*s*ination (sorry Mr. Ashcroft, you didn't catch that I hope) that artists like Bonnie Raitt or even the Dixie Chicks can suffer, because he IS "the boss." He has a singular authority -- more than ANY other popular artist. No one will call him "Hollywood liberal elite." No one can hurt his career or his reputation. I'm thrilled he's putting it on the line for us.

Watch Nightline tonight. If you don't know Bruce as a thoughtful American with passionately progressive beliefs, you will be delightfully surprised. He's also funny, and damn smart and articulate.

RCM

[Seabiscuit]

56. Just watched Nightline.

Got to ACT's website and contribute. Also thanks to MoveOnPac/MoveOn.Org.

Bruce came out of his shell tonight and spoke out in a partisan manner for the first time in his life about defeating Bush Nov. 2 and supporting Kerry-Edwards. He's afraid of what kind of America his children will grow up in and it took Dubya's four years of insanity to get him that involved.

There's another thread about the tour on the General Discussion/Campaign 2004 which has ACT's website where you can read more about the tour including the schedule of concerts - the site says 9 states, but Koppel/Springsteen said it's now 10 states and 40 cities during the month of October. They anticipate raising tens of millions of dollars for the Kerry-Edwards campaign through ACT.

[w4rma]

41. AP is trying to smother news on Sen. Kerry's name? The only mention

of Sen. Kerry was his last name in the last paragraph. It is customary for journalists to give the first and last name of someone the first time the name is used. Not this time though.

Note, I opened up the article for the sole purpose of checking to see if Sen. Kerry was even mentioned in it. It was a hunch that proved correct.

[Warren DeMontague]

43. Don't forget R.E.M.

w/a new album coming out before the election, too.


It sounds like these should be stellar shows.

[peekaloo]

46. Woo double Hoo...I'll crawl to Orlando on Oct.8 if I have to.....

Springsteen and R.E.M.

Righteous.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

44. Springsteen support has got to help in PA, among other places.

[ASanders84]

48. I love how Bush tries to exploit this

By saying stuff like Hollywood isn't the heart of the American people despite the fact most came from working class families, and who is the heart of the American people? Enron? 'Hally Burton'?

[Webster Green]

54. Ed Gillespie will have to organize his own tour for the chimp....

Featuring Wayne Newton and Ted Nugent

[Citizen Daryl]

49. That's nice, where were they in the leadup to the war?

With the exception of the Dixie Chicks, of course.

[Warren DeMontague]

51. Wow. Somebody pee in your wheaties?

Sheesh.

Anyway, I can't speak for all those other acts, but I do know the members of R.E.M. have been consistently outspoken in opposition to the war and the Bush admin. in general. In fact, they've got over two decades of activism on their resume, thank you very much. They released one of the only (as far as I know) protest songs to get any sort of airplay last year (one of the few with any political content at all, in fact) and when the war started, or just before it, they immediately wrote and released, for free on the internet, another song dealing directly with the Iraq situation.

Lots of artists protested the war. Not just the Dixie Chicks.

[osaMABUSh]

50. What's the skinny on the Moveon.org pre-sale list?

Does anybody know if you have to be live in a swing state to get a shot at tix (in your state only)?

I live in Pgh, PA and put my correct mailing address but I am more interested in the Boss in Cleveland rather than who's playing in Pgh (Dixie Chicks).

[WyLoochka]

53. Nambe - Where have you been?

Missed you.