Spinning Wax for Exploding Wackos
Jules Crittenden has the story that might aptly be called Metal Against Mutilation:
Protest the use of bad music at Guantanamo to torment Islamic extremists who would ban their music and probably saw their heads off if they had a chance. Radio Free Europe seems like a good place to pluck that irony-packed news from:
Musicians are campaigning against the use of their songs by U.S. interrogators at detention centers including the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The U.S. military says it has used music as a nonviolent way to disorient and create fear in detainees, but musicians want the practice stopped.
The music used on detainees includes themes from popular U.S. children’s television series like “Barney” and “Sesame Street,” according to campaign organizer Reprieve, the British prisoners’ rights group that represents dozens of detainees at Guantanamo.
Iron Maiden sounds like the right band for the job—but Barney, what kind of twisted mind thought that up?
Anyhow, not all the bangers are broken up about the practice:
Meet my new favorite group:
Not all musicians are unhappy their music might have been used in interrogations.
Drummer Stevie Benton, whose group Drowning Pool has been supportive of U.S. troops in Iraq, said two years ago he took it “as an honor to think that perhaps our song could be used to quell another 9/11 attack or something like that.”
Like, totally.
Jules solicits other musical suggestions, and primes the pump with everything from Outkast to Alvin and the Chipmunks. Feel free to add yours.
My contribution: Lawrence “Black Sabbath” Welk
Martino said,
December 11, 2008 @ 2:06 pm
Whoever thought up Barney music as torture is completely normal and perhaps brilliant. If you’ve ever been subjected to it, you would gladly spill your guts about everything from your PIN and SS# to handing over the keys to your car just to stop it.
If Slim Whitman can explode the brains of Martian invaders, then Barney can easily crack a few jihadi psyches.
irish19 said,
December 13, 2008 @ 6:09 pm
Was that Slim Whitman in “Mars Attacks?” I think they should try that against the Johnny Jihadis. “Please, make it stop!! My head’s about to ex..AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!