Beat the censors and download anti-war songs!

| 24 March 2003

The onset of war has inspired a typical flurry of protest songs from bands on both sides of the Atlantic, just as the mainstream media have begun their clampdown on anything deemed "insensitive to the expectations of listeners"...

A couple of weeks ago, XFM DJ Kevin Greening hinted that the Home Office had issued the station with a black-list of songs that it considered "inappropriate to play in a time of conflict", starting from Monday March 17. This list purportedly included such rebel-rousers as John Lennon's 'Imagine' and '2 Tribes' by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Admirably, Greening pledged to cram as many of the songs in as possible before the deadline!

According to the NME, emerging stars have also been struck off Radio 1's B-list, such as Hot Hot Heat, with their song 'Bandages' (allegedly removed because of a "prevalence of the word 'bandages' in the song") and The Transplants' 'Diamonds And Guns'. 'Bandages' remains on XFM's playlist.

In fact, all major music networks are heavily restricting their playlists as the war escalates. MTV Europe issued strict guidelines to its staff, even targeting specific videos that can't be played because of either content of the songs, the videos, or the title, such as anti-war standard '19' by Paul Hardcastle, Aerosmith's 'I Don't Want To Miss a Thing' and Manic Street Preachers' 'So Why So Sad' among others.

Some new anti-war songs you definitely won't see or hear on the networks (but you can download them here) are:

1) 'The Final Straw' (R.E.M.)

2) 'In A World Gone Mad' (The Beastie Boys)

3) 'March of Death' (Zack De La Rocha & DJ Shadow)

Former Rage Against The Machine frontman De La Rocha said in a statement: "Lies, sanctions, and cruise missiles have never created a free and just society. Only everyday people can do that, which is why I'm joining the millions worldwide who have stood up to oppose the Bush administration's attempt to expand the US empire at the expense of human rights at home and abroad. In this spirit, I'm releasing this song for anyone who is willing to listen. I hope it not only makes us think, but also inspires us to act and raise our voices."

DJ Shadow added: "As an American, my government's actions give me cause for great concern. I'm proud to support Zack de la Rocha in giving a musical voice to that concern."

For ways in which you can help Stop The War, click here.