Tracking The Times:
A Century of Protest Music
"Tracking The Times: A Century of Protest Music"by Boston-based journalist and author Susie Davidson[email protected]
Facebook.com/TrackingTheTimes/Cover Art by
Paul Simonon of The ClashLiner Notes by
Country Joe McDonald (Country Joe & The Fish [RIP])
Gerald Casale (Devo)
Nona Hendryx (Labelle)
Penelope Houston (The Avengers)This book was originally an early 2020 book deal for music writer Dean Johnson. Dean declined, and Jim Sullivan and I took it on. The pandemic happened, the publisher downsized to only children's books, and we continued. Two contributors, Scott Alarik and Steve Morse, subsequently passed away. I continued. The book is dedicated to them."Tracking The Times" is a history and culture book as well as a study of protest music. It includes hundreds of photos and many interviews and quotes directly from the artists in its pages. The author attended concerts by many of them, has met many, and traveled to many of the sites photographed for the book (i.e., the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa, artists' graves, and pivotal sites in Europe).The book spans artists of many genres and their eras, from Joe Hill and Billie Holiday, Lead Belly, Woody Guthrie, Paul Robeson, Odetta, Nina Simone and Harry Belafonte to early blues and jazz artists like John Coltrane and Charles Mingus, to HUAC and the civil rights movement's protest songs,to Pete Seeger and to the '60s -- Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Peter, Paul and Mary -- to Motown and The Philadelphia Sound, Vietnam War protest music, Afrobeat/anti-apartheid songs,to '70s "No Nukes" artists Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne, to Chicago, CSNY, Jimmy Buffett and so many others.It continues to reggae and ska in Jamaica and the UK, to early punk and post-punk, hardcore, Grunge, festivals for change, rap and hip-hop, Occupying Wall Street and Black Lives Matter and the 2017 Women's March,and into present day Trump resistance artists who include Bruce Springsteen, Billy Bragg, Eminem, Jack White, Tom Morello, Cardi B, Charli xcx, Lizzo, Olivia Rodrigo.The book covers musicians active during the 2025 L.A. ICE raids like Finneas, Reneé Rapp, Tyler, The Creator, The Game, Kehlani and Doechii, to the June 14, 2025 inaugural “No Kings” nationwide rallies and relentless foes of the Trump administration including Eminem, the Dropkick Murphys and Jack White.The Music For Minnesota segment reports on the killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti and includes the Minnesota Music Resistance organization, Bruce Springsteen and Billy Bragg's songs for Minneapolis, Twin Cities musical icons Jeremy Messersmith, Paul Metsa and Alan Sparhawk and songs from NOFX (“Minnesota Nazis”), Dave Matthews (“Making It Great”) and Jesse Welles (“Good vs. Ice” and “Join Ice”).It winds down with Bad Bunny's show at the 2026 Super Bowl, "absurdist" artists who fight ICE and neofascism: Sarah Hershkowitz, Randy Rainbow, Robby Roadsteamer, Rocky Mountain Mike and Welles.The June 14 Concert For The First Amendment (with Jane Fonda, Bette Midler, Patti Smith and Rufus Wainwright), a harmonious and humane antithesis to the UFC fight going on at the White House for Trump's 80th birthday.Final events are the Juneteenth opening concert at the Barack Obama Presidential Center and the 2026 Solid Sound Festival in North Adams, Mass., where Wilco and Billy Bragg reprised their "Mermaid Avenue" project of songs from unreleased Woody Guthrie lyrics. In an unforgettable and emotional ending to that show and this book, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Guthrie came into the stage and sang the alternating verses of "This Land Is Your Land."A study of the last century of protest music has never been done before.It is timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the U.S. and is very strictly chronological, to maintain order and follow historic events and musical cultural progress as it all occurred.Based on protest songs and music, it includes shaded segments on major events, political campaigns, wars, legislative achievements, victories and losses that have inspired protest music over the past 100 years.This history fills in the gaps behind the creation of the fascinating music these brave artists created and promoted, often under great personal risk, as they paved the way for current acts to get up and play their songs without fear of persecution or personal peril.
Table Of ContentsA Change Is Gonna Come – The Story Of A SongPreface
Slave Ships, Field Hollers, Spirituals: The Beginnings of Blues, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Rock and Work SongsField Hollers: The Beginnings Of American Music – and Protest Songs • Spirituals, Agents Of Dissent • Spirituals Inspired Bob Marley, Billy Bragg and Antonín Dvořák • Bill Russell: "Life Without Freedom Is No Life At All" • Jazz: A "Composite Matrix" • The Muslim Influence On Hollers, Blues, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Rock • Afrika Bambaataa • European Origins and The Influences Of Shape-Note, Sacred Harp and Camp-Meeting Revivals On African American Music • Work Songs For Labor Justice • "John Henry": A Cause For Reform • The Wobblies: “The Internationale” • Joe Hill • The Song "Joe Hill" • Bread and Roses • Aunt Mollie JacksonChapter 1
’30s:
The Depression, Strange Fruit and Early BluesProtest Music In Hard Times • "Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?" • "The First Protest Song In The World" – Billie Holiday’s 1939 Debut Of "Strange Fruit" • The Recording • A Sad Life Of Exploitation • Abel Meeropol: Justice Crusader and Mensch • Robert and Michael Meeropol and The Rosenberg Fund For Children/Exonerate Ethel • The Great Northern Migration Brought The Blues: Topical Gospel, Blues and Jazz • Lead Belly • The Origins Of “Woke” • Far-Reaching Renditions Of "Cotton Fields" • The Topical Evolution Of Gospel, Blues, Jazz, Soul and Early Rock • Benny Goodman, An Early Integrator • Lester Young: "The Prez" • “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat”Chapter 2
’40s:
His Land Was Our LandWoody Guthrie: His Land Was Our Land • This Machine Kills Fascists • This Land • All Of The Verses • Arlo Guthrie On His Dad • Woody Guthrie Takes On Trump • Charles Guthrie: The Apple Fell Far • Legacy • Blues Musicians In World War II • "Champion" Jack Dupree • Big Bill Broonzy • Josh White: From Street Vagrant To The Big Stage • HUAC • The Mystery Of White's TestimonyChapter 3
’40s:
“We Shall Overcome”Songs Of Wartime • Louis Jordan • The Almanac Singers • People's Songs • Atomic Threat • Vern Partlow: Old Man Atom • Tom Glazer • Other Antinuclear Postwar Protest Songs • "Charlie On The M.T.A.": A Campaign Song That Got A Life • Zipper Songs • “Down By The Riverside” (1944) • The Blacklist • Pete Seeger: Folk Legend • “We Shall Overcome” • The Highlander Folk School: A Music Movement Center • Did Seeger's "Waist Deep" On The Smothers Brothers Show Change US Support For The War? • The Weavers: What A Time • “Follow The Drinking Gourd” • Ronnie Gilbert • Vietnam War Era and Beyond • Paul Robeson: A Giant Of Talent, Cut Down • Blacklisted • “No More Auction Block” • The CIA's MKUltra ProgramChapter 4
’20s-’60s:
Early Women Of Liberation and Protest/"Mississippi Goddamn"Bessie Smith: Belting Out Social Empowerment and Personal Freedom • Paula Cole, Nona Hendryx, Doyle Bramhall II On Bessie Smith • "Mother Of The Blues" Ma Rainey, Top To Bottom • Sister Rosetta Tharpe: Gospel Superstar and Rock 'n' Roll Trailblazer • Mahalia Jackson: Gospel Great Who Urged MLK To Talk About His "Dream" • Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton: Overtly Out, Blues and Pop Hall Of Famer • “Strange Things Happening Every Day” • Josephine Baker: A Chanteuse Of The Resistance and The Cause • Odetta: Voice Of The Civil Rights Movement • "He Killed Another Man" • Jim Rooney Remembers Odetta • Early Life • A Civil Rights Icon • An AI Legacy • Nina Simone: “Mississippi . . . !” • Ten Verbal Bullets At Mississippi • Promising From The Start • Malvina Reynolds: Out Of Her Much-Covered Catalog, "Little Boxes" Helped Resurrect Seeger's Career • “What Have They Done To The Rain?” and The Limited Nuclear Test Ban TreatyChapter 5
’50s:
“A Change Is Gonna Come”/“I Have A Dream”/Early Jazz and Rock Artists Spoke UpHarry Belafonte: Island Breezes, Winds Of Change • The King Of Calypso and The Prince Of Humanity • Cotton Fields • Blacklisted Or Not • “We Are The World” • Bush: “Greatest Terrorist In The World” • Songs Of The Civil Rights Era • Immigration Rights: “Deportee” (With Their Names) • Freedom: "Keep Your Hand On The Plow"/"Eyes On The Prize" • “This Little Light Of Mine”: From Civil Rights Rallies To The International Space Station • Tom Lehrer’s Hilarious Satire • Is A Joke A Good Mechanism For Protest and Change? • Jazz Took An Activist Turn • Louis Armstrong’s Very Candid 1957 Interview • Charlie Parker: Free As A Bird • Charles Mingus: "Haitian Fight Song" and "Fables Of Faubus" • Sun Ra: Pioneer Of Afro Futurism • Miles Davis’ “Bitches Brew”: Fusion Inspired By Early and Conscious Free Jazz • Topical Early Rockin’ • Chuck Berry: Veiled Viewpoints, Full-Out Rock • “Promised Land” • The Staple Singers: They Took Us There • Sam Cooke: Yes, It Will! • Three Catalysts For "A Change": Dylan, The March On Washington/I Have A Dream Speech and The Shreveport Incident • A Hotel MurderChapter 6
’60s: The RevolutionThe ’60s • "Do You Hear What I Hear?" and The Cuban Missile Crisis • Beginnings Of The ’60s: 1965? • Protests In Selma, Watts, and The SNCC • A Legion Of Antiwar Songs • "Eve Of Destruction" • "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" • “Get Together”– An Enduring Anthem • "The Unknown Soldier" • "Revolution" • "Gimme Shelter"? • No Fortunate Son • "Volunteers" • Janis Ian: "Society's Child" and Voice Of The Excluded • Tom Paxton: Satire and Heart • James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner • He Heard The Weavers, and Hopped To Greenwich Village • “For What It’s Worth” Powered The Decade • 1968: A Year Of Tears • The Rascals: "People Got To Be Free" • "Abraham, Martin and John" (and Bobby)/Dion: "It’s About A State Of Love That Doesn’t Exist" • MLK Jr. – A Republican? • Thunderclap Newman: “Something In The Air” • The United States Of America: Radical Electronica • Dave Brubeck's "The Gates Of Justice" • Elvis Presley: "In The Ghetto" • Steve Reich: “Come Out” Benefit For The Harlem Six • “Hair” • Protesting In Exile • '60s Protest From The Right • At The Forefront Of The '60s: Ochs, Jara, Dylan, Hendrix, Collins, Baez, Mitchell, Simon & Garfunkel, Peter, Paul and Mary • Ochs and Dylan • Phil Ochs: All The News (and Views) Fit To Sing • Sonny Ochs: "Phil Was Always Sensitive" • Victor Jara: The Folk Singer Murdered For His Music • Dylan Storms The Folk World, Then "Goes Electric" • Desolation In Duluth • Newport and The Chords Heard ’Round The World • “Judas!” • A Protest Standard-Bearer (To All But Him) • “Hurricane” • Recognition For An Immortal Catalog • James Brown: “Say It Loud!” With Soul • Jimi Hendrix: “Wave My Freak Flag High” • Judy Collins: A Serenader, Supporter and Survivor • Singing With The Whales • “Ché” • Song For The Dreamers • Joan Baez: A Songbird For The Cause • So Much More Than Singing • Mischief Makers • Simon & Garfunkel: Cerebral, Timeless, Topical • “Songs Of America” • “Bridge Over Troubled Water” • Joni Mitchell: A Muse and A Protester • Peter, Paul and Mary: Politically Popular • No Compromise • At Selma • Praise From Coretta • It Wasn’t Just A DecadeChapter 7
’60s-’70s:
R&B, Funk, Soul, Rock and Rap Shaping Change/Motown Artists Of Action/The Philadelphia Sound/Activist JazzShaping Change In R&B, Funk, Soul, Rock and Rap • Motown Artists Of Action • Strong and Whitfield Put The Topic Into Motown • Marvin Gaye: “What’s Going On?” • Stevie Wonder: Living More Than Enough • The Amazingly Creative, and Socio-Political 5-Album Run • Paving The Way To Political Hip-Hop • Stevie Had A Dream • A Global Citizen • Two New Protest Songs . . . Not On Motown • Edwin Starr: “War” • Isley Brothers: “Fight The Power” • “Harvest For The World” • The Temptations: “Ball Of Confusion” • “That’s What The World is Today” • Another Early ’70s Antiwar Hit Song By Freda Payne • Gamble, Huff and Bell: “The Philadelphia Sound” • The O'Jays: No Trump Train Here • “Get Ready” and “Love Train” • “Get Onboard” • “For The Love Of Money”/“The Rich Get Richer” • The Impressions/ Curtis Mayfield • “People Get Ready” • Comparing The Mayfield and O’Jays Trains • Sly Stone: An Integrator Who Stood • Earth, Wind & Fire: A Beloved Group That Spoke Out • The Power Of Protest: Best Achieved When Sung By A Smash Act Like EW&F? • Jazz Becomes A Statement • John Coltrane’s “Ascension” Moves Jazz Into Free-Form Commentary • Pharoah Sanders’ Spiritual Jazz • “Black Unity” and “Malcolm’s Gone” • Leon Thomas: Vocalist Of Consciousness (and Carlos Santana) • “Soundtrack To A Coup d’Etat”: Jazz Greats Schemed In CIA Cold War CoverupChapter 8
’60s-’70s-:
Afrojazz, Afrobeat, Afrobeats, Masekela and Makeba/Taking On Apartheid With Song, African Protest Music, Post-Apartheid
Manu Dibango: “Soul Makossa” • Fela Kuti, Africa 70, Egypt 80 and Afrobeat • “Zombie” • Keeping It Current: Afrobeats • Hugh Masekela: Activist In Exile • The Sharpeville Massacre • The Soweto Uprising, Biko, and “Soweto Blues” • “Mandela (Bring Him Back Home)” • Miriam Makeba: “Mama Africa” • “Miriam’s Goodbye To Africa” • Becoming “Mama Africa” and The End Of Apartheid • Back After 31 Years • Taking On Apartheid With Song • South African Freedom Songs and Black Consciousness • Youssou N’Dour: A Griot For Mandela and Africa • Johnny Clegg, The White Zulu: “We Haven’t Seen Him” • Eddy Grant: Give Me Hope, Johannesburg and Don’t Tread On My “Electric Avenue” • The Malopoets • Sun City Protest and An Activist NBA Star Progeny • Brenda Fassie: “My Black President” • International Artists Who Opposed Apartheid • Anders Nyberg: “Freedom Is Coming” • Steven Van Zandt/Artists United Against Apartheid: “I Ain’t Gonna Play Sun City” (1985) • One More Brick In The Wall? • Stevie Wonder Arrested At The SA Embassy? Yes. • African Protest Music, Post-Apartheid • Angélique Kidjo: Helping Women Succeed, Righting Social Wrongs • Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse: Strength Through Music • Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi: Defeating Challenges Through Unity • Sauti Sol: Getting Out The Kenyan Vote • Loyiso Gijana: Fighting Gender-Based ViolenceChapter 9
’70s:
Four Dead In Ohio/Environmental Heroes: Young/Raitt/Browne/
John Hall/Eagles/BuffettEnter The ’70s • “Ball Of Confusion” Ushers In The Decade • Four Dead In Ohio • CSNY • David Crosby: Didn’t Cut His Hair • Graham Nash: “We Can Change The World” • Neil Young: An Evolution Of Protest • “Rockin’ In The Free World” • Young, Ochs, and “Cinnamon Girl” • “The Monsanto Years,” “EARTH,” and “Barn” • The Joe Rogan and Spotify Pullout • The Four Big Banks • Grateful Dead: Topical Tie-Dye • Brewer & Shipley: Banned By Agnew, and A Toke On Lawrence Welk • Si Kahn: Organizer and Musician • Tom Rush: “There Comes A Point” • Environmental Heroism • Bonnie Raitt: Activist (and Musician) • No Nukes • Success In The “Nick Of Time” Sets Stage For Activism • A Protest Singer vs. A Love Song Singer Who Protests • ThCree Famers, and More Involvements • “The Comin’ Round Is Going Through” • Jackson Browne: Had Success, But Followed Conviction • John Hall: From Dance Hits To “[Poison] Power” To Congress • Eagles and Don Henley/Walden Woods • Jimmy Buffett: As Blue As The SeasChapter 10
’70s:
Singer-Songwriters and Rockers Who Took A Stand/The Disabled In Action Singers/Native American Protest RockSinger-Songwriters and Rockers Who Took A Stand • The Beatles: Not A Political Act, But . . . • John Lennon: "Working Class Hero" and Dreamer • The John Sinclair Freedom Rally • Sir Paul McCartney: Give Back • George Harrison: Bangladesh and So Much More • Bangladesh • The Traveling Wilburys • Ringo Starr: Peace and Love, The Purest Protest • Chicago: “The Whole World Is Watching!” • James Taylor: A Little Magic, A Lot Of Activism • Black Sabbath: “War Pigs” • Ten Years After: “I’d Love To Change The World” • The Five Man Electrical Band: “Signs” • The Guess Who: “American Woman” and “Hand Me Down World” • The Moody Blues: “I’m Just(?) A Singer (In A Rock and Roll Band)” • Pink Floyd: “Money” • “Money” vs. “For The Love Of Money” • Steely Dan: “King Of The World” • Harry Chapin: Humanitarian, Activist, and Musician • Peter Gabriel: “Biko,” WOMAD, Man Of Peace • Playing For Change • Off-Topic With Greg Hawkes Of The Cars • Pioneers In Women’s Liberation • Helen Reddy: “I Am Woman” • Loretta Lynn: “The Pill” • Carole Feraci Of The Conniff Singers Socks It To Nixon • The Disabled In Action Singers • Native American Protest Rock • Redbone: “We Were All Wounded” • The Wounded Knee Massacre • Paul Revere & The Raiders: “Cherokee Nation” • Buffy Saint-Marie: An Indigenous Calling • John Trudell: Spoken Word Artist Of Activism and Tragedy • Trail Of Broken Treaties, Wounded Knee 1973, and Pine Ridge • An Unimaginable Loss • Klee Benally: Navajo, Punk Rock Changemaker • Peter La Farge Tribute LP • Clemency For Leonard PeltierChapter 11
’70s:
Get Up, Stand Up! Ska, Rocksteady and ReggaeThe Irresistible Music Of Resistance • Derrick Morgan and Lord Creator, “Forward March” and “Independent Jamaica” • The Skatalites, “Freedom Sounds” • Desmond Dekker & The Aces • "Israelites" • Do The "Reggay" • Toots and The Maytals • Bob Marley: "Don’t Give Up The Fight” •The Wailers Today • National Pride and Politics • Bunny Wailer: “Destruction Of The Poor Is Their Poverty” and Peter Tosh, “Legalize It” • Uhuru! • Jimmy Cliff: “You Can Get It If You Really Want" • Reggae’s Influence On Punk, Rap and Hip-Hop • Alpha Blondy: Justice, Morality, Unity • Reggae’s LegacyChapter 12
’60s-’80s:
Punk! Political Proto-Punk: MC5, The Fugs, David Peel, Patti Smith/The Time For Punk: Ramones/Anarchy Across The Pond: Sex Pistols, Clash, Rock Against Racism/First Wave Of UK Punk: "Oh Bondage, Up Yours!"/Oi/From New York To California: The Avengers, T.S.O.L., X, Dead Kennedys/Cleveland, Akron and Kent: Dead Boys, Rocket From The Tombs, Pere Ubu/Kent State – and Devo/Manchester’s Factory Records: A Musician Collective/Joy Division/Stand Down Margaret/The Second Wave Of Ska: 2-Tone/Blair PeachPolitical Proto-Punk • MC5 Kicked Out The Jams • The Fugs: Musical Mayhem That Took On The Times • David Peel & The Lower East Side Band • Patti Smith: “People Have The Power” • The Time For Punk • Hey, Ho! Let's Go!: The Ramones • Anarchy Across The Pond • Here’s The Sex Pistols • The Clash: “London Calling” • Paul Simonon: Artist and Incognito Activist • Rock Against Racism • Love Music Hate Racism • The Tom Robinson Band: "Up Against The Wall" • Billy Bragg Was At RAR, and Went On To Set The Standard • Red Wedge • Stiff Little Fingers: Building An “Alternative Ulster” • U2: Pushing The Platform • “Pride” • They Came Out Of Punk • The Damned: “Smash It Up” • The Jam: “Going Underground” • From The Jam and The Style Council • Attila The Stockbroker: Smashing Fascists Through Poetry • First-Wave British Protest Punk • Oi! and (Unfortunate) Nazi Punks • X-Ray Spex Featuring Poly Styrene • Au Pairs • The Slits • Crass: Anarcho DIY • Chumbawamba • Conflict • Subhumans: “Subvert City” • Sham 69: “Hersham Boys” • The Ruts: "Babylon's Burning" • Angelic Upstarts • UK Subs • Discharge: The Roots Of Thrash Metal • Meanwhile, Back In The States: California Punk • The Avengers • T.S.O.L. • X • Dead Kennedys: Nazi Punks Again: F*ck Off • Cleveland, Akron and Kent: Dead Boys, Rocket From The Tombs, Pere Ubu • Kent State – and Devo • Manchester’s Factory Records: A Musician Collective and Post-Punk Hub/Joy Division • Taking On A Troubled UK: The Second Wave Of Ska • Paving The Way For 2-Tone • Steel Pulse: “Ku Klux Klan” • The Specials • "Free Nelson Mandela" • Later Recordings and Sad Passings • The (English) Beat: "Stand Down Margaret" • UB40 • “One In Ten” • Kavanaugh? • The Selecter • Madness • Unwelcome Fans • Taking On Boris Johnson • Linton Kwesi Johnson: Poetic Protest/Blair Peach Police Killing
Chapter 13
Late ’70s-’80s:
From Cali: L.A. Hardcore/San Francisco Scene/Hardcore Through The US (And The World)/ Straight Edge In D.C./Post-Punk Hit The Synths: “The Politics Of Dancing”/“The War Dance”From Cali To The World: L.A. Hardcore • Middle Class: The Speedy Start Of Cali Hardcore • Black Flag • Circle Jerks • Bad Religion • Fear • Adolescents • Agent Orange • Social Distortion • The Weirdos • The Germs • Suicidal Tendencies • Minutemen • Descendents • Agnostic Front • Hardcore Caught On Film • Nazi Punks Again – Fck Off • Hardcore Through The US (And The World) • Bad Brains • Naked Raygun • Corrosion Of Conformity • Hüsker Dü • D.O.A. • Straight Edge In D.C.: Social Protest, No Substances • Minor Threat/Fugazi • Political Post-Punk Hit The Synths • Gang Of Four • Killing Joke: “The Wardance” • The Stranglers • Ultravox: “Hiroshima, Mon Amour” • XTC: “Melt The Guns” • “Politics Of Dancing” • Too Cool? • ”Heaven 17 • China Crisis • OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark) • “88 Seconds In Greensboro” • The Human League: “Dreams Of Leaving,” “Seconds,” and “The Lebanon” • The Alarm: “Blaze Of Glory” • Depeche Mode: A Move To The Serious • From The Smiths, A Rightward Turn For Morrissey • Midnight Oil’s Erudite Environmentalism • ”The Chills: A Shimmering Topicality • The Chameleons: From “Strange Times” To “Saviours Are A Dangerous Thing” • R.E.M. • Ministry: Always Vocal, Never BrandedChapter 14
’60s-present:
Festivals and Supergroups For Change/Concert Voter Drives Began with “The Midnight Special”/Politically Themed Compilation CDs“Three Days Of Peace and Music” • “Gimme An F!" • Havens Led The Show and Created “Freedom" • The 1970 Winter and Summer Festivals For Peace • The Concert For Bangladesh (1971) • Festival Of Hope Rockfest (August 12-13, 1972) • Amnesty International’s Secret Policeman’s Balls (1976-1981, and Onward) • The Gift Of Song: The Music For UNICEF (1979) • The No Nukes Concerts (September 1979) • The Concerts For Kampuchea (1979) • Sir Bob Geldof • Band Aid Led The Way • USA For Africa: “We Are The World” (April 5, 1985) • Live Aid (July 13, 1985) • Effects In Ethiopia • Farm Aid (1985-) • Sun City: Artists United Against Apartheid (1985) • Self Aid (1986) • Amnesty’s Human Rights Concerts (1986-1998) • A Conspiracy Of Hope US Tour (1986) • Human Rights Now! World Tour (1988) • The Wall – Live In Berlin, For The Memorial Fund For Disaster Relief (1990) • The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert (1992) • Lilith Fair (1997-1999) • America: A Tribute To Heroes (2001) • The SARS Benefit Concert (2003) • Live 8 (2005) • Make Poverty History • Live Earth (2007) • A Billion Hands Concert (2008) • Rockdrive (2010-) • MDA Show Of Strength (2012-2014) • The Global Citizen Festivals (2012-) • The Concert For Sandy Relief (2012) • Amnesty’s “Bringing Human Rights Home” (2014) • The Concert For Valor (2014) • Joe Walsh: VetsAid • One Love Manchester (2017) • “Hand In Hand”: A Benefit For Hurricane Relief (2017) • Activism At Glastonbury • Support for Palestinian Cause From Dua Lipa, Blur’s Damon Albarn, Bombay Bicycle Club, Kneecap At Glastonbury 2024 • Concert Voter Drives Began With “The Midnight Special” 1972 Pilot • HeadCount (2003-) • Vote For Change (2004-) • Rock The Vote (1990-) • Calling All Crows • Fire Aid 2025 • Social Content At Other Fests • Politically Themed Compilations • “Rock Against Bush” Vols. 1 and 2 (2004) • “Peace Not War” Vols. 1 and 2 (2003-2004) • “Future Soundtrack For America” (2004) • “Impeach The Precedent” (2005)Chapter 15
’60s-present:
Fight The Power – The Emergence and Influence Of Rap and Hip-HopProto-Rap and Hip-Hop • The Last Poets: “When The Revolution Comes” • “Hustlers Convention” • Gil Scott-Heron: “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” • Roy C. Hammond: “Impeach The President” • Afrika Bambaata • “Rapper's Delight” • Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five: “The Message” • Public Enemy: “Fight The Power” • Beastie Boys • N.W.A. and Gangsta Rap • A Tribe Called Quest • Eric B. & Rakim • Cypress Hill • Michael Franti: The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy and Spearhead • Rage Against The Machine • Audioslave • 2Pac (Tupac Shakur) • Wu-Tang Clan and Remedy: “C.R.E.A.M.,” “Never Again” • Common • Nas’ “Illmatic”: The Greatest Hip-Hop Album in History • Eminem: Slim Shady To Trump Foe Supreme • Aesop Rock • Jurassic 5 • El-P • Mos Def (Yasiin Bey) • Prophets Of RageChapter 16
Late ’80s-’90s:
The Third Wave Of Ska/Matriarchs Of The Movement/Countryfied DefianceThe Third Wave Of Ska • Rancid • No Doubt: Not “Just A Girl” • Sublime • Mighty Mighty BossToneS • Matriarchs Of The Movement • Madonna • Patti LaBelle • Nona Hendryx • Sinéad O'Connor • Cyndi Lauper: A “So Unusual” Champion • Lady Gaga: Unprecedented, Unstoppable • To The Aughts and Beyond: Political Folk • Tracy Chapman: Revolution In A Whisper • Ani DiFranco • Lucy Kaplansky: "Land Of The Living" • Tracy Grammer: “Hey Ho” • Dar Williams: From Cambridge, Massachusetts Into “Positive Proximity” • Countryfied Defiance: Daniels, Haggard, Nelson, Harris, EarleChapter 17
'90s:
Indie vs. Industry/Musicians vs. Labels/The Ticket Take/Grunge: A Flannel Revolution/Riot Grrrls/Actively IndieIndie Began With The Buzzcocks and DIY • C86 • Indie vs. The Record, Ticket and Music Industries • Trevor Rabin: Politicians and Record Companies Share The Blame • Musicians vs. Their Record Labels: Prince, Chicks, NIN, Evanescence, Radiohead . . . • Courtney Love Took On Record Label Profiteers, Napster, VCs • Pearl Jam Fought The Ticket Take • Grunge: A Flannel Revolution • Grunge Influencers: Sonic Youth, Wipers, Dinosaur Jr., Pixies, Melvins, Screaming Trees • Mudhoney • Nirvana: Teen Spirit Pulled Grunge (Alt, and Punk?) Into The Mainstream • Soundgarden • L7 • Hole • Alice In Chains • Pearl Jam: No To Celebrity, But Plenty To Say • Riot Grrrls Who Roared • Bratmobile • Bikini Kill • Sleater-Kinney • 90s • Return of Leonard Cohen: 1991’s “The Future,” and “Democracy” • Actively Indie • Green Day Breaks It Out • Weezer • Guster • Authority Zero • Propaghandi: Not Just Skatepunks From Canada • Dispatch • The Breeders • Bright Eyes • Against Me! • Rise AgainstChapter 18
2000-2012:
The Aughts: 9/11 and Bush II/Occupying Wall Street
GRASP/Non-GRASP Artists Stand Up In The Aughts, Post-9/11 and The Bush II Years, 2000-2008+Roger Miller: Mission Of Burma, Emo, and “Pretender To The Throne” (2001) • Sage Francis: “Makeshift Patriot” (2002) • The Chicks (Formerly Dixie): “Not Ready To Make Nice” • NOFX: “Idiots Are Taking Over” (2003) • Radiohead: Way Beyond “Creep” With Anti-Bush “Hail to the Thief” • R.E.M.: “Bad Day” • Outkast (Operating Under The Krooked American System Too Long) Rock The 2004 Vote • Patti Smith: “Peaceable Kingdom,” “Radio Baghdad” • Prince: “United States Of Division” (July 4, 2004) • Arcade Fire: “Haiti”, “Culture War,” “I Give You Power” (“Gen A” Isn’t Waiting) • Green Day: “American Idiot” • Springsteen: “This Is The One Where You Spend Some Of That Credibility” • Tom Waits: “The Day After Tomorrow” • Josh Ritter: “Thin Blue Flame” (2006) • Neil Young: “Let’s Impeach The President” • John Mayer: “Waiting On The World To Change” • M.I.A: Immigrant-Themed “Paper Planes” (2007) • K’naan: Ambassador For Somalia Hits Big With “Wavin’ Flag” (2009) • Mavis Staples: “Wrote A Song For Everyone” (With Jeff Tweedy) (2010) • Into The Tens and Occupying Wall Street • PJ Harvey: “The Words That Maketh Murder” (2011) • Killer Mike: “Reagan” (2012) • Run The Bern • Robert CrayChapter 19
2012-20:
Black Lives Matter/Trayvon Martin/Eric Garner/Michael Brown/George FloydBlack Lives Matter • Plies: “We Are Trayvon” • Young Thug: “Let Me Live (Trayvon Martin Tribute)” • J. Cole: “Be Free” Response To Ferguson, 2017 “F*** T” Crowd Chant • Killer Mike and El-P’s Run The Jewels: “Early” • Pussy Riot: “I Can’t Breathe” • The Garner Family: “This Ends Today” • Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” and “The Blacker The Berry” • Janelle Monáe: “Hell You Talmbout” • Dr. Dre: “Animals” (Featuring Anderson .Paak) • Usher: “Chains” (Featuring Nas & Bibi Bourelly) • Beyoncé: “Freedom” (Featuring Kendrick Lamar), “Formation,” and “Flawless” • YG: “Police Get Away Wit Murder” • YG, Nipsey Hussle, The Conscious Daughters, Macklemore, G-Eazy, Paris: “FDT” • Solange: “A Seat At The Table” • Cynthia Erivo: “Harriet,” “Color Purple,” “Wicked”’s “Defying Gravity” For “Others” • George Floyd, Uncle Selwyn Jones, Eric Garner’s Mother Gwen Carr • LL Cool J: “#BlackLivesMatter Freestyle” • Producer Dre (Of Cool & Dre): “Captured On An iPhone” • Killer Mike and El-P: “Walking In The Snow” • Nasty C Featuring T.I.: “They Don’t Listen” • Trey Songz: “2020 Riots: How Many Times” • Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” Returns As BLM Anthem • Juicy J: “Hella Fkin’ Trauma” • Leon Bridges: “Sweeter” (Featuring Terrace Martin) • DaBaby: “Rockstar Black Lives Matter Remix” • Lil Baby: “The Bigger Picture” • H.E.R.: “I Can't Breathe • Anderson .Paak’s “Lockdown” • Beyoncé: “Black Parade” • Usher: “I Cry” • Ice-T Re-Releases 2017’s “No Lives Matter” • Artists Lend A Hand • Halsey Treats Injured Protesters • Canadians Weeknd and Drake Give Aid • Harry Styles Donates Bail Funds • BTS Gives A Mil • All Time Low • Fall Out Boy Donates $100,000 • Ludacris and Music Exec Sandy Lal Get Kids To “Get Along” In KidNation • 2020 “Ska Against Racism” Compilation • Five Years Later: Selwyn Jones’ Justice 929 US Tour Stops At Massachusetts State House • Bill Russell’s Immortal WordsChapter 20
2016-2019:
Protesting Trump I/Women’s March/Artists Say “Cease!”The First Trump Term: Protest Music Responds • Loudon Wainwright III: “I Had A Dream” • Bastille: Sociopolitical “Wild World” (2016), “Doom Days” LP, Dedication of “The Currents” To “Giant, Orange Baby” At Reading • Green Day: “Troubled Times,” “American Idiot” Returns At No. 1 As Trump Visits UK • Nas: “Deep,” and “We All Know A Racist Is In Office” • “30 Days, 30 Songs/50 Songs,” “First 100 Days,” and “1,000 Songs, 1,000 Days” • Eminem: “Campaign Speech,” The Storm” and “The Ringer” • The Cold War Kids: “Locker Room Talk” • Courtney Love: “I’d Rather . . .” • A Tribe Called Quest: “We The People” • Lin-Manuel Miranda, Brandon Victor Dixon To Pence At “Hamilton,” “Almost Like Praying,” “Immigrants” • Fiona Apple: “Trump’s N*ts Roasting On an Open Fire” and “Tiny Hands” (2017) • The Inauguration • Gorillaz: “Hallelujah Money,” “Ascension” • Moby: “Erupt & Matter” • Billy Bragg: “The Times They Are A-Changing Back” and “The Sleep Of Reason” • Entrance: “Not Gonna Say Your Name” • The January 21, 2017 Women’s March • Madonna Addresses The March, and Persists • Neko Case, k.d. lang, Laura Veirs’ “People Have The Power” Adopted By Women’s March • MILCK: “Quiet” and The Women’s March Flash Mob • After The March: Carole King’s Re-Recording Of “One Small Voice” • Cryptic One and Alaska (IT): “Orange Is The New Wack” Stressed Community Ties • Delray: “Illegitimate President” • Hurray For The Riff Raff: “Pa’lante” • Snoop Dogg: “Lavender” Video and Trump Slams • Depeche Mode: “Where’s The Revolution” • Springsteen and Grushecky: “That’s What Makes Us Great,” “Tom Joad” Redux • Chumbawamba Fronter Danbert Nobacon: “Revolution 9.01” • Todd Rundgren and Donald Fagen Take On Trump • John Legend’s 2017 Tweet: “You Can’t Be Impeached If You Resign First,” and “Trump Is An Embarrassment To This Country” • Chance the Rapper, Josh Groban, Selena Gomez and The July 4, 2018 Bash That Wasn’t • Pearl Jam: “Can’t Deny Me,” “Quick Escape,” “Wreckage” and “Dark Matter” • Rabbi Arthur Waskow: “The Earth Internationale” • Childish Gambino: “This Is America” • The 1975: “Love It If We Made It” • James: “Heads”/Fake News Keeps People Apart • Lenny Kravitz: “It’s Enough” • Paul McCartney: “Despite Repeated Warnings” • Keb’ Mo’ With Rosanne Cash: “Put A Woman In Charge” • Taylor Swift Endorses Tennessee Democrats • Cardi B Topples Trump’s Wall • Artists Say “Cease!” • Neil Young: DJT Cannot “Rock In The Free World” • Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider Took It Back • Steven Tyler Says No “Edge” • Pharrell Williams: Not “Happy” • Axl Rose: “Sweet Child” At Trump Rallies Ain’t Sweet! • Rihanna Stops The Music • Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne: Trump, Find Your Own “Crazy Train!” • Prince Estate “Rains” On Trump ParadeChapter 21
2020-2024:
More Ceasing and Desisting/More Music, More Action/The 2024 Election2020: More Ceasing and Desisting • R.E.M.: It’s The End Of Using “End” • Neil Young: No More At Rushmore • Brendon Urie (Panic!) Dashes Trump’s “High Hopes,” Makes Billboard Social 50 • Linkin Park: “In The End” Ends Now! • Phil Collins: No Airing “In The Air” – Especially During COVID! • Village People “Macho Man” A No Go At Mar-a-Lago • Family Of Isaac Hayes: “Hold On, Lawsuits Are Comin’” • Smiths’ Guitarist Johnny Marr: “Please, Please, Please, You Can’t Have What You Want” • Estate of Sinead O’Connor: U Can’t Use “Nothing Compares 2 U” • Celine Dion: “My Heart Will Go On,” But Not My Song • Beyoncé C&D’s Steven Cheung’s Use of “Freedom” • Foo Fighters: Not “My Hero” • ABBA: No Dancin’ To Any Of Them • Spinal Tap Bassist Harry Shearer Nixes “Sex Farm” (“Big Bottom” Not Up For Grabs) • Rufus Wainwright/Leonard Cohen Estate: No To “Hallelujah” • Jack White Severs “Seven Nation Army” • 2020-2024: More Music, More Action • Robert Cray: “This Man” and “Just How Low” • Dua Lipa Endorses Biden/Harris • Brian Wilson/Al Jardine Distance From Love’s Gigs • Foo Fighters: “Waiting On A War” • “Band Together: A Benefit For Ukraine” • Ted Leo: “The Clearing Of The Land” and A Legacy of Protest Punk, To Gang Of Four • 2023 Grammys Institute Best Song For Social Change: Shervin Hajipour’s “Baraye” • Margo Price, Sheryl Crow, Amy Grant and The 2023 Tennessee Gun Control Rally • “War Is Over! Inspired By The Music Of John and Yoko” • Tennessee House Rep. Blocks Resolution On Allison Russell’s Grammy • The 2024 Election • Cardi B Backed Harris Before Biden Withdrew • Ariana Grande: Within an Hour • Demi Lovato: “Let’s Do This!!” • Charli xcx: “kamala IS brat” • Carole King: “Right Person. Right Time.” • Barbra Streisand: “Pathological Liar” • Megan Thee Stallion: “Hotties For Harris” and Quavo • Bon Iver and Justin Vernon’s Eau Claire Intro • Taylor Swift’s Vote Appeals, Harris Endorsement “From A Childless Cat Lady” • Jon Bon Jovi: “The People’s House” • Cher: “I’m Voting Harris/Walz” • Lizzo: Boosts Harris In Detroit • Joni Mitchell: “Dog Eat Dog” • Usher: “ATL, We Got Work To Do” • Beyoncé (and Mom Tina) Endorse, “Freedom” Official Campaign Song • Bob Weir: “I’ll Be Voting For Harris/Walz” • Amy Lee (Evanescence): “Proudly Voting Harris” • Billie Eilish: Stop Project 2025
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2025-2026:
Trump II: The Onstage Opposition/Grammys Protests/Kennedy Center Cancellations/The Exodus?/L.A. ICE/No Kings/Music For Minnesota/AbsurdityTrump II: The Onstage Opposition • Eminem: “Don’t Diss Detroit,” Intros Obama, 2025 Music Vids • Cardi B: Fearless • Grammys Protest Platform • Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Chappell Roan, Shakira, Alicia Keys, Olivia Dean, Bon Iver, Bad Bunny • A New Form Of Protest – Not Playing: The Kennedy Center Cancellations • Half The Board Out, So Are Ben Folds, Low Cut Connie, Issa Rae, Renée Fleming, Rhiannon Giddens, Peter Wolf, “Hamilton,” Nora Brown, Stephanie Coleman. Now Trump-Kennedy? Out Go Chuck Redd, Kristy Lee, The Cookers, Doug Varone, Béla Fleck, WNO, Martha Graham, Magpie, Philip Glass, Wayne Tucker, Brentano Quartet, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Choral Arts Society, Alvin Ailey, “Let Freedom Ring!”, SF/NY Ballets • Tribute To Joan Baez and The Power Of Protest • Lamar At 2025 Super Bowl • The Exoduses – ? • Those Who Moved • Neil Young Backs Bruce, Invites Trump To “Love Earth,” “Big Crime” • Springsteen’s Truth-Telling Tour • Eddie Vedder Defends Bruce • Rod Stewart: “That Little Ratbag” • L.A. ICE Raids • Finneas, Reneé Rapp, Tyler, The Creator, Doechii At 2025 BET Awards • The Game • Kehlani • June 14, 2025 “No Kings” • Sabrina Carpenter • Lizzo: “WE HAVE TO BE BOLDER” • Addison Rae • Olivia Rodrigo • Ice Cube On ICE • Kenny Loggins: “Zone Out – Now” • Dropkick Murphys’ Relentless Resistance • Jack White Dishes It Back • The Cure Requests Takedown • Katy Perry: “I Absolutely Do Not Condone” • Noah Kahan: “Would Never Approve” • Music For Minnesota • MMR • Bruce and Billy • Jeremy Messersmith: “F*ck This” • Paul Metsa and Alan Sparhawk: “No Kings (No Crown)” • NOFX: “Minnesota Nazis” • Dave Matthews: “Making It Great” • Jesse Welles: “Good vs. ICE,” “Join ICE” • “ICE-OUT” Of Minnesota/2026 JFK Profile In Courage • Bad Bunny At 2026 Super Bowl • Fighting ICE/Neofascism With Absurdity • Sara Hershkowitz • Randy Rainbow • Rocky Mountain Mike • Robby Roadsteamer • Jesse Welles • Concert For The First Amendment • Juneteenth Concert For The Barack Obama Presidential Center • Because Woody Said SoEpilogue: They Set Us Free, and At The 250th, The Soundtrack Plays On