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Date: Mon, 3 Dec 90 15:37:00 EST
Subject: Rock Groups Hardly Satanic
The following is reposted without permission
Editor's note: The following column was submitted by Neil Peart, lyricist/percussionist
of the Canadian rock group Rush. This was written in response to Jim
Hankins' July 19, 1989 coverage in The Daily Texan of a seminar entitled
"'No One Here Gets Out Alive." The seminar was sponsered by the Longhorn
Christian Fellowship and centered on the theme that many popular rock
music songs are trying to turn American youth against Christianity
toward satanism or other religions. The group contended that either
blatantly or through subliminal means, musicians convey satanic messages
in their songs.
ROCK GROUPS HARDLY SATANIC
I am writing in response to an article which was written by your reporter
Jim Hankins in your issue of July 19, "Group seeks to show rock 'n
roll Satanic." It was awhile ago, but the article was sent to me through
several intermediary steps. Besides, it's never too late to discuss
a matter like this, and as I happen to be a member of one of the groups
mentioned, perhaps I can interject a little rationality and truth
into such a hysterical exercise in propaganda.
Satanism. Now here is a word that should be kept away from some people
the way you should keep matches from children and guns from jealous
husbands!
There is a certain trait evident in human nature which some people
seem to possess in greater degrees. It derives from a state of insecurity
and low self-esteem and shows itself in the actions of those who wish
to make themselves look good by making others look bad. You see it
everywhere once you start to look for it. People who can't gain respect
for their own merits feel obliged to try and tear down those who do.
We see it in the failures who try to prove their aloofness by criticizing
the actions of those who actually *do* something, or in cases like
this one where the weak and pusillanimous prove their righteousness
by trying to punish the "'less-righteous."'
A big advantage to such an attitude is that it keeps them so involved
in other peoples' lives that they need not examine their own.
So these are the grim-faced hypocrites who are stirring around in
the dark places of life hoping to find something - anything - dirtier
than their own reflection. And if they can't find anything - no problem
- they'll just make something up!
And here they are accusing rock musicians of being sincere and dedicated
satanists attempting to poison the souls of America's youth with subliminal
messages of devil-worship. You know that's almost a very good joke!
Almost.
As one who knows many of these "demonic figures"' personally, especially
some of those mentioned in the article, the idea of some of these
sold-out, burnt-out, cynical, strutting peacocks being so deeply and
religiously committed to *anything* (save their "image" and chart
numbers) is also a bit of a joke. And a pretty lame one at that!
These nameless mercenaries don't even demonstrate that kind of commitment
in their *music*: why on earth would they be bothered to go to all
that trouble to put anything else into it? All they need (and care)
to do is find a kind of lowest common denominator of commercial"acceptability."
Yes, you Christian crypto-fascists, it *is* a joke! The only problem
is - *You're* not laughing.
I'm not laughing anymore, either. I've started to receive too many
questions and letters from confused and impressionable young people
wanting to know if it's true that we worship the devil. Who is it
that is corrupting the minds of young Americans?
Let us not for one minute forget that this is the same self-righteous
mentality that has put itself to work persecuting Witches, Christians,
Jews, Quakers, Indians, Catholics, Negroes, Communists, hippies and
capitalists down through the ages. There's always somebody to kick
you when you're down. It seems like every group has taken its turn
at one end of the stick or the other. From the bitter oppressed to
the righteous oppressor is a very short step. Speaking for myself,
as lyricist and drummer for "Rush", and one of those accused of this
heinous crime, I must object, Your Honors. Far from being a closet
Satanist, I confess crudely, I don't even *believe* in the old bastard!
I wonder if that's better or worse in your eyes, Grand Inquisitor?
I can certainly assure you that my lyrics contain no "demonic" secret
messages or cleverly concealed mystical commercials. Nothing like
that, I'm afraid. It is not only absurd and pathetic, but it is also
totally incompatible with my philosophy, my work and my beliefs.
I get all kinds of letters from people like this whose perceptions
are narrowed and distorted by pre-set values and ideas, telling me
the most fantastic things that they have somehow "'discovered"" in
*my* words! As is ever true - they find what they *want* to find.
Fair enough. I know what I put in there. It isn't that, and it isn't
this either. Period.
I don't wish to offend anyone's genuine beliefs, as it is a fundamental
tenet in my philosophy that people should believe what they *choose*
to believe. It must be stated, though, that when you've "got" religion,
like Siddhartha, you find it everywhere you look. And when you've
got evil, you'll find *it* everywhere you look, too.
Ah! It's the old "recorded backwards"' trick again, is it Watson?
Ha! I'm sure you could play "'The Star Spangled Banner" backwards
and find a secret message there too. Wouldn't Francis Scott Key be
surprised at your cleverness! How do you suppose *he* knew what it
said in 1812?
Don't you think something as vague as this is rather like a Rorschach
ink-blot, or cloud shapes? Interpretation is based on the perceiver's
state of mind - *not* on any objective reality. An ink-blot is a cloud
is a song - frontwards or backwards. One finds what one *wishes* to
find.
Yes, there's something subliminal at work here all right. The subliminal
and poisonous sickness that dwells in the minds of these fearful and
pompous so-called Christians. And they even call themselves a "Fellowship."
Think about that for a minute. Then think about what this paper and
others have accomplished by giving innocent ink and paper over to
this kind of drivel. You readers don't know that I would never even
use the kind of *grammar* that these people have attributed to me,
let alone the insipid and valueless supposed message. Listen to this:
"Oh Satan, you, you are the one who is shining. Walls of Satan, walls
of sacrifice; I know it's you are the one I love." That's disgusting.
I mean *really*. You just *know* these people have to be sick. If
you don't believe me, ask my Mom!
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