Rise Against cancel Army show 2009-10-05 by Damrod EMERITUS | 38 Comments | Rise Against have canceled the yearly Buzz Bake Sale in West Palm Beach, after learning that the stage is
sponsored by the U.S. Army Recruiting Department. The band was to headline the event.
The band has released a statement via their MySpace page, entitled "Support the Troops, end the war", explaining their reasons for canceling the show:
Earlier this year, Rise Against agreed to the play the Buzz Bake Sale in West Palm Beach, FL scheduled to take place in December 09. We've played this same show in the past and it's always been a great time, the crowds are epic, the station has always been gracious hosts, and we were honored to be asked to headline it for the first time this year. As the date closed in, we discovered that we were scheduled to headline a stage sponsored by the US Army's Recruitment Dept. As a band that has worked in counter-​recruitment in the past, we decided it would be hypocritical and inappropriate for us to headline this stage. In addition, we were surprised that a radio station claiming to be familiar with Rise Against thought that we would be ok with the idea that we would play a show and subject our fans to military recruitment tactics in a time of war, a war we adamantly and publicly have opposed since it's bumbled inception. To be clear, this was not an event to honor the military, this was an event that the US ARMY was interested in recruiting people at, and we felt that our fans should be free from that interference at a rock show on a Sunday night in a time of war. Recruiters are a part of the military that even many members of the military will admit their distaste for their documented unethical tactics. We asked if something could be done, and when we were told no, we respectfully bowed out of the unannounced show for obvious reasons, and left it at that. We assumed the station was depending on the financial support of the sponsor and so we held no grudge.
Thinking that was the end of it, the radio station retaliated. In an act reminiscent of McCarthyism witch-hunts, the radio station has come to the unfounded, false and irresponsible conclusion that Rise Against is "against the army" and, as of this morning, has decided to spread this misinformation over the airwaves, threaten to not play songs, and call for a boycott of Rise Against. Listening to the broadcast, we were surprised at willingness of the DJ's to spin off of a lie. At no point did they consider the information simply wasn't true. In addition to a number of lies, they even decided to tell their listeners that we said "F-U to the army" from the stage at past Buzz Bake Sales, something that simply isn't true and that we would never do.
To dignify this ridiculous scare tactic, Rise Against supports the troops and always have. In the past year, Rise Against worked closely with the USO to allow troops and their families to attend our shows with Rancid for free. As our economy spiraled over the summer, we played near about 14 different military bases, making this all possible. We also continue to work closely with the Iraq Veterans Against The War who attended and tabled many Rise Against shows in the last year. We hear from troops overseas on a daily basis through email and cherish that contact. We learned so much in the time we spent with all of these individuals and look forward to doing it again.
Again, Rise Against is against the war. Rise Against is not against the military. It is an insult to the intelligence of Americans to claim they are one in the same. We know our fans know this, all of the amazing troops we've met over the last ten years know this, and that most people can see through the transparent and shameless attacks by this radio station. How someone can be "against" their brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers and neighbors and classmates and the very fans in the front row of our show is beyond us.
That said, we grew up in a time where the decisions and stances that bands took in their career are the things that defined them, and what made them special and respected by fans and media alike. Nobody would have asked Rage Against The Machine to headline this stage. To not respect the decisions and stances of bands across this vast musical landscape puts real music and real musicians in jeopardy. To have radio stations become bullies and threaten the artists they play to conform with their agenda or else face the consequences is something that flys in the face of not only the scene, but of this country. Many of the bands that BUZZ 103 plays on the airwaves carved their name through the stands that they took musically and politically. We need to be wary of those who would bully artists into an agenda set by those who control the airwaves.
If we were to bow to this pressure, we would not be Rise Against. Shame on you BUZZ103 for even asking us to. Last time we checked, supporting the troops involves more than just accepting their money that you need to put on shows. We are sorry to the Rise Against fans who took BUZZ103s word as truth and had to spend the better part of the day believing that we are the monsters the DJs made us out as.
We apologize for this obstacle standing between us and our amazing fans in Florida, we know our fans understand and are confident they would be much more disappointed if we were to go back on our stance and follow through with this show. We will be playing that night elsewhere with a radio station that understands our band and our amazing fanbase. We look forward to making it up to you soon West Palm, we know your radio station doesn't speak for you.
Support The Troops; End The War
-Rise Against
This is what some other musicians and friends of the band had to say in response:
We wanted to share some responses from our peers.
- rise against
"We've found that people in the Armed Forces tend to understand firsthand the value of standing up for what you believe in, so I think they'll respect this decision. They know that there is a huge difference between supporting the troops and supporting the recruitment of young people to fight wars started by politicians. Anyone who knows Rise Against knows how much they care about the troops."
-Jonny 5, FLOBOTS
"Playing Rise Against songs on a stage sponsored by the army is contrary to the beliefs of the very songs.
Militarism is not the solution to the problems we face in this world today. That is the very dialogue that Rise Against is trying to create with their songs and this statement. The fact is that Rise Against care about all men and women, INCLUDING the men and women that serve in the military. We have seen these very people sent in to harm's way without just cause too many time. It is because of this misuse of the US Army, that a band like Rise Against must make this statement."
-Number 2, ANTI-FLAG
"Radio stations like the Buzz have made their name playing artists who think outside of conventional musical paradigms. It's sad that they are undermining their artists' beliefs by bullying them and calling them names when they have a difference of opinion. Implying that a band like Rise Against, truly one of the most compassionate and sincere bands around today, is anti-troop or antiwar, is a bold-faced lie. Rise Against is an American band against a specific US war. Period. That makes them a part of our great national debate AND quite patriotic. "
-Geoff Rickley, THURSDAY
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Tagged: Rise Against
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Well huge props to Rise Against for standing up for what they believe in. I'm in full support for how they handled the situation.
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I completely agree, it shows a maturity that is very refreshing.
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Which BUZZ seems to be lacking... it's a shame they go all butthurt and badmouth Rise Against for, what was in the end, an act to keep the bands integrity.
Rise Against 1 - BUZZ 0
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It's good to see a band that, despite starting to break the mainstream, still haven't sold out.
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this could easily be taken the wrong way though...
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Rather ironic that actually. In their attempt to keep their integrity intact they inadvertently ruined it. While that isn't their fault, and hopefully this post will repair most of it, the fact nevertheless remains that those who do not follow Myspace will not be as forgiving as those who do.
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yeah, sad.
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Mental high five to the Rise Against boys, handled with dignity.
The blowback on this could be rather interesting to watch though
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yawn, no one cares you leftist bastards
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I reckon the guy's in Rise Against should of written the response entirely in Caps Lock Kanye style just in case they didn't make themselves entirely clear.
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I take it u must be a rightist bastard then.
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Very good post, this clears a lot up. They don't need to support a show meant for recruiting for a war they don't support. I'm not sure if the Army really needs to be recruiting at concerts now anyways, the Army and Marine recruiters have been well above their quotas for a while now.
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these guyz r so kool
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Fuck the radio.
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Very well played by the band. Much respect for them for handling the situation with such integrity and grace.
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I was a little confused when I first saw the headline, but yea, well played by the band. Good to see them standing by their beliefs.
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if this was Anti-Flag, they'd be six feet under with their response. Rise Against put it as well as it could be said
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much respect to rise against. a mature response that allowed them to stand for what they believe in.
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Isn't it odd that they support the military but not recruitment?
It's like saying, hey we're totally down with what you guys are doing to defend our country but HEAVEN FORBID if anybody else were to join your ranks under our watch.
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Dear hykinix,
recruiters persuade people who are unsure with their future. There are tons of people in the military that WANT to be in the military and don't have to be recruited. Additionally, the people are being recruited for THIS war, which Rise Against is opposed to.
Sincerely,
IsItLuck?
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Fairest Isitluck,
Fair enough, I did only skim the comments
Regards,
Hykinix
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who cares if you agree with their choice or not or their opinion on the war etc etc. They stood up for their beliefs and that is all that matters.
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While I may not agree with all of their political views, I will give them credit for being consistent in their views, even when it means a loss of money or publicity. Band rocks also.
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Class act.
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right on, good for them, thats the Rise Against I've been a fan of for the last 6 years.
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Awesome.
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That was cool.
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dey stand up 4 wat dey beleeve in
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did you hear? Rise Against are anti-Jew now.
I know it's a shame. but TOTALLY TRUE
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yawn, no one cares you leftist bastards
eatadick
since when does rightist mean you like a gay war and leftist mean you don't
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Ahaha...those who do WANT to be in the military still need to be technically recruited by the army, you don't just wander in, grab your gun and get to training. This thing reaks of hypocrisy and pretension
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its good that rise against is standing up for what they believe in.
that radio station is retarded...
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i love rise against. so many people say they dont like war but would run over hot coals and broken glass to headline anything that could get them money.
intelligence, integrity and maturity. even if u dont like the band u gotta respect them for this.
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Now i'll totally respect them even more if they stop making shitty music
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Crazyfool84,
The way I see it, I think Rise Against isn't against anyone joining the military, just the false pretenses and dirty tactics that recruiters use to get people to join. A recruiter can give you completely false information about pretty much anything, and if you don't go through the papers you sign with a fine-tooth comb and a lawyer (and how many of those 17/18 year olds will actually do that, which something recruiters bank on), you won't know what you're getting yourself into.
Also, like IsItLuck? started on, they target kids directly out of high school who have no direction in life. The subtle boost of self-confidence that recruiters can give by giving the kids a new group of friends (the others that are waiting to go with you) and the not so subtle acts of being "hip" (video games, t-shirts, a recruiter who is cool to hang out with, sponsoring a stage at a local concert) are things that are encouraged and even taught to recruiters to grab kids who have no idea what they're joining before they get there. Yes, a lot of people in the military want to be there, but there's an unsettling amount of people who would've definately gone another direction if they knew exactly what they were getting into.
So I can see their point of view, it's possible to support all the members of the military, and want for those who are there to have joined of their full free will, and not under false pretenses.
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i think they sing great, but this is unacceptable. theyre going out of their way to make sure we dont have people fighting for what is right. maybe no one cares about 9/11 anymore. mabye everyone wants to be eco pansies with their japenese hybrids and say the war is bad. you think its bad to have them fighting for us? if theyre not fighting over there, the terrorists will fight over here blowing up all your puny electric cars. also, I dont care that they are having shows with the uso. if i attend a vegetarian meeting and then leave to go eat some mcChickens at McDonalds, does it make a difference?
rise against disgusts me
buzz 103.1 rocks
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Your fucking retarded then. I'm a conservative, and while I complete disagree with there political views, they make great music and anyone who values their ideals and beliefs over money and everything else gets tremendous respect from me.
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gummy - The military is not even fighting the people responsible for 9/11. 15 of the 19 hijackers are supposedly from Saudi Arabia. There are wars going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. If terrorists were going to come over here and bomb everybody, they would've done it already. Since 9/11, how many terrorist attacks have we even had in the country? I can't remember ever hearing about anything big, so that stupid argument goes right out the window. Based on the article, Rise Against doesn't hate the troops, they hate the war. Big difference.
Your entire post is ignorant bullshit. Or maybe you're just a troll.
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