Since the launch of Occupy Musicians last month, hundreds of musos, producers, composers and industry insiders have signed onto a statement supporting the aims of the Occupy movement.
A very small sliver of the list includes: Lou Reed, Talib Kweli, Ian MacKaye and Guy Picciotto (Fugazi), Laurie Anderson, Tom Morello, Zack de la Rocha, Akil Talib (Jurassic 5), Liam Finn, Kliph Scurlock (The Flaming Lips) and The Avalanches.
The Occupy Musicians project is a mirror of the very successful work going on at Occupy Writers and Occupy Film Makers, with a similar statement.
Their statement reads
“We, the undersigned musicians and all who will join us, support Occupy Wall Street and the Occupy Movement around the world.
“In addition to the public statement of support, OccupyMusicians will serve as a resource:
• to facilitate performances at Occupy spaces and events
• provide links to media wishing to interview Occupy-supporting musicians
• host testimony and other writings of musicians for why they both are and support the 99 percent
• host embedded media to Occupy-related songs and music videos
• network musicians to Occupy locations and Occupy fund raisers.”
The deluge of support from progressive artists comes just after Thom Yorke and Massive Attack’s 3D gave public interviews at Occupy London, supporting the protesters’ sentiments for a fairer, more ecologically and socially just society.
According to the December 6 Huffington Post, Yorke stated, “The starting point in my head was that film “Inside Job.” Because basically I didn’t understand…I didn’t understand how this stuff works. I didn’t understand how this city works. And then to have a film basically explain to you that there’s a very good reason you don’t understand it. They’ve made it so you don’t understand it so they can carry on and you feel that you’re powerless.
“I feel sad that like with this thing, the way the media will put it across is like, you know, ‘The occupy movement, oh trouble-making blah blah blah.’ And I think it is interesting that there is so much sympathy for it, you know, and it’s obvious why. But people can’t put it together in their heads, you know what i mean? Cause like, it’s the banking system, it’s like the law of God. It’s like, beyond us, you know? We’re not allowed to think about it, you know? I swear to god that most politicians don’t understand the banking system anyway. They’re told to mop up, they just mop up.”
Massive Attack’s 3d echoed these sentiments. “The democratic capitalist system is something I think we’ve all come to realize is one that works. But it hasn’t been used properly. It hasn’t been regulated. And people say, ‘Well that’s human nature.’ But it’s not really. It’s not just about humans being greedy. It’s about the system and the law and not protecting the right people, and not siding with the right people.”
