A part of my job is to bring the news from elsewhere to here and to take back some news from here. . . . You can't change the world singing songs, believe me, but you can offer people an alternative perspective, even on their own situations. So that's what I'm trying to do. |
A song is like a newspaper. It's capable of carrying a number of different messages. Some of them are advertisers, some of them are editorial, some of them are reportage, some of them are sport. So, as a songwriter you can use any of those. |
All musicians start out with ideals but hanging on to them in the face of media scrutiny takes real integrity. . . . Tougher still is to live up to the ideals of your dedicated fans. |
All the great political music was made at the height of political confrontations. |
And just because you're gay, I won't turn you away. If you stick around, I'm sure we can find some common ground. |
And since September 11 and the war with Iraq, I think people are more attuned to music that's got something to say. It's just a shame that such things have to happen for more people to get into it. |
Being spokesman for a generation is the worst job I ever had. |
Being spokesman for a generation is the worst job I ever had. |
I never met a politician who didn't want to be a guitar player in a rock band. I've got the opportunity to say what I believe in. |
Mermaid Avenue Vol. II, |
Protest music was prematurely declared to be unfashionable, |
Read the law. It says transportation. |
That's what I'm about -- getting engaged. Too many people don't wade in the mud with the politicians. |
The thing about Strummer was he walked it like he talked it, ... He didn't cop out. He didn't show one face to the public and have a different face in himself. |
They were the true inheritors of the mantle of The Clash. |