| I know that a title such as the one above is patently | | | | me," could be Metallica's subtle warning to fans to do |
| self-evident and possibly redundant, but has Metallica | | | | some research on their own and not trust anyone |
| recently made a subtle statement on their pro-liberty | | | | using a position of power as a bully pulpit. This would |
| views of the current state of the world? It seems | | | | fit well with Metallica's own statements that they feel |
| they have done just that in their choice of songs to | | | | it inappropriate to use their fame to espouse overtly |
| include in their set lists at the recent Bridge School | | | | political views, and may indicate a distrust of a |
| Benefit in late October, an event at which Metallica | | | | government that used their recordings as tool to |
| played two consecutive nights. In a surprising move, | | | | torture enemy detainees in Iraq, who were unused |
| they opened each night by playing four cover songs | | | | to heavy metal music. |
| which they had never before performed. The choices | | | | This focus on a media out of control and glorifying in |
| of songs that they felt important enough to play, | | | | negative messages is carried through to the next |
| though, gives an indication of what they may be | | | | song on the first night, Garbage's "I'm Only Happy |
| thinking of the war, the state, and life in general in | | | | When it Rains." Lyrics such as "You know I love it |
| these United States of America at the present time. | | | | when the news is bad / And why it feels so good to |
| Metallica have been writing songs with anti-war | | | | feel so sad" indicates a view that revels in bad news |
| messages for over two decades now. An obvious | | | | and a misery loves company attitude. Is this choice |
| example, which they played at the Bridge School | | | | of song Metallica's statement that only being fed |
| Benefit, is "Disposable Heroes," from their Master of | | | | news through the state-influenced media will make |
| Puppets album released in 1986. With lyrics such as | | | | listeners willingly complicit in the negative messages? |
| "Bodies fill the fields I see, hungry heroes end / No | | | | Without a direct statement from the band, of |
| one to play soldier now, no one to pretend," and | | | | course, the conclusion is left to speculation, but the |
| "Bred to kill, not to care / Do just as we say / | | | | overall tone of these first three songs seems to |
| Finished here, greeting death / He's yours to take | | | | show a focus on individuality and a distrust of labeling |
| away," the emphasis is clearly on the disconnect that | | | | and easy answers given by a centrally-controlled |
| soldiers have in killing people they do not know for | | | | source, such as the Old Media or the State. Of |
| reasons given to them from people who care more | | | | course, singer and guitarist James Hetfield was |
| about winning than any moral or personal | | | | himself briefly a subject of the negative news |
| considerations. Similar thoughts are echoed in songs | | | | machine, when he was stopped at an airport and |
| such as "One" about the plight of a soldier who has | | | | reported to be a potentially suspected terrorist, due |
| been left with no limbs to move, or senses to use, | | | | to his beard. If someone who sells 100 million records |
| or way to communicate with the world, and | | | | worldwide can be considered a terrorist and detained |
| therefore no real reason to survive, but who also | | | | at the airport, who is immune? Of course, the |
| lacks the ability to end his life. | | | | message is that no one is not a suspect. |
| A distrust of being controlled and manipulated has | | | | The last two songs are more overtly anti-war than |
| also been a stable message of Metallica dating back | | | | the others previously described. The first is "Veteran |
| at least to the Ride the Lightning album and the song | | | | of the Psychic Wars," by Blue Oyster Cult. this one |
| "Escape." The song that was played at the Bridge | | | | may also be a dual statement on the media |
| School Benefit, though, is a clearer example. "The | | | | manipulations and war itself. Obviously, psychic wars |
| Unforgiven" is the story of an Everyman who, from | | | | going on here at home are just as important as the |
| soon after the time he is born, is controlled | | | | real war in attempting to convince the people that |
| throughout his life. Although he vows "That never | | | | war is useful and going well. Weariness of a war |
| from this day / His will they'll take away," his only | | | | going on far too long, along with an assault on |
| reaction to a life of being controlled is to label his | | | | personal liberty and privacy, is the message of lines |
| controllers dub them unforgiven. HIs battle, though he | | | | such as "But the war's still going on dear / And |
| fights it throughout his life, results in his complete lack | | | | there's no end that I know / And I can't say if we're |
| of care and a regret-filled death. Those controlling the | | | | ever... / I can't say if we're ever gonna to be free," |
| man are never named, but certain characteristics | | | | and "It's time we had a break from it / It's time we |
| point to a "Brave New World" style State conditioning | | | | had some leave." Metallica has covered BOC before |
| the individuality out of the man: "The young boy | | | | on 1998's album "Garage, Inc.," but did not use such |
| learns their rules," "This whipping boy done wrong," | | | | an anti-war song. Again, the band's own personal |
| They dedicate their lives / To running all of his," and | | | | involvement in the war, through the use of their |
| other lyrics, while not eliminating the possibility of | | | | songs as an "enhanced interrogation" technique, and |
| other influences besides the State, seems to point to | | | | the reports of Hetfield being stopped at an airport, |
| a system that aims to train and control people | | | | may indicate their awareness of a need to make as |
| against their will to eradicate their own tendencies to | | | | much of a statement as possible opposing big war |
| better serve the state: "He tries to please them all." | | | | and big government. As the song finally asks, "Did I |
| So, Metallica has demonstrated an attitude, through | | | | hear you say that this is victory?" |
| songs spanning both the Old and New eras of the | | | | The final cover song that Metallica chose to play at |
| band, of being consistently anti-war and anti-state. | | | | the Bridge School Benefit is Dire Straits' "Brothers in |
| Their image, of course, took a big hit on the | | | | Arms." Although the song, throughout most of it, |
| anti-state position with their battle against file-sharing | | | | seems to glorify in the comaraderie of being soldiers |
| software such as Napster, when they relied on | | | | for a common cause, the emphasis on this concept |
| institutions of the state to defend their claim to | | | | of "brothers in arms" is turned on its head in the final |
| intellectual property rights. Having examined Metallica's | | | | lines. The song emphasizes the strength of bonds |
| position on this in great detail, but not having | | | | that are formed "Through these fields of |
| explored the other side of the argument much, I will | | | | destruction," "As the battles raged higher," and "In |
| not try to defend either side in this essay. But | | | | the fear and alarm," which may indicate that strength |
| moving on from this divisive event in the band's | | | | is found in becoming closer to those allies with whom |
| history, we can now explore the statements the | | | | one fights a battle. But, the final lines of the song are |
| band may have been making in their choice of cover | | | | "We're fools to make war / On our brothers in |
| songs to play at the 2007 Bridge School Benefit. | | | | arms," using the same "brothers in arms" line to show |
| The first song played on both nights was Rare | | | | that all humans have common bonds, no matter that |
| Earth's "I Just Want to Celebrate." This song contains | | | | "There's so many different worlds / So many |
| a number of pro-liberty statements, such as "I put | | | | different suns." When individuals go to war for a |
| my faith in the people / But the people let me down | | | | state, they are making war on their own brothers. |
| So I turned the other way / And I carry on, | | | | Individuals, says the song, have more in common |
| anyhow." Of course, this may be a defense of the | | | | amongst themselves than they will ever have with an |
| charge against the band every time an album comes | | | | abstract state. This message is emphasized in the |
| out that they had sold out, but it still illustrates | | | | concert itself as James Hetfield repeats the final lines |
| Metallica's emphasis on individual freedom and not | | | | ("We're fools to make war / On our brothers in |
| caring what the mob thinks. But furthermore, is the | | | | arms") numerous times until the end of the song. |
| line "Had my hand on the dollar bill / And the dollar bill | | | | So, have Metallica's experiences since the war against |
| blew away" another in a string of celebrities decrying | | | | terror began affected their views on war, liberty, or |
| the falling value of the American dollar? Obviously this | | | | the state? It certainly seems as if they have, based |
| is a more subtle message than models wanting to be | | | | on their choice of songs to cover for the Bridge |
| paid in other currencies, and rap stars flashing Euros | | | | School Benefit concerts. Although these ideas have |
| in music videos, but it is a message nonetheless, | | | | been expressed in various Metallica songs throughout |
| especially as Metallica has deep roots in Europe, with | | | | their history, never before have they played a set |
| drummer Lars Ulrich being originally from Denmark. | | | | with such consistent messages. In fact, that is the |
| Nazareth's "Don't Judas Me" is a clearer example of | | | | aspect of the shows that struck me immediately, |
| being pro-liberty, and may even contain some | | | | having read much on the history of Metallica and their |
| accurate assessments of the media and its affects | | | | personal views on issues affecting the world. It is |
| on the American population. "Treat me as you like to | | | | mainly through an artist's work that they |
| be treated" is a seemingly straight-forward | | | | communicate to us and we can communicate with |
| statement that has been analyzed in its various | | | | them, and each concert a band plays is an expression |
| forms for centuries. The choice of this song, in the | | | | of their own communications with their work and the |
| midst of media propaganda about the threat of Iran | | | | work of others. In their choice of cover songs, |
| and a police state out of control with daily taserings | | | | Metallica seems to have laid out a subtle message |
| and intrusive searches at airports, is especially | | | | about their current views of the world and an |
| interesting. "Please don't headshrink me / Don't | | | | anti-war, anti-state stance that has only been |
| disguise your innuendos / Make no lies to me," and | | | | reinforced over the past years with public events, |
| "Please don't number me / Don't betray my trusted | | | | such as the torture issue and the airport, and their |
| promise / Please don't anger me / I find it hard to | | | | own personal reflections. |
| bear no fairness / Don't frustrate me, manipulate | | | | |