what else is there?
Yoo Ess Ay! Yoo Ess Ay!
And so the B-side to the torture music issue flips to the music community's response to the practice. While many musicians may not even be aware of this instrumentalized use of their songs, Metallica's James Hetfield did comment on the phenomenon to Terry Gross on NPR's Fresh Air. Asked about a BBC report that described his band's music being blared during Iraqi interrogations, he responded with "pride" that his music is "culturally offensive" to Iraqis. Hetfield said that he considers his music "a freedom to express my insanity.... If they're not used to freedom," he said, "I'm glad to be a part of the exposure."
I suppose we can't blame him - no one ever said heavy metal-godhood meant you needed an understanding of history or the subtleties and nuance of culture, your own included.
Anywho, I could never understand Metallica. I understand them less now. Or maybe, I understand them differently. Or maybe I should continue to ignore Metallica and keep listening to Royksopp.
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