Showing posts with label Open Letters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Open Letters. Show all posts

Nov 21, 2016

An Open Letter to Ian MacKaye

Been a long time, dude. What’s up? You’ve been keeping a low profile these days, minus the occasional podcast interview – but I’m psyched you’ve still got plenty to say.

But you know, hey – so, I know a lot of folks ask you this all the time… but can we please get Fugazi back?

I know, I know you’re tired of getting asked. I’m confident promoters from all over the world throw piles of money at you or promise to donate the money to whatever charity. You’re a group of men who stand on principle, and that’s rad as hell. Right now, I’m trying to appeal to those principles, too.

I don’t claim that I know the world’s business to an infinitesimal level, but I do know that we need y’all to be one of the voices that resonate to sort this whole mess out. Open up a newspaper, or click open Facebook and people are a goddamned mess. The country pretty much hates one another, and even our comedians are like, “what do we do now?” It’s an odd, surreal time in America.

But, one thing I do know is we could use the power of positivity in our lives right now. What more could we ask for than to be at some youth camp, or YMCA or non-corporate venue and hear that opening bass riff of “Waiting Room” or any classic track off Repeater? We need the voices of our heroes to guide us when the path is clearly just fucked up.

The world needs Fugazi back in the saddle. We’re minus all of the political bands who have something to say. We have no guiding principles, and no one is there to lead us in the selfie-cum-millennial ideology we’re mired in. The world is a dreadful, maudlin place at the moment; it’s downright frightening for a lot of groups. Sure, some folks think the water is fine, but the best art, the bands and artists with real mojo, they need something to hang their hat on, and boy howdy we’ve got the canvas for the next couple of years.

So, please give it a think. We’re waiting, and we’re ready. Come on back.

Thanks,

Your pal,

Robert Dean 


Nov 16, 2016

An Open Letter to Zach De La Rocha



Sup dude. The track you did with Run the Jewels was excellent. Super stoked on it. The stuff you did with the dude from Mars Volta, also badass.

But, dude. We need to talk.

There’s the elephant in the room. You know what it is. I don’t have to spell it out. We’re gonna need you to pick up the phone and give your dudes a call. This Prophets of Rage thing ain’t working. Believe me, we all love Public Enemy and Cypress Hill, but we love Rage Against The Machine more. We need you back on the microphone.

The situation is dire, and there isn’t a better voice in all of music that spits pure acidic bile like yours. For over twenty years, we’ve had Rage Against The Machine as an arbiter, a reality check of what the cultural pulse is, what we’re blind to, and whose hands have blood on them. Have you watched the news lately? We have a situation that requires a swift pen and mighty vengeance illuminating the issues at hand.

When you wrote verses during the Bush and Clinton eras they were siren songs to the masses that couldn’t grasp the world around them. You fell silent, and now, we need that fire back, and we need that vitriol. I know you didn’t write “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” but if those words aren’t poignant as ever, then what is?

Sure, many bands have a lot to say, but few have your megaphone, your stage. We need the world to feel that anger again as the streets are full of protests – who will be the soundtrack? We need Rage Against The Machine.

So, just hit me up or something….

Your pal,
Robert Dean





Nov 14, 2016

An Open Letter to Brody Dalle


Hey Brody. It’s been awhile. Was just wondering what you’ve been up to? Writing any new music? How are the kids?

I’ve got something on my mind. Something a lot of us have on our minds: can we please get the Distillers back? Like, seriously.

Spinerette was cool, and Ghetto Love was a jam. Spinerette was different, and you got some stuff out that needed to get out of your system and we are grateful it exists. The Diploid Love stuff is rad, too.

But, things have changed.

We need the Distillers back. The Distillers were amazing because it was brash, intense and it was without an ounce of bullshit. We need women punk rockers back.

Right now, who are the bands with female lead singers who wore their hearts on their sleeves and didn’t give a single fuck about crossing the line? This was originally going to be a dual letter, but luckily, Kathleen Hannah is back in the saddle with Le Tigre (!!!!).  We need something unique, something bold and something that was right along the lines if discontent in a super scary, super unnerving world – we need a new Distillers record.

You don’t think screaming the lyrics to “Sing Sing Death House” or “Young girl” wouldn’t prove cathartic to a swath of women who are unsure of their very sex and identity in today’s social climate? I’d be willing to be it’d feel damn good. If Glenn can get back together with Jerry Only, I think it’s time for you to dust off the palpable anger and bring us a new batch of anthems that have venom in the bite.

Right now, the music world is missing a few key voices – the anger of the Distillers is one of those voices. Please come back and please give women something to rage about.

Your pal,

Robert Dean 




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*new feature from Robert Dean, but other Farce writers are welcome to join in*

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