"I have four children, and I want them to grow up in a country that has a working First Amendment. " Happy Birthday, Frank . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Prince Rogers Nelson , known to us all simply as Prince , (and for a time, "The Artist" ), has passed away at the age of 57.  Prince was a provocative, often controversial, and always brilliant entertainer, one whose gifts as a musician and willingness to carve his own path awarded him status as either an inspiration or a question mark.  He was essential to the story of Rock 'N' Roll and it's strange that he's no longer with us. A little over thirty years ago, Tipper Gore tried to save us from Prince .  Did you know that?  Long before her husband Al served as Vice President, got ridiculed for "inventing the Internet," and became the spokesman for climate change, she was a Senator's wife who took issue with the music industry's then relaxed stance on lyrical content.  An evidently out of touch mother, Gore purchased a copy of Purple Rain for her daughter who, at the time, wasn't yet a teenager.  And it was with the song "Darling...

"This album contains material which a truly free society would neither fear nor suppress. In some socially retarded areas, religious fanatics and ultra-conservative political organizations violate your First Amendment Rights by attempting to censor rock & roll albums. We feel that this is un-Constitutional and un-American.   As an alternative to these government-supported programs (designed to keep you docile and ignorant), Barking Pumpkin is pleased to provide stimulating digital audio entertainment for those of you who have outgrown the ordinary. The language and concepts contained herein are GUARANTEED NOT TO CAUSE ETERNAL TORMENT IN THE PLACE WHERE THE GUY WITH THE HORNS AND THE POINTED STICK CONDUCTS HIS BUSINESS. This guarantee is as real as the threats of the video fundamentalists who use attacks on rock music in their attempt to transform America into a nation of check-mailing nincompoops (in the name of Jesus Christ). If there is a hell, its fires wait for the...

The inimitable visual genius H.R. Giger has passed away at the age of 74 .  Being one of many who'd found his work remarkable in its complexity, abstract and often-futurist vision and, at times, terrifying realism, the loss is felt.  The man could bring truth to nightmares. While he's best-known for designing the iconic Alien creature and for creating more than a few well-known album covers , Giger became an engaging figure for me once I'd discovered Dead Kennedys and begun to question terms like "morality" and "decency."  His piece, Penis Landscape , (or Work 219: Landscape XX ), had eventually led the Kennedys into a legal battle that would ultimately destroy the band, victims of then-Senator's wife Tipper Gore 's reign of First Amendment assault with her Parents Music Resource Center, a group of "concerned" wives compelled to stigmatize artists for being less then sensitive when it came to their lyrical content. The albu...

In observation of today's massive online Blackout that's being held in protest of the two pieces of online legislation known as the STOP ONLINE PIRACY ACT (SOPA) and the PROTECT IP ACT (PIPA), Letters From A Tapehead will be inactive.  Imposed limitations on free speech by corporate standards on copyright infringement will potentially lead to a censored Internet and can make any content driven site susceptible of accusation without the benefit of due process.  Though I believe Internet piracy to be damaging to the independent musicians, labels and markets that I've staunchly advocated over the years, SOPA and PIPA would likely stifle the efforts of these independent entities, many of whom utilize the online world to promote themselves, their art and businesses outside the realm of mainstream media. Please view the posted links and speak out against SOPA and PIPA.  PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo . "A Technical Ex...

In the same way Google, Twitter and Facebook lead most of us into the perfect storm of links, exits and alcoves along the information superhighway, I wound up reading a blog entry on Tegan and Sara ’s website that criticized, plausibly mind you, the absence of critical resistance to the homophobia and misogyny found in the lyrics of hip-hop artist, Tyler, The Creator . To be completely honest, I really had no interest in checking out Tyler, The Creator before I’d read Sara Quin ’s thoughts. Her accusations roused curiosity, as is usually the case once controversy is sparked or speech in relation to art is given the “moralist” debate. Having now listened to a few of Tyler’s tracks, most notably “Yonkers” from his new album, Goblin , I’m at somewhat of a loss on the response. While I don’t want to be one the many “journalists and colleagues” that “defend, excuse and congratulate Tyler, The Creator,” my kneejerk response is to more or less excuse his derogatory language because I ha...

Poison Open Up and Say... Ahh! Capitol/Enigma 5.3.88 Approved by God. I didn't really care that Bret Michaels was dudded up like some tranny from the Strip. Nor did I care the C. C. DeVille had the Melanie Griffith equivalent of a Brian Setzer pompadour. To be honest, I don't know what it was that pulled me to something the likes of Open Up And Say... Ahh! , except perhaps "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" seemed meaningful at the time. Plus, there was a cute girl slung into black lingerie in the "Fallen Angel" video, which also seemed meaningful at the time. I guess the concepts of diminishing returns from fading relationships and the great potential for failure as the starry-eyed wanderer leaves Hicksville to pursue fame and fortune in L.A. weren't something I was too familiar with, being that I was 11 when this album came out. As far as I knew, Michaels was spouting Nietzsche , though I was at least aware that "Nothin' but a Good Ti...

Parents SHOULD be aware of what their children see or hear. I won’t argue with that. There’s something to be said about the power of hitting a button on a remote control, or turning the dial on the car stereo. There’s something to be said about the power of personal responsibility and the right to exercise that responsibility as you see fit, especially in the interest of a developing and impressionable child. Because, as is always the argument, it’s the children we need to protect from harmful content, right? Isn’t that why PARENTAL ADVISORY is adhered to anything questionable in terms of music, giving parents pause for purchase and giving music consumers the mark of quality? Britney Spears pulled a fast one, apparently, and angered a couple parents. It’s the same story: Unaware mother buys album for young child, young child unknowingly espouses album’s questionable and inappropriate wisdom in front of parent, parent gets outraged, tells world, pseudo-controversial performer goe...