Musicians striking chords for their chosen candidates
Originally published in the Rocky Mountain News
Musicians striking chords for their chosen candidates
By Wes Orshoski, Billboard
December 6, 2003
The shortest distance between a presidential candidate and the coveted youth vote still lies in a strong endorsement from a top rock star.
Former President Bill Clinton - arguably the first "rock 'n' roll president" - proved that in 1992 when Fleetwood Mac featured prominently in his campaign.
The lesson hasn't been lost on Democratic presidential hopefuls. In the sweepstakes for artist endorsements, candidates Dennis Kucinich, Howard Dean and John Kerry are leading the pack, according to an informal survey by Billboard.
Among those who have endorsed Kucinich, a congressman, are country music icon Willie Nelson and singer/songwriter Ani DiFranco.
Meanwhile, electronic pioneer Moby, James Taylor and '60s rock icon Stephen Stills of Crosby, Stills & Nash are backing Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry.
Bandmates don't always see eye to eye on candidates. Graham Nash and David Crosby of CSN, for example, are backing former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.
"Nash and I both met Howard Dean and sat down and talked with him for quite a while, each of us," Crosby says. "He was a very bright guy, very reasonable, and he had the fire . . . to be able to handle the job."
Winning an artist's endorsement pays dividends in many ways. Aside from an instant connection with the artist's fans, top acts can be potent fund-raisers. The Eagles and John Mellencamp have played fund-raisers for retired Gen. Wesley Clark.
Nelson has stumped for Kucinich in radio ads that were first aired in Iowa. After noting that he doesn't "usually get too involved in politics," Nelson says in the ad that Kucinich "speaks up for heartland Americans who need a stronger voice."
A fan of Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones and the Grateful Dead, Kerry recently held what he referred to as a "John Kerry Unplugged" event in Boston. Pop Gun 7, a band fronted by Kerry campaign staffer Roger Fisk, featured Moby that night. After Moby left the stage, Kerry, a Vietnam vet, grabbed a guitar and ran through a cover of Springsteen's No Surrender, a song about Vietnam-era soldiers.
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