There is a battle between the Buzz 103.1 radio station and the band Rise Against and now both sides are baring their teeth on a dispute around the 2009 Buzz Bake Sale music festival. Rise Against has been playing the Buzz Bake Sale for years on the side stage. This year they were planned to perform on the main stage, which was being sponsored by the US Army. Rise Against are known for their political lyrics – they are a political band that are vocal about their beliefs not just in song but also in their daily lives. The band decided to give the radio station an ultimatum – drop the Army as a sponsor or Rise Against would not play the festival. The radio station did not agree with those terms and since then the band is now off the lineup.
This is where the real controversy and bad blood starts. The program director Don O at Buzz and the DJs talked about Rise Against’s decision to back out of the festival over the air on September 30, 2009.
You can listen to that here:
Or go to the Buzz 103 site – http://www.buzz103.com/pages/5039974.php
Essentially they thought that the band was being unreasonable and immature for backing out and asking the station to drop the Army. For the station that was an unreasonable request. Don O really thought they should “grow up”. He also mentioned that the band had dropped f-bombs on stage against the Army and other sponsors. His feeling was the band takes issue with corporations and finds that their railing against the very sponsors that pay them to play isn’t very professional. The conversation then leans towards the war and Don O admits he isn’t in support of the war but supports the troops. He states he doesn’t like the band’s attitude and goes on to say he thinks they shouldn’t play their songs because “The message the band sends I don’t think is the right one, that is to not support our troops.”
Tim McIlrath of Rise Against (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Rise Against decided to share their side of the story. You can read that here:
http://www.riseagainst.com/blog/default.aspx
Their rebuttal is that they do not support the war but very much support the troops and their families. They take exception to what they claim as the station and program director Don O’s over the air defamation of the band’s reputation. They also stand by their decision to not play the show and make the point that to do so would go against all the things they believe. They reiterate they support the troops but not the army recruiters. They don’t feel comfortable playing a show in the context of recruiting for an unjust war.
Here is an excerpt from the bands website:
As a band that has worked in counter-recruitment in the past, we decided it would be hypocritical and inappropriate for us to headline this stage. In addition, we were surprised that a radio station claiming to be familiar with Rise Against thought that we would be ok with the idea that we would play a show and subject our fans to military recruitment tactics in a time of war, a war we adamantly and publicly have opposed since it’s bumbled inception. To be clear, this was not an event to honor the military, this was an event that the US ARMY was interested in recruiting people at, and we felt that our fans should be free from that interference at a rock show on a Sunday night in a time of war.
Thinking that was the end of it, the radio station retaliated. In an act reminiscent of McCarthyism witch-hunts, the radio station has come to the unfounded, false and irresponsible conclusion that Rise Against is “against the army” and, as of this morning, has decided to spread this misinformation over the airwaves, threaten to not play songs, and call for a boycott of Rise Against. Listening to the broadcast, we were surprised at willingness of the DJ’s to spin off of a lie.
Rise Against is “Anti Corporate”???? What do they think their Record Label is?? What do they think i tunes is? Who do they think owns the record stores that sell their cd’s??? It’s about time bands like Rise Against stopped dictating WHAT radio stations do….unless, of course, THEY aren’t themselves “Corporate” and #1 – Play for free, #2 Give away their “band Merchandise” – which is a HUGE revenue source for them
Good for John O!!!!
Unfortunatly,Ana, the radio station made up lies to get the fans on their side. RA has neversaid they are “anti-corp”. They do how ever, work toward, and try to influence corps with non-eco-friendy and unfair trade practice to change thier ways of doing buisness. It’s a shame that, like they stated, a radio station that has been playing their music has never taken the time to see what they are really about. I’ve been a fan of this band for over 10 years and been to 11 of their shows. I actually listen to what they say and read about them. As an intellegent person who gives a damn about what is happening to out people, to our government, and our planet, I could not resist being a fan of this band and only wish there were more people with the ability to have a voice of reason as this band does.
Heather… You are my new favorite person. I agree entirely.
Ana…. Seeing as how the American economy depends on coorperations…. It’s inevitable. So, before you attempt to know it all… Research that a bit.
You… you are an idiot.
I do hope you’re talking about the idiot in question – not myself.
I have attended the Buzz 103.1 Bake Sale in WPB FL for the past 4 years always looking forward to seeing Rise Against & many other great bands perform. However, I was very uncomfortable that the U.S. Army Recruiters sponsor this show contributing money, and in return the Recruiters get quick access to thousands of our young kids all in one place in one day. How often do you see the U.S. Army Recruiters supporting an AARP event? The kids come to enjoy the music in search for a quick escape away from the pressures of family, school, and unemployment. Many kids attending this popular event are pumped up on Energy Drinks and/or high from some other substance leaving them defenseless, depressed and lost. Then come into sight the knights in shiny armor, boots & cool camouflage. The Recruiters have tents everywhere with games, freebies and other tactics that draw in these kids. As soon as they get the kids attention they act cool telling the kids how the army is the solution to their problems, with great benefits, paid college, see the world, their dream come true, their escape. It’s sad that what they don’t show the kids is the real truth of coming back from stupid senseless wars with no arms, no legs, no job, no further financial support and no future. I once did an internship at the Veterans (VA) Hospital in Tampa and I will never forget how disheartening it was to see young men & women return from multiple tours of combat physically disfigured & mentally screwed up for the rest of their lives. I’m grateful for our freedom that the soldiers of war have courageously fought.I just don’t agree with the recruiting tactics preying on our young in the cafeterias of our high schools and now rock concerts.RISE AGAINST I greatly applaud your stance to the radio station Buzz 103.1(who by the way are not the “only” rock alternative station in South Florida). Look forward to seeing you back in Florida at another venue albeit one without a U.S. Army Recruiting Banner.
Shame on you buzz.
youre a pretty close minded individual. You act as though there are no military service members that enjoy the work of Rise Against. I am in the Air Force and love their music but lets face it, they’re pretty hypocritical, making music videos against wal-mart but guess where i bought my cd at? Either way, if some kid hopped up on “energy drinks and drugs” decides to talk to a recruiter thats his problem. They dont force you to join anything. In august the marine corp sponsored the Dave Mathews band concert at cruzan, not once was i bothered to do their stupid push up/pull up test. and even if i were, its pretty easy to just say no. P.s. it’s also pretty offensive to say that veterans of the war have no future. grow up.
ok so this may be old but it still upsets me. i am a high school kid who went too bake sale hopped up on energy drinks (nothing else though) and i am enlisted. i enlisted in the armys split op program and i can tell you that from my expierience no kid ever joined cuz of video games at an event from the army. they dont pressure you into anything, and its not like u put your name on a list and woooh of to afgan or iraq you go. enlisting is a very long proccess and leaves time for personal thought. its not always an easy deciscion but its never spur of the moment. so please drop the army recruiters hate. how can you be for our troops and military but against the very way they get into it? people who say they dont support the war but do the troops also dont seem to get the concept. we need a military and we need people in it even if its not going to be you. you think saying you support us really means anything when your so against everything we do? i just wanted to serve my country and do some good when i enlisted, but people like you make me question why sometimes. why try to defend and protect people who just dont care? luckily the thought never lasts…i like the music rise against makes and i respect there deciscion. but please dont go saying the army “preys on our young” thats rediculous. nobody preyed on me, just try to aknowledge that maybe some people have more balls than you and they understand what they are signing up for.
The Buzz is basically a bunch of babies because they’re not getting their way. Are you seriously surprised that a band called ‘Rise Against’ with songs like ‘State of The Union’, ‘Hero Of War’, and ‘Blood-Red, White, and Blue’ is speaking out against the war? I mean, have you ever seen them live? They make their stance against the war, but for the troops very clear. I’m streaming The Buzz right now and they’re talking about girls’ butts. They have 0 credibility when it comes to what is and is not a socially responsible thing to do.
If you don’t like Rise Against, don’t listen to them. But don’t pretend like their anti-Army recruitment stance is any sort of surprise. Maybe if The Buzz was listening to lyrics rather than talking about booties, they’d understand …
Well, atless they will still be playing at TheNextBigThing in Tampa! And Ill like to take a moment and type of a big “**** you” to 301.1 for the crap they tried to pull. I agree with RA that the army has no place there recuiting, which is why they are sponcers.
lol… 103.1
guess there isnt a 301.1
MikePlimer is ripping the piss out of Monbiot. ,