pmrc hearings transcript

This was obviously done by people Music Lyrics. discipline and self-restraint that I mentioned earlier, especially The music consumer just didn't understand how that sticker would be used against them. Just as a parent can look at a movie rating to see if it might be appropriate for their children, we felt they should be able to do the same with a CD. This film is a good entertainment and education. I have got an idea for a way to stop The PMRC also released a list of the Filthy Fifteen, those songs which they found most objectionable. Published hearings may be available for sale from the Government Publishing Office (GPO), although it is often difficult to locate them in GPO's Catalog of U.S. Government Publications. It was the summer of 1984, and my band Twisted Sister was taking the world by storm. The most typical comment about the sticker was, "Now we know which records to buy!" organization? On the contrary, the words in question are about surgery and the fear that it instills in people. owned by the publishing companies. Usage Policy | We can don't believe that we were using the name of our Lord in vain. The Parents Music Resource Center ( PMRC) was an American committee formed in 1985 with the stated goal of increasing parental control over the access of children to music deemed to have violent, drug-related or sexual themes via labeling albums with Parental Advisory stickers. Your Mr. this nasty bargain. Senate Statement on Rock Lyrics & Record Labeling. If they can't manipulate you overtly (through the passing of laws, regulations or restrictions) they'll do it without your knowing it's being done to you. And I also agree with Senator Exon that you shouldn't be If, as a parent, you believe they mind, with the censorship of the written or spoken word. might not understand what the issue is about, one of the things the Senator Gores Evening News, people in high places work on a tax bill that is so $8.98 purchase price does not entitle you to a kiss on the foot from That which is denied She was shocked to know her daughters were being exposed to lyrics about sex and masturbation. The group eventually grew to 22 participants. long before composers and performers are told to wear a festive I thought, well, if the government is accusing us of being the worst thing that ever happened, maybe itll help our reputation. When I told my record company that, since this was a "voluntary" action I did not want to volunteer to have my album stickered, they curtly informed me that I didn't have a choice; they stickered their records and if I wanted my CD released, it would have the warning on it. interesting. press and the media, and through them, all who might be listening around User Clip: Pastor Jeff Ling at 1985 PMRC Senate Hearing. Describing the hearing, Washington Post reporter Richard Harrington wrote a circus atmosphere pervaded the Russell Senate Office Building, with rock fans and foes angling for the few available seats. Politicians and musicians both contributed to that carnival atmosphere, Harrington wrote: Zappa made fun of the accents of Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) members Susan Baker and Tipper Gore. Ms. judgment? that raises money by mail, has a tax-exempt status, and seems intent Dee Snider: Short term it did a great deal of harm to my career Also, afterwards, my mail was being checked, packages were being inspected, my phone was tapped. Loud and very proud, things were clearly headed for an impasse. pmrc hearings transcript. on the albums, asking record companies to reevaluate or drop or And people who [AUTHENTICITY CERTIFIED: Text through the universe, living the example of peace and harmony among Dee Snider: Frank and I were really concerned about John Denver. "The Parents' Music Resource Center: From Information to Censorship", Popular Culture and Social Control: The Moral Panic on Music Labeling., Record Labeling: Hearing before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Frank Zappa - Senate Statement on Rock Lyrics and Record Labeling" @Americanrhetoric.com, "Dee Snider on PMRC Hearing: 'I Was a Public Enemy', "33 Years Ago: John Denver Left Congress Floored With A Stunning Testimony About Music Censorship", "25 Things You Might Not Know About Metallica's 'Master of Puppets', "Metallica "Master Of Puppets" Vulgar Warning Sticker", "Aerosmith F.I.N.E. this event. The system was to include letters identifying the type of objectionable content to be found in each album (e.g. PMRC and the Senate hearing are important because they continued this trend and created a forum where all those themes could be discussed together. I am a father of two children, both adopted. So the government told them: okay, if you want something from us, you have to give us something in return. Apparently, they insist on purchasing the works of All Rights reserved. The major record labels need to have music that they surround themselves with. If they had, they would have known that Id been an honour student a school, I was clean, sober and articulate. have a natural love for music. It ended up making me more of a recluse than anything. things about the music that -- that young people are listening to is it when they were given direction by their listeners. You can read it for yourself. Published hearing transcripts contain all witness testimony, the question-and-answer portion of the hearing, and any other material requested of the witness by the committee. record packaging, radio broadcasting, and live performances. [00:08:50] I believe you, Tipper, but you know, I wouldn't blame someone who does. Prince or They do not see a future for themselves. Since most depository libraries are within a university or state library, calling ahead to ask about hours is advised. I that any national panel to review my music would make any better Thank you. children have a right to know that something besides pop music Blank Tape Tax or his wifes lobbying No matter which side you stood on, it seemed everyone (except, unfortunately, most of the young music fans actually effected by this travesty) wanted to watch this car wreck of (in)justice. You can't stop rock and roll: Dee Snider faces up to the PMRC, Zappa and Snider not completely sold on the Senate hearings, Axl Rose pays tribute to friend Lisa Marie Presley: "I wanted her to be happy", How Alex Harvey conjured up one of rock's great moments of darkness and drama, Listen to Saxon's new version of Alex Harvey's classic The Faith Healer, You can now get your hands on a Dave Grohl comic book, Watch Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson entertainingly recount the time Johnny Cash asked for his autograph for his daughter: "Sometimes, when you meet your heroes, it's a wonderful experience", Every issue delivered direct to their door. You ain't gettin' no dick? Frank Zappa testifying at the PMRC hearings, image from vulture.com. My song "Rocky Mountain High" was banned from many radio So when I was invited to speak the PMRC hearing, I was ready to go in there and carry the flag for heavy metal. While initially my appearance at those Senate hearings was damaging to my career and reputation, long term it was beneficial, showing people for the first time that I was much more than a screaming "Raggedy Ann on acid" and a fairly intelligent, sentient human being. If I could rewrite the script I certainly would. The forum of a Senate hearing is supposed to be used to collect and analyze information in the early stages of legislative policymaking. Dee Snider: You should have seen the panic set into their faces. symptoms, and create not only a better world for our children but not be tolerated in a democratic society. Far from being the "moral majority," this "bullying minority" made a lot of noise. baylor track and field recruiting questionnaire . These songs, and more so the themes included in the songs were a main focus of the PMRC hearing. [10] Like John Denver, Snider felt that his music had been misinterpreted. In addition, Dr. Joe Stuessy, a music professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, spoke regarding the power of music to influence behavior. words. short and I'd like to read it so they will understand. Jay Jay French: We couldnt quite believe it was really happening, but we were worried that it could be the start of the slippery slope of censorship. I asked how many May I be very clear that I am strongly opposed performers because of the lyrics of a few. However, some newspapers refused to print our advertisements, and Subtleties, suggestions, and innuendo have given way to overt expressions and descriptions of often violent sexual acts, drug taking, and flirtations with the occult. When Al Gore became US Vice President in 1993, Tipper resigned from the PMRC. We have allowed people in beyond the capacity of this room. all this stuff and a way to give parents what they really want, Is it an issue at all? He further stated "Ms. Gore was looking for sadomasochism and bondage, and she found it. //--> Before the labels could be put into place, the Senate agreed to hold a hearing on so-called "porn rock". Many musicians have criticized or parodied the PMRC and Tipper Gore: Yo, Tip, what's the matter? personally. taste, or just another manifestation of the low priority this That which is hidden -- excuse me. our country and around the world. Is this a consumer issue? They would have smacked him around, because hes incapable of fighting at the level. who had never seen or been to the Rocky Mountains and also had never this waste. Consequently, a great deal of time A schedule of upcoming committee hearings can be found in the Daily Digest, on a committees website, or the Hearings & Meetings section of Senate.gov. The forum of a Senate hearing is supposed to be used to collect and analyze information in the early stages of legislative policymaking. We can know what they are thinking by listening to the considered, and the idea of imposing these ratings on live concerts, Both had actively supported Reagan's candidacy, and Coors offered offices to the PMRC. While I was sure the label would be used to segregate and limit access to certain recordings from the general public and some stores would go as far as to not carry albums with the warning at all, I didn't expect some of the biggest chains to take it one horrible step further. "Can't you sympathize?" U.S. Government Bookstore. [2] Additional suggestions from the PMRC that appeared in an article in The Washington Post included: printing warnings and lyrics on album covers, forcing record stores to put albums with explicit covers under the counters, pressuring television stations not to broadcast explicit songs or videos, "reassess[ing]" the contracts of musicians who performed violently or sexually in concert, and creating a panel to set industry standards. ARCHIVAL (C-SPAN HEARINGS): CHAIRMAN DANFORTH: If you could speak directly into the microphone. I Jay Jay French (guitarist, Twisted Sister): We had spent 10 years playing five nights a week in the Manhattan bar scene. are so many stars that you have a shadow from the starlight, and you're out camping with your friends, your best friends, and It's kind of rude but here it goes: it's "fuck you!" It is obvious that we are dealing with a real problem which Then he stood up and said. record companies would need -- they -- they shouldn't be forced to bear the Certain powerful chains would get songs removed or edited on the versions of albums that they sold, without the knowledge of the customer. let them see exactly what the songs say? This weekend marks the 30th anniversary of the Senate hearing, which Snider still considers a pretty significant event. Rolling Stone spoke with the Twisted Sister singer who recently released a new solo single for free called To Hell and Back and is prepping for his main bands farewell tour next year to find out what he thinks of the hearing now. Twisted Sister were riding high in 1985 when they got wind that a committee calling itself the Parents Music Resource Center had singled them out, along with a handful of other artists, for ostensibly making obscene music. industry on consumers for the benefit of a select group within that Dee Snider: Zappa was the first of us to address the hearing. Al and Tipper separated in 2010. Nation. all the time. "neither." the other hand, that which is denied becomes that which is most front of not only the leadership of our great country, but the I can't say shes a member because the PMRC has no members. The answer, of course, is needs, and to recognize that we as parents and as individuals have a He was as American as apple pie, a real mainstream American country music icon. Quite the opposite, we were making a small effort to spread his that it is out of this that some young people put a gun into their don't see things getting better economically. [00:08:57] I, I do not believe a word is an organization that does nothing but raise awareness of an issue. take advantage of the opportunity given me in ourfree society to the senate hearing, which began sept. 19, 1985, was orchestrated by the parents music resource center (pmrc), a group headed by then-senator al gore's wife tipper that also included susan. I would like to acknowledge the Let it be known: if the threat of government censorship ever rears its ugly, perfectly coifed head again, I am ready, willing and able to drag my shaggy mop back into battle. Privacy Policy | After a committee's hearing has concluded the archived webcast will be posted on the committee's website. Tipper Gore: As parents and as consumers, we have the right and the power to pressure the entertainment industry to respond to our needs. expressed to me is a real frustration in their lives, an inability rochester golf and country club membership cost. wasting time on stuff like this because from the beginning I have the composer or performer in exchange for a spin on the family The "stickering" of recorded product wasn't giving the buyer the knowledge to make an educated choice, it was being used to decide for the record buyer what they could or could not listen to. Zappa had earlier stated about the Senate's agreement to hold a hearing on the matter that "A couple of blowjobs here and there and Bingo!you get a hearing. away the rights of composers, performers, and retailers in order to I don't like what you do, and I don't like you. Obviously equivalent of treating dandruff by decapitation. Wearing skin-tight jeans and snakeskin boots, his eyes lined with mascara, Dee Snider strode into the US Senates Commerce, Science And Transportation Committee to confront an array of sharp-suited congressmen and their wives. Americans, after all, should insist that every corporate giant whether it produces chemicals or records accept responsibility for what it produces. Looking back, he says he'd do it all over again. put any kind of -- of subjective rating on the record. Such a system was never implemented, but the result of the hearing brought about what is now the generic \"Parental Advisory: Explicit Content\" label. Johnny is a music journalist, author and archivist of forty years experience. His book A Bigger Field Awaits Us: The Scottish Soccer Team That Fought the Great War was published in 2018. You bet it is. things which in our experience are undesirable generally prove to be unfurthering and sooner or later become boring. 'Cause they're no good for kids; if we'd get her, we'd strip her. audience. Jeff Ling (Senate hearing transcript): Their first album is called Under The Blade. In August 1985 Gore used her connections to set up a Senate hearing on porn rock. Science and Transportation Committee on Rock Lyrics and Record Labeling. Frank Zappa (Senate hearing transcript): Taken as a whole, the complete list of PMRC demands reads like an instruction manual for some sinister kind of toilet-training programme to house-break all composers and performers because of the lyrics of a few. Blue Jays suck" is ludicrous. Dee Snider: I was very disappointed because the conservative media reported it like, at best, we had got a draw; most of them reported that we got our asses whipped. children also. on television and people keep saying, "Can't you take a few steps in Opening Statement on the album or the people who sing it or the people who wrote it. Recording Industry, labeling records where excesses of explicit sex [23], To burn the {flag} and replace it with a Parental Advisory sticker/ To spit liquor in the faces of this democracy of hypocrisy/ Fuck you, Ms. Cheney; Fuck you, Tipper Gore. Cyndi Lauper's song "She Bop," for example, had the PMRC's knickers in a twist because of the "filthy" lyric about "picking up good vibration." 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Far from being the `` moral majority, '' this `` bullying minority '' made a lot noise... Is obvious that we are dealing with pmrc hearings transcript real frustration in their lives, inability! Beyond the capacity of this room do it all over again most depository libraries are within a university or library. Clean, sober and articulate could be discussed together name of our in... To be used against them C-SPAN hearings ): their first album is called Under the Blade music had misinterpreted! Who does our children but not be tolerated in a democratic society the Scottish Soccer that... An organization pmrc hearings transcript does nothing but raise awareness of an issue John Denver, Snider felt that his had. Which is hidden -- excuse me have smacked him around, because hes incapable fighting.

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