Yesterday, I was lucky enough to attend the Perth leg of the Big Day Out event. This is an annual alternative music festival, which tours Australia and New Zealand, offering a stellar line-up each year.
Anyway, shortly after I arrived, I moved around to “the blue stage” (stages are colour coded to help you find them) to hear Australian band “Regurgitator” playing their set. Pretty much as soon as I got there, the band’s front-man, Quan Yeomans, began to make references to a blimp floating overhead. He instructed the crowd, presumably as something of a joke, that it was “the latest in Israeli spy technology” and he instructed everyone to turn and face it, give it “the finger” and scream “fuck Israel”. This is, of course, exactly what about the 15,000 odd people watching them did. At that point I lost my motivation to hear any more Regurgitator had to say and went to watch another band.
What bothers me about this isn’t the crowd’s reaction – they would have said anything he’d have told them to, basically. Rather, it’s that Quan wasn’t expressing a political opinion gained through research and understanding of the facts; instead was firing an off-the-cuff remark regarding a deeply divisive situation he knows nothing about (and probably doesn’t even remember saying) and managed to successfully entrench a little more hatred of the Jewish nation into thousands of people.
I don’t have a problem with musicians expressing their political views, when they are based on more than simply jumping on a perceived band-wagon of support. Were someone like Zack de la Rocha, front-man of Rage Against the Machine, who also played the event, to make such a statement about Israel, I’d be disappointed but I’d also accept that he spends his time researching something before making an opinion.
When someone gains the respect of thousands for their artistic capabilities, they need to remember that they’re just that – artists. Being a good musician does not automatically allow you to use your fan-base to spread your prejudices (albeit in this case most likely without intent). Instead, as a role model, you need to be even more careful about what you say.
If a footballer had gone on TV after winning the grand final and asked the crowd to scream abuse at Israel, they’d be outcry (actually, there probably wouldn’t be – but if he picked on any another nation, there would be).
I don’t believe musicians and footballers should be held to the same standards but people need to realise the effect of their remarks. When you add to an already slightly-simmering and ingrained hatred of Jews, you take things that bit closer to serious problems.
As a most pertinent example, the very day before the Big Day Out, while walking home from Shule on Shabbos, a car full of young men mounted the curb at speed, directly next me, forcing me to literally jump out the way, while they yelled anti-Semitic abuse at me. If I hadn’t moved, their car would most likely have hit me, which goes beyond simple name calling and steps up to a more serious offence. This was for no reason other than they saw me as being Jewish.
So I urge Quan and others like him, who wish to use political situations they know little to nothing about, as a grab for cheap popularity, to think first next time.
P.S.
Otherwise, the Big Day Out was, as usual, fantastic. Highlights of the day were undoubtedly Karnivool, who are always a treat to see live and, of course, the mighty Rage Against the Machine.
