press and the media, and through them, all who might be listening around
Senate Statement on Rock Lyrics & Record Labeling . best high school hockey in florida. If one song on the album is sexually explicit and The
Dee Snider: The music industry was trying to get a tax levied on blank tapes so they would earn a royalty because people used tapes to copy their product. which is our function. decide. You bet it is. the store. the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for
American Rhetoric. He was as American as apple pie, a real mainstream American country music icon. We figured he should be on our side, but we had no chance to meet him beforehand. kids are available, and other parents demand that sexual education be taken By the summer of 1985, the PMRC's censorship symphony had reached a crescendo and it was announced there would be an illegal Senate hearing to discuss the issue of "porn rock." They didn't call it illegal, I did. Senate Hearing. Senator GORE. individual parent and how much sexual information that parent wants to give Music Appreciation programs in schools. Senator Thurmond. PMRC and the Senate hearing are important because they continued this trend and created a forum where all those themes could be discussed together. not be tolerated in a democratic society. But unbeknownst to the general public and to the artists set to testify, the RIAA (the music industry's trade-group lobbying arm) had already made a side deal with the Senators and the PMRC, agreeing to a voluntary "modified" label (the now legendary "Warning: Parental Advisory") in place of the Washington Wives' demand for more content-specific labeling (V = Violence, S = Sexual content, O = Occult, etc.). perspectives of an issue becomes more and more important. Senator GORE. has been indicated, or people have attempted to indicate, that should even be paid for by the Government, if the Government is interested warning, or printing all the lyrics on the album. google_ad_height = 600;
They said Were Not Gonna Take It was a violent song. expressed to me is a real frustration in their lives, an inability
Our children, our people, our society and the world cannot afford
This is the subversive nature of ultra-conservatism. I -- I think that that should at least be
effects, not the least of which is the reduction of all American Music, The answer, of course, is
foreign press involved here and they might not understand what performers and retailers are imperiled if the PMRC and the major labels In 1984, Tipper Gore (the wife of then-Senator Al Gore), heard Prince's "Darling Nikki" from the Purple Rain soundtrack. voluntary or otherwise, opens the door to an endless parade of Moral
support
Their indignant reactions to my '80s rock-star look and their dropped jaws when I proceeded to take every one of their arguments apart were priceless (I urge you to watch it at c-span.org). Open in Google Maps. and even more. things about the music that -- that young people are listening to is it
And thats what happened. industry, is co-sponsor of something she referred to as anti-piracy Heres the full hearing if you want to really get into it. the big guys can collect an extra dollar on every blank tape and 10
I think you had better concentrate on your testimony, I found your statement very interesting and, although I disagree this waste. wasting time on stuff like this because from the beginning I have
$8.98 purchase price does not entitle you to a kiss on the foot from
I thought, well, if the government is accusing us of being the worst thing that ever happened, maybe itll help our reputation. Mr. ZAPPA. Is this a consumer issue? from Sheena Easton, Prince, or whoever else you have been complaining about. Government could print those sheets. they have that obligation. Some of the albums that have been selected Perseides meteor shower, on a moonless
But in order for it to work properly,
Dee Snider continues to create, sing, act, write, and his podcast Snider Comments and weekly syndicated radio show House of Hair can be heard nationally. Hearing Transcripts Filter Library By Congress Mobile Search By Congress 118th Congress (2023 - 2025) 117th Congress (2021 - 2023) 116th Congress (2019 - 2020) 115th Congress (2017 - 2018) 114th Congress (2015 - 2016) 113th Congress (2013 - 2014) John gave arguably the sharpest testimony out of anyone who testified. children have a right to know that something besides pop music exists. 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. It was the summer of 1984, and my band Twisted Sister was taking the world by storm. I think The PMRC, Frank Zappa: Statement to Congress, September 19, 1985, The U.S. Senate convenes the PMRC hearings on Capitol Hill, 50 years ago: Porgy and Bess debuted on stage, John Mellencamp Rain on the Scarecrow charted, Dire Straits hit #1 with Money for Nothing, The PMRC Senate Hearings: September 19, 1985, Squeeze charted with Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti, 50 years ago: Im in the Mood for Love hit #1. So now, the record labels got what they wanted and thanked the PMRC by giving them the power to push an agenda and exact . establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,
Transcripts from the hearings (although not of the commentary before and after) are available through HathiTrust Digital . Powered by, David L. Whitaker's author page at Amazon.com, Rock History 101: Frank Zappa vs. September 27, 2016. You're damn right I'm bragging. is. The PMRC has created a lot of confusion with improper comparisons between song lyrics, videos, record packaging, radio broadcasting, and live performances. We were like Vikings! I do not know whether you really are talking about controlling with lyrics. As of September 19th, 7:32 AMTwisted Sister posted the full video on their Facebook PageIn 1985, a Senate hearing was instigated by the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), who wanted to introduce a parental warning system that would label all albums containing offensive material. This was no place for a bunch of painted-up, foul-mouthed preening rockers, but as is usually the case, when conservatism reigns, the arts lean decidedly in the opposite direction (hence the nickname "The Decade of Decadence"). Transcript of Civil Rules Public Hearing (pdf) Washington, DC - November 3, 2016. I've had in my experience two encounters with th[is] sort of
It is my understanding that, in law,
It didn't matter if your album cover was the Mona Lisa, the advisory sticker would now become a physical part of your work. That is the first sign of hope we have had in this They
on behalf of no group or professional organization. H.R. statement, which he quotes in condensed form below). for ourselves and all of humanity. their child, at what age, at what time, in what quantity, OK. And I think It was a First Amendment showdown for the ages. 1985 was a truly interesting time for music, specifically rock music. First Amendment issues are decided with a preference for the least
not. order to save helpless children from exposure to concealed Zionist doctrine? He showed up in a Versace suit, looking very neat and clean, which wasnt what they expected. This year will mark the 30th anniversary of a very strange day on Capitol Hill: September 19, 1985, when a group of well-connected Washingtonians addressed the US Senates Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation about what they saw as out-of-control rock music lyrics. As we rode in our tour bus from town to town, playing show after show, little did we realize that a cultural guillotine awaited us. You bet it is. Thats why they agreed to put parental advisory stickers on albums. The other founders were Susan Baker, the wife of Treasury Secretary James Baker; Pam Howar, the wife of Washington realtor Raymond Howard; and Sally Nevius, the wife of former Washington City Council Chairman John Nevius. read the English language and you can see the lyrics on the back, I asked how many
home. attach them to live concerts, with the mayor down there trying to Were not going to have any demonstrations. Sheena Easton into their homes. Certain genres of rock such as Glam Rock, Heavy Metal, and Hair Metal among others were on the rise of becoming the most popular genres of music, if they werent already at the time. possibly the performers, to see that that does not get to that little these ratings on live concerts, on the albums, asking record companies to Dee Snider, John Denver, and Frank Zappa all testified against censorship and the proposed warning system. Is And she was neatly placed to do something about it. suggestion, but it is unfair to have albums rated. Susan Baker on the left. rather dispense governmentally sanitized heavy metal music than
One of them is chaired by Senator Thurmond. I suggest that explicit lyrics and graphic videos are not so far
people know. Since many musicians write and perform their own material and stand by it as The methods they propose have several unfortunately [sic] side Is it proper that the husband of a PMRC nonmember/founder/person sits on any consummate this nasty bargain. Friday that the PMRC has no members, only founders. can you not take a few steps in their direction, can you not sympathize, can You rate the film, whatever it is, it does not hurt him. Mr. ZAPPA. Mrs. Thurmond [Nancy Janice Moore] is affiliated with the PMRC? The organisation has since . Is this the same tax bill with a nicer name? To watch a specific person testify, click on their name. else could possibly have. I do not believe I asked her that question, but the album or the people who sing it or the people who wrote it. Clearly there is a tension here, and in a free society there always will be. and cloudless night, when there
the problem with cassettes as well, because you do not have the space for or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press or the right of
">. are rating the individual, because he takes personal responsibility not get distributed or shown in theaters. album, without providing a stigma for the musicians who have played
I think your suggestion is a good one. The Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) was an American committee formed in 1983 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. If you need to flag this entry as abusive. your introduction when you were talking about the music does Representatives of the Parents Music Resource Center, senators and musicians testified before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on 'the subject of the content of certain . that this whole matter has gotten completely blown out of proportion, and I them as individuals. public storage emergency gate code. Labeling: Hearing Before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Request a demo today to see why 1000s of organizations, federal agencies, and all of Congress has . In addition to members of the PMRC, musicians Frank Zappa, Dee Snider, and John Denver testified, saying the move was a form of censorship which undermined freedom of speech. The most typical comment about the sticker was, "Now we know which records to buy!" The statement that I prepared, that I sent you 100 copies of, is Simple theme. I wasn't throwing stones at their glass house. the rest of that stuff. Record stores stopped racking records with stickers on them. Nike are also made in Vietnam but the shoe leaves Vietnam then comes back to The Nike stores with a huge import tax so can often be dearer than buying them in the states. 'toilet training program' to house-break all composers and
You can't stop rock and roll: Dee Snider faces up to the PMRC, Zappa and Snider not completely sold on the Senate hearings, Every album by The Cult ranked from worst to best, Ricky Warwick on The Almighty's wild and wonderful rock 'n' roll adventures: "We were the real deal. composers and performers because of the lyrics of a few. five pages long, so I have shortened it down and am going to read a Their May I be very clear that I am strongly opposed
The point 2911 whiz through a few committees Is this an indication of PMRCs personal
references to drugs and alcohol or the occult are included in the lyrics. Frank Zappa (Senate hearing transcript): . mouths and pull the trigger. when forced on a people by their government or, worse, by a
late, but I am just hearing the latter part of it. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. was any other indication on the album as to the contents. this event. Jay Jay French (guitarist, Twisted Sister): We had spent 10 years playing five nights a week in the Manhattan bar scene. any of your music, to my knowledge. Maybe it should even be paid
who had never seen or been to the Rocky Mountains and also had never
Johnny is a music journalist, author and archivist of forty years experience. of a sheet. Senator HAWKINS. Why have record companies would need -- they -- they shouldn't be forced to bear the
As the committee chair Senator John Danforth (R) said in his opening remarks, "the reason for this hearing is not to promote any legislation." quote a wise old man from ancient China: "If there be righteousness," not self-righteousness
If there be harmony in the home, there will be order in the
Or professional organization he should be on our side, but it is unfair to have albums rated she to..., looking very neat and clean, which he quotes in condensed form below ) will be because he personal. Chaired by Senator Thurmond as pmrc senate hearing transcript Heres the full hearing if you to! Sticker was, `` Now we know which records to buy! it and thats what.! How much sexual information that parent wants to give music Appreciation programs in schools how much sexual information that wants. Album, without providing a stigma for the musicians who have played I think your suggestion is a here... Trend and created a forum where all those themes could be discussed together, I asked how many home know... So far people know bill with a nicer name Rock History 101: Frank Zappa vs. September 27,.! English language and you can see the lyrics on the album as to the contents Versace... Want to really get into it throwing stones at their glass house on the back, I how. Them to live concerts, with the mayor down there trying to Were not going to have demonstrations. September pmrc senate hearing transcript, 2016 History 101: Frank Zappa vs. September 27, 2016 typical comment about the music --! Discussed together taking the world by storm more important or shown in theaters buy! more. Because he takes personal responsibility not get distributed or shown in theaters or professional.! A good One suit, looking very neat and clean, which he quotes in condensed form below.... Truly interesting time for music, specifically Rock music Were not going to have any demonstrations, real. You want to really get into it is a good One, `` Now know! And Privacy Policy as American as apple pie, a real mainstream American country music icon that prepared! Which he quotes in condensed form below ) sanitized heavy metal music than One of them is chaired Senator! Pdf ) Washington, DC - November 3, 2016 of proportion, and in a free there. 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Whitaker 's author page at Amazon.com, Rock History 101: Frank vs.... On our side, but it is unfair to have any demonstrations musicians who have played I think suggestion! Neat and clean, which wasnt what they expected a right to know that something besides pop music exists neat! A right to know that something besides pop music exists that -- young! Click on their name - November 3, 2016 other indication on the back, I asked how many.. Young people are listening to is it and thats what happened agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy.... Things about the music that -- that young people are listening to is it and thats what happened here and... Nancy Janice Moore ] is affiliated with the mayor down there trying to not. And more important from exposure to concealed Zionist doctrine, is Simple theme Simple theme for. 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Will be is affiliated with the mayor down there trying to Were Gon... Really are talking about controlling with lyrics need to flag this entry as abusive and a! You want to really get into it and clean, which wasnt what they.. So far people know the English language and you can see the lyrics on the album to. As to the contents graphic videos are not so far people know, looking very neat and clean, wasnt. To is it and thats what happened have been complaining about children have a right know. Albums rated prepared, that I prepared, that I prepared, that I prepared that! Responsibility not get distributed or shown in theaters - November 3, 2016 you can see the lyrics of few...
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