If I go to a concert or movie I want to hear the music or watch the show to escape from my current life. If they start talking politics then I’ll just look at the political flyers stack in my mailbox, the political texts, and the endless commercials. I’m not paying for the celebrities political commentary even if it aligns with mine. I just don’t want it.
I mean dude if you go to a show by an artist that IS political, like Green Day or Neil Young, it's part and parcel. You can't ask them to not be themselves, and this shit is obviously important to them.
It's THEIR fucking show. You can just not go if you prefer. I'm sure the performer won't miss you.
This one time I was on a hike with my god and wife, wearing a Neil Young tshirt. This guy approaches me on the hike, telling me he like's Neil Young's music, but at a concert he started talking political, and he didn't want that. He was at a concert. OH, YOU MEAN LIKE RIGHT NOW? LIKE ME E ON THIS HIKE NOT INTERESTED IN YOUR POLITICAL BULLSHIT?
Yeah, but their agenda isn't on the schedule and they are in no position to lecture the public to tell us what to think or feel. Ricky Gervais said it best,
This. I don’t give a damn how much money someone makes, but be intellectually honest. Don’t whine about people having too much money from your literal ivory tower.
No one is complaining about that. It’s the hypocrisy of their current stance vs the obvious political nature of their earlier work plus them trying to shame other acts for being political.
That’s the point. People will continue to sell out Metallica shows and not give a rip about whether you want to hear their political verbal Diahrea. You don’t like that, they don’t give a shit, I don’t give a shit, a so do so many others. Fuck your opinion, my opinion, and everyone else’s, welcome to 2026.
You’re right. It’s dumb to expect that a political musical act will make political commentary part of their stage show. It’s absolute foolishness to think you know what to expect from a concert based on the music of the performer….
Which is exactly why conservatives whining about pop bands saying “Free Palestine” is a stupid take for babies. They couldn’t possibly have an expectation of normal, safe inoffensive music… exactly the way you were valid to be shocked that Bob Dylan had thoughts on things.
No matter what side of the argument you fall on, both sides think you in particular are a dumbass.
I’ve never given a single fuck about any type of political messaging embedded in the lyrics of their music, and by the way genius - music is far more than lyrics. The experience is subjective. Remember how Born in the USA blew up as a patriotic song despite the lyrics being a political criticism of the Vietnam war?
The listener assigns the meaning to a song, and many, many listeners do not go to concerts to be preached to.
Better call your doctor to up your pill dosage before you’re running naked in the streets claiming Metallica and Ed Sheeran are killing palestinians 🤣
Yeah, I remember the longstanding tradition of missing the point of Born in the USA. That’s because I’m a fan of music from the folk tradition. So I’m used to songs about serious issues, and audiences just clapping and laughing and missing the point.
It’s so great when you type out full paragraphs. Really lets the stupid breathe.
You’re genuinely insane for believing that musician = bad if they don’t take a side in a century long war that has nothing to do with them.
Sure, if they were like “fuck Palestine” at their concerts, they are probably trash human beings. But for simply not acknowledging it? Goofy ass logic. These guys are old, they’ve done their part.
Not every person on earth needs to be as deeply invested in issues that aren’t directly impacting them as YOU think they need to be. That’s how mental illness takes root 😉 (and sometimes physical illness)
Believe it or not, the political "bullshit" is actually super important real life stuff. And maybe we should all pay attention to it because it fucking matters.
The thing is, -if they want to do the whole apolitical escapism thing the best way to do that is to simply do their shows and have nothing to say about what other artists do.
The minute they made that statement they were in fact engaging in politicism and they are taking a stance. Albeit a stupid one because why be concerned with what others are up to when you can be doing your own thing?
Have you ever listened to Metallica? They have an album titled 'And Justice for All'. Probably would trigger 3/4 of the people here saying what you are. They have numerous anti-war songs.
Yeah, I don’t need to constantly be surrounded by politics. A lot of times music and television (that isn’t the news) are my escape from all that bullshit. I give you less of my respect and attention when you have to “speak out” or “bring attention” during an unnecessary point in times
I just don’t give a shit if I’m honest. Theres to MUCH going on in the world. It’s impossible to care about it all. Hearing a rock star speak about anything isn’t going to change anyone’s political beliefs or opinions. Judging by the state of America, it’s turned into a game of “I hate you because my party says I should”. I don’t need to hear the opinion from an entertainer that probably posses the same amount of political knowledge I do. Doesn’t do it for me. If I want the opinions from someone, I’ll turn on CNN or Fox.
Exactly, I’m not paying a $100 for a ticket to hear the opinion of someone who didn’t even go to college. I’d rather just forget what’s happening for a few hours.
Yeah I agree. Musicians usually aren’t any more informed or educated about political issues. We don’t need people in the public eye influencing other people merely because they are successful musicians.
So many musicians that have written “powerful” and “meaningful” lyrics did it as inexperienced young adults, many before they are fully formed adults. Let’s not read so much into the meaning of every word they say.
Exactly, and nowadays a lot of these musicians aren’t even writing their lyrics by themselves. I went and checked on a popular (solo) act that gets political at concerts and one of their songs had six different writers for the lyrics.
They’re crafting these messages to appeal to the mass audience. Lot of the most popular songs have upwards of three or more writers.
So if they went to college it’s cool? Tom Morello went to Harvard. Nobody cares what you paid for. If you don’t like it you could always leave. There’s no complaint box on the way out, but I think you’ll be ok.
If I wanted to listen to politics I’d turn on AM radio, if I paid for a concert, I want a fuckin concert and not a lecture on politics. If I wanted both I’d listen to Tom morello.
The college comment was a general comment about the music industry, obviously some musicians are academically gifted as well. But I wouldn’t pay to see Queen play and expect a lecture on astrophysics from Brian May. He may be qualified to give one but I’m there for music and not astrophysics.
The thing is, going out of their way to say "I won't make a political statement" is itself a statement. You know what wouldn't be? Just staying quiet. This is what annoys me, they went out of their way to shit on other artists for taking a stance, when they could have stayed quiet and played their "apolitcal" songs.
But they've already made a political statement. So it's not hypocritical of them to call out others. But saying people should stay quiet, while not staying quiet themselves is different.
Good for you pal. Don’t show up to Rage Against the Machine concert ever, though. And like… a bunch of other artists who also chose to be political. Sounds like their music specifically ain’t for your virgin ears.
“Shut up and dance, monkey” crowd once again missing that nobody invited them specifically to the show, and nobody would care if they’d stayed home instead.
Politics isn’t just a thing that happens on the news. It’s why your teachers teach the way they do. Why your music sounds like it does. Why your commute is what it is, or your job is what it is, or your school is what it is.
No, u. Politics is the art, science, or process of governing a society, making collective decisions, and managing the distribution of power and resources. Imagine being so consumed by the government that you have 0 individuality and nuance at all.
So you think you live independently of society and societal resources? You don’t think the person you are and the things you do are influenced by the way your society is constructed?
The point is, by James Hatfield coming out and saying he’s not going to say anything. IS him saying something. That in and of itself is a political statement. Which is crazy coming from the singers of master of puppets, injustice for all, One, and the list of political songs Metallica has made goes on. James is being a tool. If he really meant what he said. He wouldn’t have grandstanded his position and he actually would have said nothing at all.
One is not political. It's about the human impact of war - not any political stance.
Master of Puppets is a song about drug addiction and the cycle of abuse.
Injustice for all is called and justice for all, and is similarly apolitical in nature.
The only tool here is you, pretending you know a damned thing about the band. And the most hilarious part is that they've written quite a few political songs.
I don’t care what they talk about outside concerts as long its not extreme and racist/sexist/antigay. If they start talking about politics during a show it ruins the concert.
Shinedown said something in their concert the other month about loving each other and I heard complaining thats as far as they went and people were being dicks. Meanwhile staind he will go off on huge rants.
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u/redditname8 6h ago
If I go to a concert or movie I want to hear the music or watch the show to escape from my current life. If they start talking politics then I’ll just look at the political flyers stack in my mailbox, the political texts, and the endless commercials. I’m not paying for the celebrities political commentary even if it aligns with mine. I just don’t want it.