Anti-War Ireland

national anti-war news report


Not since Bob Dylan went electric and Phil Ochs succumbed to his demons has America had a 'protest singer' and songwriter as compelling as David Rovics. Now Rovics, the favoured musical voice of the newly revived US anti-war movement, is doing a short tour of Ireland from February 18th to 26th - and splitting the proceeds with peace activists here. "David Rovics is a guy George W. Bush would probably like to clamp in chains at Guantanamo Bay," says BBC DJ Andy Kershaw. (Rovics has a song about Bush called 'Moron'.) Cindy Sheehan calls Rovics "the peace poet and troubadour for our times". Rovics is visiting Ireland later this month and will play benefit gigs for Anti-War Ireland in Cork and Dublin.

Rovics is so important, and dangerous, because he doesn't produce dour agit-prop, but witty, passionate and tuneful songs that are ripped straight from the headlines (real and imagined), from Halliburton Boardroom Massacre and 'Who Would Jesus Bomb?' to 'Falluja'. The last, told from the point of view of an Iraqi insurgent, features a powerful rap by Professor D of the Dope Poet Society - showing that Rovics is prepared to transcend comfortable, guitar-strumming cliches.

He is also prepared to mock his left-wing listeners, with songs like 'I'm a Better Anarchist than You' and 'Vanguard', which skewers Trotskyist pretensions. Irish audiences will love the affectionate 'Saint Patrick Battalion', about the Irishmen who fought for Mexican freedom in the 1840s.

Rovics, at 38, has released a brilliant collection of CDs on indie labels over the last decade. True to his collectivist principles, however, he makes his songs freely available in high-quality MP3 format via his website.

"Feel free to download these songs," Rovics writes on his Soundclick.com page. "Use them for whatever purpose. Send them to friends, burn them, copy them, play them on the radio, on the internet, wherever."

"Music is the Commons. Ignore the corporate music industry shills who tell you otherwise. Downloading music is not theft, you're not hurting anyone, I promise." Rovics happily accepts donations online and tours nine months a year, performing a wildly entertaining and inspiring show.

He plays at Crane Lane (opposite the GPO) in CORK from 8pm on Tuesday, 20th February; and in Dublin, Lurgan, Sligo, Belfast and Limerick over subsequent nights. (See www.davidrovics.com for details.) Tickets for the Cork gig, a part-benefit for Anti-War Ireland, are priced at an extraordinary E10. All welcome!

On Wednesday, 21st February, he hits DUBLIN, kicking off at 7.30pm upstairs in the Bull & Castle, across the street from Christchurch. Paul O'Toole will be providing support on the night. Tickets for the Dublin gig, a part-benefit for Anti-War Ireland, are priced at E10 (waged) and E5 (unwaged/refugees/etc.). If you feel like giving more on the night, please feel free to do so - the anti-war movement needs your money! Seriously.

Despite his grueling schedule, Rovics has had time for a fascinating personal story of his own, including the terrible death of a close friend who tried to intervene in a gang shootout in 1993 - a trauma which inspired Rovics to pursue his musical career with greater dedication. He is available for interview prior to and during his Irish tour.

Pete Seeger himself put it simply: "Listen to David Rovics."

Anti-War Ireland contacts for further information: Deirdre Clancy (086 1512013); Harry Browne (087 7648065)