Music Causes Violence? (And Why Martin Bashir Is An Asshole)

The Insane Clown Posse is a guilty pleasure of mine, I went to a Job Corps and this is where I was introduced to them. Their fans seemed a bit dorky in their obsession but, all around, were not bad guys and gals. Actually, some of the kindest people I've met in recent years have all been Juggalos. So to my surprise the Job Corps staff, in their infinite wisdom decided to ban all ICP CD's, merchandise and "Paraphernalia" because as we all know violent music, especially those of two men painted as clowns, would not only cause violent behavior in fans but organize them into a massive and covert crime syndicate that every High School in the America fears.

"Its the question they've been asking since day one [does music cause violence?]" said Violent J to Martin Bashir, at this point Bashir, the guy who did the infamous Michael Jackson interview a few years back ("I am peter pan") has been trying to connect the music of Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope to the violent actions of a tiny minority of their fan base for about 20 minutes. Im glad ICP had the presence of mind to record the interview for themselves, the interview as a whole reeked on Bashir's part of intent to run off with the footage and cut the shit out of it to make ICP seem like the ringleaders of the crime empire middle America wants them to be, or at the very least stupid.

That would be just perfect, right? If it turned out that ICP really were the reason kids smoke pot, drink on the weekends, have premarital sex and fight, steal and commit crime? If Marilyn Manson really was the reason two teenagers killed 13 people at their high school then themselves? If the Beatles really were the reason Charlie Manson had a bunch of brainwashed kids murder several people?

Something about the American way of thinking makes us blame. As a knee jerk reaction Americans see teenagers committing crime, they don't pay attention to the school they go to, their grades, their home life or dozens of other sociological explanations: they pay attention to the t-shirt the kid is wearing.

It seems Americans can be short sighted and stupid when it comes to these things. Take Columbine for example: we have two teenagers, two painfully average kids, who after an early morning bowling session go to school and kill a whole bunch of people. Oh, my! how could this be? was it because they wore trench coats? was it because they may or may not of been fans of Marilyn Manson? No, you Ignorant fuck, where do you think you are? The fifties? Elvis Presley caused as big of a shit storm back in the day then Marilyn Manson ever did in the 90's. Maybe it was the fact that these kids had been chronically bullied? on top of severe undiagnosed personality disorders? on top of the fact that their fucking parents weren't paying any attention? No, that would mean personal accountability of the community that let it happen. Didn't reach out to these kids. Didn't try and help them.

Now, that might have struck you as mightily insensitive. No one deserves a mass murder in their home town. But really, do we honestly believe we can can blame music for all the shitty things about our society? Martin Bashir would have you believe so. But then again, he's just selling ad space.

"Raise your kids better or I’ll be raising them for you."
- Marilyn Manson

You Tube video of the ICP interview

(Written under the influence of Soundgarden and Nine Inch Nails)