Each had one of the letters of the PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center) painted on their chest a committee led by the wives of American politicians that advocated censoring song lyrics because they believed rock music supported and glorified violence, drug use, and suicide. The musicians remained impassive and as naked as the day they were born for 15 minutes.
On Sunday our band won 2 Grammys for Best Rock Album & Best Metal Performance. We never thought we'd be in these rooms, but we are very grateful to be here. This band has never been about the individual, but rather about a collective searching for a common thread in a world where those threads are being hidden from us.
The cause of this wholesale destruction is, of course, Trump himself, who has ruined America with his "staff of wannabees, people with no experience or talent, closet alcoholic wife beaters [sic], inexperienced leaders who only know how to lie to keep favor with the Trump falseness...," Young contends. The legend musician goes on to ponder as to how exactly we elected "these creeps who have no spine, no values, no conscience, no way to save the USA."
Some of the music videos have captured the trophies of genres, like Tego Calderón's "Abayarde" and Daddy Yankee's "Gasolina," both essentials on any reggaetón playlist. Other visuals were works of activism - like Bad Bunny's "El Apagón - Aquí Vive Gente," the 22-minute music video and investigative short that shed light on the economic crisis that Puerto Ricans continued to face after Hurricane Maria.
The Oscar- and multiple Grammy-winning composer and his band performed Petrichor live during Tuesday's interview; that performance can be heard here [insert VEVO link]. The word petrichor refers to the scent of the earth after the rain, Batiste said, when there's been warm, dry soil for a long time, and then things come back into balance. And right now, we're out of balance the natural life support systems of the planet are under threat.
Before the show, our team feared the sprinklers would spray our "stage" like they did during the set up. Nearby, a crew was disassembling a large stage and heavy construction vehicles beeped constantly. I pleaded with the forewoman to call a short break so we could enjoy this performance without interference. MILCK, aka Connie Lim, waiting patiently to start the set, pulled out a guitar, sat on the ground and entertained the audience until the noise stopped.