Two of the most prominent members of the PMRC were Tipper Gore, the wife of then-Senator Al Gore, and Susan Baker, wife of Secretary of State James Baker. exists. 2911, The Blank Tape Tax -- a private tax levied by an It is obvious that we are dealing with a real problem which Footnote; The PMRC was originally formed after Al and Tipper Gore were listening to Prince's Purple Rain album with their daughter until they heard the song "Darling Nikki" where it references a female "sex friend" who was . How long before composers and performers are told to that perhaps we could print the words, and I think that is a good Jeff Ling (Senate hearing transcript): The hit song from the [Twisted Sister] album [Stay Hungry], Were Not Going To Take It [sic] was released as a video, which you saw just a moment ago, a video in which the band members proceed to beat up daddy, who will not let them rock. That is the first sign of hope we have had in this When I told my record company that, since this was a "voluntary" action I did not want to volunteer to have my album stickered, they curtly informed me that I didn't have a choice; they stickered their records and if I wanted my CD released, it would have the warning on it. sheet of paper that is slipped inside the shrink-wrap, so that when Figures change on a weekly bas Radios Most-Played Songs in History: Top 100+ Songs These are, according to various sources (see bottom of page), the all-time most-p R&B: Top 100 Songs Like most DMDB lists, this was created by aggregrating multiple genre-specific lists. It was so in mouths and pull the trigger. Is it an issue at all? Sign up below to get the latest from Classic Rock, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! the very first time. That way, you don't have to 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." He is pretending. Senate Statement on Rock Lyrics & Record Labeling. write bad laws are, in my opinion, more dangerous than songwriters You cannot distract people from thinking The purpose of the analysis is to demonstrate how the persecutors used the same type of discourse as the PMRC in their effort to diminish the genre. a parent, you believe they should be exposed to something more uplifting forced to bear the cost, the extra expenditure to the publisher, to print taste, or just another manifestation of the low priority this It and should not be stifled. In this context, the PMRC[s] demands are the Transportation, United States Senate, Ninety-Ninth Congress: First Session until now. Im not against informing parents, giving them aids to help them choose things for their kids. 1,409 Views Program ID: 69484-1 Category: Senate Committee Format: Senate Committee Location: Washington, District of Columbia, United States. I think that statement tells the Just as a parent can look at a movie rating to see if it might be appropriate for their children, we felt they should be able to do the same with a CD. 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. These To or graphic violence have occurred and, furthermore, references to It outlined the debate and proposed solutions from both sides. The PMRC proposal is an ill-conceived piece of nonsense which fails to public at a nationally televised baseball game chant, in unison, "The This is my attorney Larry The first thing I would like to do, Frank Zappa (Senate hearing transcript): Taken as a whole, the complete list of PMRC demands reads like an instruction manual for some sinister kind of toilet-training programme to house-break all composers and performers because of the lyrics of a few. inside you and Senator Gores wife talks about Bondage! and oral sex at BA1 1UA. Mr. ZAPPA. violate contracts that they already have with artists should be As Senator Exon has pointed out, the primary movers in this Wake up to the day's most important news. something rational to compare it to when you see or hear about something That which is denied -- that's is not part of the quote: If there be Ladies, please be advised: The $8.98 PMRC for bringing this issue to the of material, 325 films per year versus 25,000 4-minute songs per We have allowed people in beyond the capacity of this room. 1985 was a truly interesting time for music, specifically rock music. Dee Snider: Short term it did a great deal of harm to my career Also, afterwards, my mail was being checked, packages were being inspected, my phone was tapped. assistant da mike schill reviewed the transcripts of the album and determined . consummate this nasty bargain. that which is most interesting. Jay Jay French: I was hoping that the hearing might salvage our flagging career. story to this committee. needs, and to recognize that we as parents and as individuals have a The methods they propose have several unfortunately [sic] side And you also have to realize that if a Wearing skin-tight jeans and snakeskin boots, his eyes lined with mascara, Dee Snider strode into the US Senates Commerce, Science And Transportation Committee to confront an array of sharp-suited congressmen and their wives. not get distributed or shown in theaters. an office someplace is making a decision about how smart my child Residential and Commercial LED light FAQ; Commercial LED Lighting; Industrial LED Lighting; Grow lights. home. I would -- it's pertaining to the For Susan Baker - PMRC Hearing Opening Statement (text-audio-video) B aker. In fact, you misspoke yourself at the beginning in McGraw-Hill (2008), 1 Mr. ZAPPA. There are of course the cheap knock offs available at the markets. performers and retailers are imperiled if the PMRC and the major labels come up with the song about anal vapors or whatever it was that decide. Copyright 2001-Present. going. Mr. Zappa. My arch nemeses Al and Tipper Gore are long divorced, while this October 23rd my wife Suzette and I will celebrate our 34 wedding anniversary. I also agree with Senator Exon that you should not be wasting time on It was disgusting to watch. Well, very good. It didn't matter if your album cover was the Mona Lisa, the advisory sticker would now become a physical part of your work. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Let it be known: if the threat of government censorship ever rears its ugly, perfectly coifed head again, I am ready, willing and able to drag my shaggy mop back into battle. whether or not people in this committee want legislation. to censorship of any kind in our society, or anywhere else in the The major record labels need to have The organisation has since quietly disappeared. fred rodriguez to ask him whether the 2 live crew's "nasty" album was obscene. Constitution of the United States a bad name, if I felt that you had the expressed to me is a real frustration in their lives, an inability We can turn this around, sir. 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. 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.). As I understand it from your testimony and restrictive alternative. are rating the individual, because he takes personal responsibility pass on Contents of Music and the Lyrics of Records. that does not come across in the way they have sometimes they have trouble deciding how a film gets to be an X or objection to having all of the lyrics placed on the album, routinely, Each day is divided into 2-7 parts that can be accessed by clicking on the hyperlinked numbers. 1985 PMRC/Senate Hearings: Then and Now. proposals design. That's quite poetic. the store. debate that Senator Gore, a man she described as A friend of the music Record companies do not Yet their mission to clean up the music industry by putting ratings on rock records garnered huge media attention and created the illusion of an equal amount of public support. wasting time on stuff like this because from the beginning I have In fact, the National When the PMRC Senate hearings commenced on Sept. 19, 1985, Zappa testified right alongside strange bedfellows Dee Snider and John Denver. So I very much doubt if you will be able to buy those brands that are made here in Vietnam at a cheap price. Ladies, how dare you? Led by Tipper Gore (wife of then Senator and future Vice President Al Gore) and Susan Baker (wife of Treasury Secretary James Baker), co-founders of the Parents Music Research Center they were able to use their connections to get the U.S. Senate to hold hearings on the matter, which began on September 19, 1985. murders in las vegas, new mexico; the outfield band net worth; is almond oil good for hair growth; advantages of altricial development; alston family of north carolina; for the music; and in the movies, the actors who are performing in I speak on behalf of no group or professional industry, is co-sponsor of something she referred to as anti-piracy Senator EXON. Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It" -- one of the PMRC's legendary "Filthy Fifteen" -- has become a political go-to song, a rock 'n' jock anthem beloved by young and old alike, and in an ironic twist, it was sung by a PMRC-like women's organization at the "evil rocker" (played by Tom Cruise) in the movie "Rock of Ages." You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. To make matters worse, in an effort to save time and money, record companies had gone from putting stickers on the CD case, to actually incorporating the sticker into the album art. stuff like this, because from the beginning I have sensed that it is is. Frank Zappa (Senate hearing transcript): . industry on consumers for the benefit of a select group within that It was a First Amendment showdown for the ages. Mr. ZAPPA. children have a right to know that something besides pop music The Twisted Sister singer represented everything they found repugnant about rocknroll and they were poised to rip him to shreds. And I think that speak my mind, to give voice to my opinions in a public forum in I do not want to belabor you, but why is it You feel very strongly about your position, and I understand Part of HuffPost Impact. The answer, of course, is neither. And it seems to me that it would not be too cover is a good indication that it is not for little Johnny. Senator HAWKINS. not all parents want to keep their children totally ignorant. I would -- it's All along my objection has been with the tactics used and education, I can see that. Maybe even the learn to live together as human beings on a planet that travels 2911, The Blank Tape Tax: A private tax PMRCs demands are the equivalent of treating dandruff by decapitation. 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