Slyngstad | Bluesky

TranscriptA three-panel political comic by Slyngstad highlighting the long history of political activism in music. In the foreground of all three panels, two audience members are seen talking in profile.

Panel 1:

On Stage: A modern musician holding a microphone calls out, “FREE PALESTINE!”

Foreground: One audience member complains, “UGH, WHEN DID MUSICIANS START TO BE SO POLITICAL?”

Panel 2:

On Stage: Freddie Mercury performing at the 1985 Live Aid benefit concert, with the “Live Aid” global logo in the background.

Foreground: The second audience member replies, “START?”

Panel 3:

On Stage: Folk singer Woody Guthrie playing an acoustic guitar with his iconic slogan written across it: “THIS MACHINE KILLS FASCISTS”.

Foreground: The second audience member continues, “MAYBE YOU JUST WEREN’T LISTENING.”

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[–] 11 points 1 month ago (13 children)

Here’s an example of a band being political for the likes, but not living it: Rise Against. I used to have more respect for them, but they’ve been painfully fucking silent on Palestine and the US oligarchy, AI, etc.

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  • [–] 9 points 1 month ago (8 children)

    I saw someone say this about another band I like.

    Do we require every band we like to make a song about every injustice in this world? Or can we celebrate that they stood up against some of them?

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  • [–] -3 points 1 month ago (7 children)

    They have a platform to speak up with, and a politically charged brand that they chose to carry. Now when some of the biggest threats to the world arise, they’re nowhere to be found. It must be nice to be able to just checkout and put blinders on while their fans are all getting fucked by high cost of living, climate change, data centers, and surveillance hell.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 month ago (2 children)

    You demand perfection that you yourself do not have.

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  • [–] -2 points 1 month ago (1 child)

    Why would I ever even claim perfection? I expect nothing. Like I said it’s my observation. I’m not writing some petition or calling them out. I’ve already well moved on.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 month ago

    You have not said that in the previous comments in the thread that I am talking to you in.

    And you are upset they are quiet on the issues you deem most important. You do just come across as bitter and personally upset and wanting those you look up to to match your positions. I will actually move on. You can say whatever but it doesnt make it true.

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  • [–] -1 points 1 month ago (3 children)

    LOL jesus christ. This is exactly why most people come to hate leftists.

    Get some fucking perspective on reality, dude, because your position is completely fucking ridiculous. I just regret that there's no way to know who you are so I can literally laugh directly into your face.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 month ago (2 children)

    Feel however you want. As my profile states, I don’t give a shit about debates.

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  • [–] 7 points 1 month ago* (1 child)

    Ehhh, I think Rise Against gets a pass in this situation. They just haven't been quite as active lately. They released a new album which has songs generically about rebelling against flails arms but they were so so so active during the bush era and during Trump's first term.

    Besides, I think the song Nod is a "nod" to the Palestine genocide but I agree it's a little disappointing that there is not more. I just think that saying they're not "living it" isn't really fair when they are known as political legends.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 month ago (1 child)

    For everyone who saw this comment and started having doubts I looked it up on Wikipedia, and they haven't been completely silent.

    In August 2025, drummer Brandon Barnes wrote on Instagram: "Fuck Netanyahu. Free Palestine. The Israeli government's genocide against the Palestinian people is horrific and unacceptable." [207->https://www.instagram.com/brandonbarnes_ra/p/DN9J1h0j-zd/?hl=en]

    An instagram post by the account brandonbarnes_ra. Black text on a black background reading: "I don't usually use my personal social media for statments like this, but this is something that needs to be said. Fuck Netanyahu. Free Palestine. The Israeli government's genocide against the Palestinian people is horrific and unacceptable. To be clear, I have absolutely zero tolerance for antisemitism, just as I have zero tolerance for what's happening in Palestine." First comment by untamed_delphine is: "I see this post now after rumors of the band being associated with zionism and it makes a huge difference". Second by ellisthooooomas: "THANK YOU BRANDON" with a palestinian flag emoji. The post has 1.2 Hearths and 114 comments. Posted on August 30, 2025

    Also I don't think this is being silent against US oligarchy:

    "We are coming to Minneapolis where the people have heroically stood up against ICE, stood up against Trump, stood up against this terrible rising tide of state terror" Morello said.

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