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Coffee Shop: Were Rise Against right?

Tim Karan on 10/4/09 @ 7:00 AM

Earlier this weekend, news broke that Rise Against had pulled out of playing at a radio festival when they learned the stage was sponsored by the U.S. Army's recruiting department. Morning show DJs for the station proceeded to accuse Rise Against of being "un-American." You can read and hear all the sordid details here. But we wanna know what you think. Were Rise Against right? Do they deserve to be called un-American? Let us know below!

Note: Try to keep it friendly, everyone! Posts that are threatening or obscene will be deleted.

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musicoverdeath Posted 10.04.09 at 12:53PM
I think they have the right to pull out of a show if they don't support the sponsor.

MuzikChik Posted 10.04.09 at 01:01PM
I think RA did the right thing. They are standing up for what they believe in, good on them! I do not think they are unamerican at all. They do not support the recruiting of troops because they do not support the war. That does not mean that they do not support the men and women who are already serving. And I think Buzz should be disgusted with themselves. They dealt with the situation like high schoolers resorting to threats and lies. They think RA need to grow up? I think they need to look in the mirror.

spinfrog Posted 10.04.09 at 01:26PM
So much respect for Rise Against for doing this! Always great to see a band who truly believes in what they sing, and aren't just out to make a buck.

MusicalEclipse Posted 10.04.09 at 01:36PM
I personally don't think that it's un-American of them. Backing out of something that they don't support is just fine.

troybreakdown Posted 10.04.09 at 03:01PM
they were expressing there right as americans to chose what they want to do so in there own little way isnt that pretty patriotic by expressing that right?correct me if im wrong

AlyssaV Posted 10.04.09 at 06:07PM
I think Rise Against did the right thing. I just listened to all of this now, and what I think is most ironic is that in the beginning of those clips, one of the DJs admonished RA for being 'childish' in sticking to their 'anti-corporate' views. However, it seems to me that they hadn't even announced the bands yet, so this whole thing could have been kept private; if the station wished to stop playing RA they could have done so quietly. By airing all this drama, it's the radio station that looks petulant and chagrined. Good for you, Rise Against.

tattedgrl Posted 10.04.09 at 06:43PM
i think they have the right to play where and when they want and for which sponsors they want or not. they clearly support the troops and have made a habit of supporting them, they don't support the war. this is their right as americans. i have two nephews in the military and i support them, not necessisarily the war. just my opinion. :)

damnxdani Posted 10.04.09 at 07:39PM
ABSOLUTELY. just as every person before me said, they have the right to pull out of the show if they don't support whoever is sponsoring it. i also think it was REALLY rude and wrong of the radio dj's to trash the band as much as they did when they didn't know the real motive behind the band's action. i support Rise Against all the way. they've earned even more respect from me and many other fans by sticking to their beliefs instead of compromising just for the sake of making money.

NicolexLikesxSheep Posted 10.04.09 at 08:26PM
I agree with Rise Against. They have the right to pull out of an event if it doesn't agree with what they believe. It doesn't make them un-American. The radio DJ's should feel awful about everything they said and how they acted. Rise Against stayed professional and didn't bad mouth anyone, while the DJ's on the radio sat in a room and trash talked them for an hour. They say RA are children, well how does that make them look? Not supporting the war doesn't make you un-American. It's comforting to know that there are still bands out there who aren't afraid to stand up for what they believe. As much as that radio station tries to say they aren't, they are close minded to other people's beliefs.



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