Pick a Day

Music History Events: Music and Politics

November 13, 1995 MC Hammer plays a benefit concert in Moscow supporting the "Our Home Is Russia" party, who are facing opposition in upcoming elections from the Communist party. The communists claim that Hammer symbolizes the wealth disparity and vapid consumerism that Russia should avoid.

August 1, 1994 The Rolling Stones politely refuse an invitation to play at the Bill Clinton White House, though they play his 60th birthday party in 2006.

June 30, 1994 Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam testify before congress to make their case against Ticketmaster - the band couldn't keep ticket prices for a planned tour under $20 because of Ticketmaster's fees, so they decided to cancel it. The hearing draws attention to the issue but nothing comes of it.

April 9, 1994 Pearl Jam visit the White House, where they meet with President Bill Clinton. The band push for reforms to rein in Ticketmaster, while Clinton looks for help crafting an official statement on Kurt Cobain, who was found dead the previous day.

July 14, 1992 Aretha Franklin opens the 1992 Democratic National Convention in New York by singing the US national anthem.

May 18, 1992 Sister Souljah, a rapper associated with the group Public Enemy, is quoted in The Washington Post saying, "If black people kill black people every day, why not have a week and kill white people?" It becomes a big moment in American politics when Bill Clinton denounces the comment, risking support from black voters. Clinton goes on to win the presidential election.

April 6, 1992 George Harrison performs his first full live solo concert since 1969, appearing in London in a benefit for the Natural Law political party.

July 19, 1990 Singer Vicki Carr helps dedicate the Nixon Presidential Library, singing in front of all four living presidents (Nixon, Carter, Reagan, and George H.W. Bush), all of which she had performed for at the White House during their terms.

June 11, 1990 The United Nations appoints Olivia Newton-John its first Goodwill Ambassador to the environment. At first, she uses her position to encourage recycling and avoid chemicals harmful to animals, but later takes a more forceful and controversial stand in opposing fracking, which puts her at odds with the Australian mining industry.

February 12, 1989 Tiny Tim declares his candidacy for mayor of New York City.

February 24, 1988 At a concert in Phoenix, Alice Cooper claims he is running for governor of Arizona, representing the "Wild Party." (A special election was being held to replace Evan Mecham, who had been impeached.) Cooper's slogan: "A troubled man for troubled times."

May 14, 1987 Frank Sinatra, who had played South Africa in the past, suddenly condemns the apartheid regime publicly, referring to president P.W. Botha as "a bum."

April 28, 1987 Ray Charles appears before Congress to urge more funding for hearing research, stating "My eyes are my handicap, but my ears are my opportunity."

November 4, 1986 Soul legend Jerry "Iceman" Butler is elected to the Board of Commissioners in his home district of Cook County in Chicago.

September 19, 1985 Frank Zappa, John Denver and Dee Snider of Twisted Sister testify at a Senate hearing where the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) argue for a ratings system on music. The musicians explain that this is censorship, but the PMRC wins a victory and warning labels are ordered on albums containing explicit lyrics.More

March 25, 1985 Stevie Wonder accepts the Oscar for Best Original Song "in the name of Nelson Mandela."More

April 6, 1983 Ronald Reagan's secretary of the Interior, James Watt, cancels an appearance by The Beach Boys at Washington DC's Independence Day festivities, infamously stating that the band would attract "an undesirable element."

September 22, 1979 Joe Walsh announces his bid for the US presidency (he obviously doesn't win).

July 23, 1979 Iran's new leader, the Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini, bans rock and roll as a corruptive influence on the people, a decision that eventually inspires both the graphic novel Perseopolis and the Clash song "Rock The Casbah."

February 3, 1978 Harry Chapin, who has started an organization to fight hunger called World Hunger Year, meets with US President Jimmy Carter to discuss the project.

September 12, 1977 B.T. Express perform for US President Jimmy Carter at the White House.

August 25, 1977 California governor Jerry Brown appoints singer and longtime environmental activist Helen Reddy to the state's Parks Commission.

January 19, 1977 Charlie Daniels and The Marshall Tucker Band perform at President Jimmy Carter's inauguration ceremonies.

September 8, 1976 Riding the wave of his Frampton Comes Alive! album, Peter Frampton gets invited by President Gerald Ford to spend the day at the White House.

March 22, 1976 While campaigning for US President, Jimmy Carter tells NARM (The National Association of Record Merchandisers) that he listened to Bob Dylan, Grateful Dead, and Led Zeppelin while Governor of Georgia.

October 31, 1975 Southern rockers The Marshall Tucker Band headline a fundraising concert for presidential nominee Jimmy Carter.

November 2, 1974 Stevie Wonder's "You Haven't Done Nothin'," a dig on President Richard Nixon, hits #1 in America.

May 1, 1974 At the request of President Nixon, the Carpenters perform at a state dinner honoring West German Chancellor Willy Brandt.

January 21, 1974 Bob Dylan meets future president Jimmy Carter at a gathering in Georgia, where Carter is serving as governor. "Carter has his heart in the right place," Dylan would later say. "He has a sense of who he is."

June 14, 1972 Actor Warren Beatty organizes his fifth benefit concert for doomed US Presidential candidate George McGovern at Madison Square Garden, featuring, among others, Simon & Garfunkel and Peter, Paul and Mary.