“Don’t feel you’ve got to hide” From “Stay Hungry” by Twisted Sister I grew up fearing metalheads. Metalheads can be defined broadly as anyone who is either a fan or performer of heavy metal music. I would see metalheads at school and think that they looked … different. They had piercings, carried chains, wore black …
“We’ve got the right to choose it There ain’t no way we’ll lose it This is our life, this is our song” From “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister Twisted Sister’s 1984 album Stay Hungry was certainly the band’s defining musical statement. Decades later, on the strength of hit songs like “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” “I …
What I Learned From Heavy Metal Champion Dee Snider Read More »
Talked with heavy metal legend and Twisted Sister front man Dee Snider this week and, in retrospect, Twisted Sister’s 1984 album Stay Hungry was sort of a blue print for Hardcore Humanism: Songs like “We’re Not Gonna Take it” were letting people know that the metal community rejects the stereotypes and judgments placed upon it. …
“Happy Days Are Here Again, The Time Is Right For Makin’ Friends, Let’s Get Together, How ‘Bout A Quarter To Ten, Come Tomorrow, Let’s All Do It Again” From “Good Times” by Chic What do we mean when we say “purpose?” In one sense, purpose can simply be a belief or a state of being – a passive …
“A better love you won’t find today” From “I Want Your Love” by Chic I wonder if Carl Rogers and Nile Rodgers ever met. The late Carl Rogers was one of the founders of Humanistic psychology. In a world where Freud was convinced that people were all lascivious, primitive id-mongers and Skinnner proposed that people …
How Nile Rodgers Puts His Utopian Love Into Action Read More »
This week on the Hardcore Humanism Podcast we spoke with musician, songwriter, producer and activist Nile Rodgers. Many people know Nile as the co-founder of Chic, considered one of the best bands of the disco era, with anthems such as “Le Freak,” “Good Times,” and “I Want Your Love.” But Nile was also a co-writer, …
The concept of what it is to be a “rock star” has certainly evolved over the course of my life. When I was growing up, the rock star concept was fairly universal. Simply put, the overwhelming majority of the world lived a fairly conventional existence. We were allowed to party and have fun until we …
“Why do I breathe? Why do I work?” From “Strange Things” by Big Black Steve Albini has lived a punk rock life. Not only is Albini a founding member of seminal punk rock bands such as Big Black and Shellac but he is also founder of Electrical Audio, an independent, DIY studio where he has …
Steve Albini and the Power of the Punk Rock Mind Read More »
Musician, songwriter and recording engineer, Steve Albini is a founding member of seminal punk rock bands Big Black and Shellac as well as founder of Electrical Audio recording studio. He’s been the recording engineer for some of the most essential records in modern history including The Pixies’ Surfer Rosa, The Breeders’ Pod, PJ Harvey’s Rid …
The American Dream is the notion that in the United States, if you work hard, you will prosper and succeed – for many, success means being healthy, getting married, buying a home, having children and advancing your career. This is a wonderful concept and one of the many things that makes our country great. But with systemic …
How Anton Andrew is Paying it Forward and Backward Read More »
