Kris Kristofferson on United Farm Workers, activism, and landing a helicopter on Johnny Cash’s lawn

Kris Kristofferson

By Laura Ferreiro

With his deep, gravelly baritone and his acoustic guitar, Kris Kristofferson has championed causes ranging from promoting tolerance to defending human rights for decades. Often described as an outlaw poet, his journey has taken him from Oxford, England where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar, to working as a janitor at Columbia Studios in Nashville in hopes of breaking into the music business.

Since then, Kristofferson has become one of the world’s most respected and prolific singer-songwriters. He formed the country super-group The Highwaymen with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, has penned songs for hundreds of artists including Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Janis Joplin, and has starred in several Hollywood films to boot.

Now, at age 75, he’s as active as ever, and will headline six concerts starting this week to raise funds and awareness for the United Farm Workers (UFW), marking the union’s 50th anniversary. UFW was co-founded by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta in 1962, and works to provide farm workers with health and social services and to ensure fair working conditions.

“I’ve been working with the farm workers for about 30 years,” Kristofferson tells Music for Good. “I started doing it because I could identify with them and I admired Cesar Chavez. I grew up in the lower Rio Grande Valley in Brownsville, Texas and I was told that I spoke Spanish before I spoke English, so I could identify with the Mexican workers and was glad to do something to bring attention to their needs.”

Kristofferson says that witnessing Chavez’s work defending the rights of immigrant workers first-hand greatly inspired him, and he has supported UFW ever since he and the late civil rights activist became friends several decades ago. “The farm workers are doing work that’s needed everywhere and they need help because people pay them as little as they can get away with,” he explains.

The UFW is one of the first Latino organization to come out of the 1960s civil rights movement and the largest farm worker organization in America. Even 50 years later, many farm workers do not receive fair wages and must work and live in substandard and often dangerous conditions. UFW continues to be at the forefront of protecting America’s farm workers, ensuring a safe and just food supply and a safe working environment, free from intimidation and threats to achieve a higher standard of living for the workers and their families.

Kristofferson says that the struggles he’s endured throughout his life and his array of life experiences have helped him relate to the farm workers and become the artist and activist he is today. “I’ve had a lot of different jobs in a lot of different places and been in contact with a lot of human beings, which has made me who I am and affected how I look at the world around me,” he says.

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Peter Frampton, RZA and Judd Apatow team up for 826LA benefit show


By Hilary Gridley

What do Judd Apatow, Peter Frampton, Pee-Wee Herman and Jon Brion have in common? As it turns out, a strong commitment to widespread literacy and children’s creative development. On June 14, musician/producer Jon Brion and famed producer/director/screenwriter Judd Apatow will host Judd and Jon’s Comedy and Music Hour(s), a night of music and comedy at the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica to support 826LA, a nonprofit dedicated to helping kids and teenagers explore their creative talents through writing.

While Apatow’s prominence may suggest the night will steer more toward comedy, the musicians on the bill suggest otherwise. Co-host Jon Brion, who earned a Best Score Soundtrack Album Grammy nomination for the films “Magnolia” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (as well as contributing music to “Boogie Nights”) will welcome Peter Frampton, the singer-songwriter who penned the immortal “Baby, I Love Your Way” in addition to working with acts as diverse as the Bee Gees and Pearl Jam.

RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan, who is widely considered one of the most influential hip-hop artists in musical history and has penned several film scores himself, will also be on hand. Zooey Deschanel, who teamed up with M. Ward to form the band

She & Him, will also join the host committee. This motley crew of musicians will come together to support the next generation of creative writers through a literacy program unlike any other.

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Switchfoot stand up for kids at their Bro-Am music and surfing festival

Switchfoot rile up the crowd at the Bro-Am Festival

By Laura Ferreiro

There’s one day a year that Switchfoot look forward to more than any other. Surpassing even their biggest concerts, award ceremonies, and holidays is Switchfoot’s Bro-Am, which stands out as the highlight of the Southern California band’s year. The one-day music festival and surfing competition — now in its eighth year — allows the band to give back to their fans, their community and support the causes they care about most.

“It’s an amazing event and it’s grown so much in the past eight years,” Switchfoot drummer Chad Butler tells Music for Good. “It really is our favorite day of the year, and the whole San Diego community gets behind it.”

The event is set to take place June 16 at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, California, where the band members surfed as kids, and all proceeds will go to the San Diego chapters of StandUp for Kids, a non-profit that works with at-risk, homeless street kids and aims to end the cycle of youth homelessness.

“Many of these kids have been forced out onto the streets and are living out of a backpack,” says Butler. “It’s a great thing to see people coming together and raising finances for them – letting them know that they matter and their story matters. They come down to the beach and get the chance to play guitar and surf for the first time. And they get a front-row seat at the concert.”

What started out as a small benefit concert and surfing competition has grown into an event with nearly 10,000 attendees and an army of volunteers who help Switchfoot put it together. “We have incredible volunteers who put countless hours into the event—it really strengthens the community,” says Butler. “Working side by side with people who are like-minded and want to see change is an incredible experience in its own right.”

Admission to the event is free, and funds raised from vendors, sponsorships, donations and a pre-event auction will go to StandUp for Kids.

“These kids are put in the spotlight and we get to tell their story,” says Butler, who says it’s incredibly rewarding to see the tremendous progress many kids have made in the years since they started Bro-Am. “There’s a kid named Sean who has been to several Bro-Ams, and he recently got his AA degree and is on his way to becoming a culinary chef. He serves as a mentor to kids who are going through tough time. It’s really encouraging.”

Butler says these kids inspired Switchfoot’s song, “Dark Horses,” on their most recent album, “Vice Verses. “It was inspired by the kids and their determination and not giving up,” he says. “They’re really the under dogs of society and we want to champion them.”

Check out the Switchfoot Bro-Am details and grab your tickets here.

 

MusiCares concert with Alice In Chains, Heart and Mark Lanegan to benefit DJ AM Memorial Fund

By Hilary Gridley

Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein

Addiction is a very real issue many artists struggle to overcome, and having a strong support network can make the all the difference between recovery and relapse. After committing to sobriety, the late DJ AM dedicated himself to helping others struggling with substance abuse before a tragic plane crash left him with severe physical pain and post-traumatic stress disorder. On May 31, MusiCares will honor his memory during its eighth annual MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert with a presentation commemorating the official launch of the DJ AM Memorial Fund.

The DJ AM Memorial Fund will help MusiCares provide a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need by funding addiction recovery services for its clients, supplementing the organization’s resources for helping people cope with financial, medical, and personal emergencies related to addiction. Additionally, by honoring the musical legacy of Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein in conjunction with his commitment to sobriety, the fund aims to help MusiCares clear the stigma associated with addiction and substance abuse.

Thursday’s concert at Club Nokia in Los Angeles will also honor Alice in Chains co-founder Jerry Cantrell, and Sony/ATV Music Publishing Senior Consultant Neil Lasher for their support of MusiCares and their work to further the mission and goals of the organization. Comedian/stuntman Steve-O, himself a recovered addict, will host the event featuring performances by Alice in Chains, Heart, Billy Idol, Mark Lanegan, Duff McKagen’s Loaded, as well as a DJ set by Moby, and more.

Learn more and support the DJ AM Memorial fund here. Tickets are also still available for the benefit concert on May 31 — grab them here.

Tool’s Danny Carey jams with kids at the School of Rock

Tool drummer Danny Carey at the School of Rock West L.A.

By Laura Ferreiro

It’s hard to think of a more heart-warming scene than a 6’5” metal drummer jamming with a bunch of enamored kids. On Friday night, Tool drummer Danny Carey did just that, thrilling a bunch of aspiring young musicians at the School of Rock in West L.A.

Carey – a founding member of one of the world’s biggest rock bands and widely considered a world-class drummer – performed Tool and Led Zeppelin tunes with several long-haired teens who ably filled in on guitar, bass and vocals.

Between jams, Carey fielded questions from the kids and their equally elated parents, and offered advice about becoming a successful musician. “There really are no shortcuts,” Carey said earnestly. “I took drum lessons all my life and practiced, practiced, practiced.”

Carey added that there’s nothing more important for an aspiring musician than perseverance and learning how to collaborate. “Tool’s longevity is largely due to the fact that we always collaborate and split everything four ways. There are no tyrants,” he said.

Carey revealed that Tool have made significant progress on their next album, and said that they currently have “the framework of at least five good songs.” He added that they hope to finish the album by the end of the year.

The drummer also confessed that he was constantly air-drumming when he was a kid, and added that when he finally picked up drum sticks, it felt incredibly natural. As for his favorite Tool song, Carey said he doesn’t have one, but confessed that he has a special affinity for “Rosetta Stoned” because it’s one of the most challenging tunes to play.

This event was part of School of Rock’s guest professor series, which invites established artists to perform with and mentor hopeful young musicians. Previous guest professors have included Jon Anderson and Steve Howe of Yes, Josh Freese, Twiggy Ramirez from Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson, and Mike Watt of the Minutemen and the Stooges.

Made famous in the 2003 movie of the same name starring Jack Black, School of Rock takes a performance-based approach to music lessons, and teaches kids of all ages to play rock instruments including guitar, bass, keyboards and drums, all the while boosting their confidence and allowing them to meet professional musicians and likeminded peers. School of Rock has several branches across the United States and has graduated thousands of kids who have gone on to become musicians.

Bono pledges to use Facebook IPO windfall for African charity work

By Hilary Gridley

What does it take to become the richest rock star in the world? A lot more than a 2.3% stake in Facebook, it turns out. One of the most interesting stories to come out of last week’s Facebook IPO buzz centered around an unlikely focal point: U2 frontman Bono.

Bono is a managing director of Elevation Partners, a private equity firm focused on large-scale investments in media, entertainment and technology businesses that has also invested in companies like Yelp and Palm. The firm reportedly bought 40 million shares of Facebook in 2009 for $90 million. As of Friday, that stake was worth approximately $1.5 billion, causing reporters across the internet to claim the investment would catapult Bono to the top of the world’s richest musicians.

Had the claims been true, the timing could not have been better. President Obama spoke at the Global Food Summit on Friday, announcing a new global partnership  to improve food security around the world by boosting farmers’ incomes and helping 50 million people lift themselves out of poverty before 2022.

Bono’s well known philanthropic work, which has earned numerous Nobel Peace Prize nominations, has always emphasized food security and its role in ending poverty. He also co-founded the ONE Campaign, which aims to increase government funding for and improve international aid programs. Prior to President Obama’s announcement, the campaign called on G8 leaders to implement such a plan, and Bono praised their commitment in an interview with NBC, explaining:

“But what’s key about today’s announcement is that the president of the United States is supporting African ideas on how to fix their problem. There are country-owned, country-devised plans in 30 African countries.  And that’s what it will take to get to that 50 million people taken out of — out of hunger over the next decade.

“So it’s — that’s what’s different. It’s partnership, it’s not the old paternalism. These are sort of horizontal relationships, not vertical ones.”

Bono’s interest in world-changing technology like Facebook is no surprise given his passion for constantly rethinking and improving the way we understand and implement foreign aid programs.

So how much of the $1.5 billion from Facebook will go directly to Bono’s philanthropic efforts? Fortune estimates he will receive no more than $43 million after everything gets split between various partners. No small sum, but certainly not enough to rise above the current richest man in music (and fellow knight), Sir Paul McCartney, valued at over a billion dollars. It isn’t known exactly how much of this will go toward Bono’s charity work, but Rolling Stone reports that he intends to give most of the money raised from this investment to his philanthropic work in Africa. It remains to be seen, but we’re confident that this altruistic frontman will put it to good use.

Red Hot Chili Peppers urge fans to help stop the extradition of environmental activist Paul Watson

By Laura Ferreiro

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are calling for German authorities to stop the extradition of environmental activist Captain Paul Watson to Costa Rica, and have asked their fans to show their support. Watson is the founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which works to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species.

Watson, who was also one of the original founders of Greenpeace, was taken into custody in Frankfurt, Germany on Saturday for allegedly interfering with a Costa Rican shark fishing boat in Guatemalan waters.

The Chili Peppers issued a statement saying that they believe “the arrest of Captain Watson in Germany is in part due to the fact that he uncovered an illegal shark finning operations in Costa Rica.”

Watson was reportedly accused of violating ships traffic when he discovered an illegal shark-finning operation run by the Costa Rican Ship, Varadero. According to Sea Shepherd, they told Varadero’s crew to stop and head to port to be prosecuted. While escorting the Varadero back to port, the tables were turned and a Guatemalan gunboat was dispatched to intercept the Sea Shepherd crew and later arrested Watson.

Red Hot Chili Peppers have been long-time supporters of Sea Shepherd and are encouraging fans to help Captain Watson by supporting the organization’s legal defense and education fund. The LA rockers are also asking fans to learn more about Sea Shepherd by visiting their informational tables that will be set up at all of Chili Peppers’ North American tour dates this year in support of their recent album “I’m With You.”

The Guardian reports that Watson will be released on bail next week, and must stay in Germany while it’s decided whether he’ll be extradited to Costa Rica to stand trial.

Wild in the city: Bronx Zoo gig supports music education

By Hilary Gridley

Nat & Alex Wolff

Someone once said it all happens at the zoo, and Music Unites – a non-profit dedicated to bringing music education to underprivileged children – is proving that to be true.

Music Unites organizes concerts with artists passionate about music education to raise awareness and funding for music programs in inner-city schools. To celebrate its third anniversary, the organization is taking kids out of the classroom and into an even wilder part of the city: the Bronx Zoo.

As part of the zoo’s Animal Tales Extravaganza, a springtime series of weekend activities for kids and families, Music Unites will present a concert designed to bring together national celebrity and budding local talent on June 2. Brothers Nat and Alex Wolff, young stars quickly establishing their own musical careers after rising to fame on Nickelodeon’s “Naked Brothers Band,” will headline the concert, which begins at 12:30 p.m.

It’s unlikely that Nat and Alex have ever played a show “adjacent to Grizzly Bears,” as the schedule of events lays out, but the truly unique part of the show lies in the musicians opening for them: The Music Unites Youth Choir from the Women’s Academy of Excellence, celebrating their debut performance. In addition organizing benefit concerts, Music Unites runs an after-school program at the Women’s Academy of Excellence, a Bronx high school committed to nurturing the intellectual curiosity and creativity of young female scholars.

Music Unites launched the program in January to kick off its Youth Choir Campaign, which the non-profit aim to expand across the five boroughs. Not only are students given the opportunity to explore their musical interests – both vocal and instrumental –  but they receive mentorship from established artists as well. By bringing musicians into the schools they support, the program both provides positive role models for the students and opportunities for artists to perform, teach, and inspire.

You can learn more and support Music Unites’ education programs, mentorship programs, and performances here.

Patti Smith, Tom Morello and Ladytron support Occupy movement with massive comp

By Laura Ferreiro

Ninety-nine artists including Patti Smith, Tom Morello, Yoko Ono, Thievery Corporation, Joan Baez, Mogwai and Ladytron have donated tracks to a forthcoming compilation album titled “Occupy This Album,” which will benefit the Occupy Wall Street movement. The album is due out on May 15 by Music for Occupy through Razor & Tie distribution. According to organizers, all proceeds from sales of the album will go “directly towards the needs of sustaining the growing movement.”

The Occupy movement began in New York City’s Zuccotti Park on September 17, 2011, protesting social and economic inequality. Music for Occupy issued a statement about the compilation that says, “The music of this soundtrack is to represent the 99% through the voices of 99 artists from different genres of music, socioeconomic status, genders, and races from all over the world. Through the beauty of music, the listener gains a prospective of what millions of others throughout this world are feeling, deep within. We hope that the music you hear will inspire you to stand up and allow your voice to be heard while supporting those who already are. Be silent no longer. You have the power. You are our democracy. You are our future. Just get up, stand, smile and sing. You will be heard.”

To celebrate the release of the album, Music for Occupy will host a record release party at New York’s City Winery on May 8 featuring collaborations by artists appearing on the compilation including Nancy Griffith, Michael Moore and Immortal Technique. Tickets for the event are available here for $99 and include a special bottle of “Occupy This Wine” cabernet.

What’s more, to commemorate May Day last week, Morello — who has been an outspoken advocate for the movement — gathered thousands of guitarists he dubbed his “guitarmy” at New York City’s Bryant Park in support of the Occupy Wall Street May Day protests.

“Occupy This Album” can be pre-ordered here.

The Shins, Death Cab for Cutie team up with HeadCount.org to register voters this election year

By Laura Ferreiro

Death Cab For Cutie, Andrew Bird and The Shins are among the artists who have invited HeadCount.org to join them on tour to register voters this election year.

HeadCount has worked with renowned artists for several years to register voters at concerts and make civic participation a part of the live music experience. “We usually register voters 200 to 300 at each concert,” Andy Bernstein, executive director of HeadCount, tells Music for Good.

The organization is recruiting volunteers in cities throughout the U.S. to work at concerts to encourage young people to register to vote and participate in upcoming elections. With the 2012 presidential election on the horizon, HeadCount is stepping up its efforts and will have volunteers on the ground at Wilco, Bonnie Raitt, Drive By Truckers, the Dave Matthews Band, Phish concerts and more leading up to the November election.

“We hope to register 100,000 voters this year,” says Bernstein. “We really want to make the election a cultural event, not just a political event. Concerts are a great bridge for doing this.”

HeadCount will also have a massive presence at the Hang Out Festival May 18-20 in Gulf Shores, Alabama, which will be headlined by Jack White, the Flaming Lips, the Dave Matthews Band and Skrillex. They recently offered the chance to bid on a package of two VIP passes to the festival and a meet and greet with Grace Potter and Widespread Panic Bassist Dave Schools.

Bernstein points out that HeadCount goes beyond registering voters and encourages civic participation on many levels. The organization recently encouraged people to write to their senators to let them know how they feel about climate change, and gave away a free download of the “Best of Bonnaroo” compilation to those who contacted their representatives. “Causes like this really fit with the values of the music world,” Bernstein says. “Our guiding force has always been, ‘What can we do to support the values of the musicians and their fans?’”

To find out more about HeadCount.org or to volunteer at an upcoming concert, click here.