Jessica Simpson, in better days
Todd Seavey, old friend and occasional reader of this blog, e-mails to say that state Rep. Jon Woods and Johnny Ramone are hardly the only rock musicians with conservative or GOP sympathies. Just off the top of his head, he lists
“Michael Graves of the Misfits
Ted Nugent
Bob Seger (Buchananite, anti-U.N., as noted in articles and ostensibly hinted in songs like “Lock and Load”)
Pat DiNizio of the Smithereens
Alice Cooper
Danny Elfman
Neil Peart of Rush
Kid Rock
C.C. Deville (of Poison)
James Hetfield (of Metallica)
Dave Mustaine (formerly of Metallica, now Megadeth)
Gene Simmons
Britney Spears (note: insane)
Jessica Simpson
Chaka Khan
Frankie Avalon
Jeff “Skunk” Baxter
and Meat Loaf.
And more country singers, of course, than you can shake a stick at.”
Todd adds that Belinda Carlisle (who released, I think, six solo albums after she left the Go-Gos) married a Reagan administration official, thus breaking the hearts of many men of a certain age. However, she has strong animal rights sympathies, so it’s hard to know what to conclude from this—although Todd adds that he has known some extremely hawkish vegans, no pun intended. Regrettably, a little research reveals that this year Carlisle endorsed, in succession, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for the presidency.
Todd is currently finishing his first book, Conservatism for Punks, which argues that conservatism rightly understood and countercultural movements like rock music share a deep appreciation for individual freedom. Check out his blog, ToddSeavey.com, for incisive (if occasionally eccentric) discussion of the politics of freedom, popular culture, etc.
And now for the Greatest Conservative New Wave Tune of All Time:
On an almost completely unrelated note, I don’t know anything about the politics of Isaac Hayes (singer of “Shaft”, voice of Chef on “South Park”), but I regret to report that he died yesterday.