Police Spying on American Muslims Is a Pointless National Shame

An American Muslim man prays at a New York City mosque.Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images

Civil liberties groups led by the Muslim American Civil Liberties Coalition released a new report today detailing the detrimental effects of the NYPD's spying on Muslim communities in recent years. The report, called Mapping Muslims: NYPD Spying and its Impact on American Muslims, alleges that more than a decade of surveillance of Muslims throughout the Northeast "has chilled constitutionally protected rights – curtailing religious practice, censoring speech and stunting political organizing." They describe their communities as being under "a pervasive climate of fear and suspicion" that affects "every aspect of individual and community life."

The report combines publicly available documentation about the NYPD's snooping regime – including the Associated Press' groundbreaking investigations into the department's Demographics Unit – with original interviews of 57 Muslims in New York City. But the significance of this report reaches far beyond New York's Muslim community – and even beyond the American Muslim community at large. The authors have provided a needed rebuttal to the common argument that surveillance isn't a problem if you have nothing to hide, and that spying itself is essentially value-neutral so long as you don't become a target of an investigation. The Muslims interviewed in the report describe a terrifying reality where trust and privacy are virtually impossible, and where lives are severely harmed by spying alone.

The New Political Prisoners: Leakers, Hackers and Activists

The pervasive spying regime has effectively intimidated many would-be critics. "Many of the Shi'a organizations who were approached by activists to speak up or speak out were hesitant to do so," says community organizer Ali Naquvi in the report. "A lot of it seems to be fear. They don't want to be targeted for additional surveillance." Discouraging this legitimate, constitutionally protected behavior isn't simply an unfortunate by-product of total surveillance, but rather a primary and predictable outcome. As anyone who has ever suspected themselves of being under surveillance will tell you, that fear changes the way you think and act. Instilling such fears is an extremely effective form of social control. And whether limiting civil rights and liberties in this way was the stated aim of the Intelligence Division doesn't really matter. That has been the effect – one that was entirely foreseeable.

So what has all this surveillance, this so-called "intelligence gathering," gotten us? A terrorized local Muslim population, a police department that grossly exaggerates the terror plots it has disrupted and a crown jewel investigation of a troubled man named Ahmed Ferhani that was so problematic even the FBI – recently dubbed "the terror factory" by one author because of its role in manufacturing plots that its own agents then disrupt – wanted nothing to do with it. And as the report reminds us, Thomas Galati, the commanding officer of the NYPD's Intelligence Division, "admitted during sworn testimony that in the six years of his tenure, the unit tasked with monitoring American Muslim life had not yielded a single criminal lead."

While Muslims in the Northeast are the people most directly affected by this surveillance, it is a national problem – both in the sense that all of our rights are infringed if anyone's are, but also in a more concrete way. The state's capacity for surveillance is already enormous, and will only expand as technologies, including domestic drones, continue to increase in sophistication. When total surveillance of one population becomes normalized, we are all at a greater risk of being illegally spied on. This report is an important document that illustrates just how damaging that can be.

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Beyonce Sings National Anthem Live at Super Bowl Press Conference

Beyonce Sings National Anthem Live at Super Bowl Press Conference'Any questions?' pop star says with a laugh $(document).ready(function() { $('.socialActionsTop .pageActions .email-content').hover( function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.email').show(); }, function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.email').hide(); } ); $('.socialActionsTop .pageActions .print-page').hover( function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.print').show(); }, function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.print').hide(); } ); }); By

Beyoncé opened a Super Bowl press conference on Thursday afternoon in New Orleans with a rousing rendition of the national anthem – and this time it was definitely live. After a rapturous round of applause by the media in attendance, the singer took questions about her upcoming Super Bowl gig as well as her controversial lip-syncing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at President Obama's second inauguration last week.

"I am a perfectionist. One thing about me, I practice until my feet bleed, and I did not have time to rehearse with the orchestra," Beyoncé said. "It was a live television show and a very, very important, emotional show for me – one of my proudest moments. Due to the weather, due to the delay, due to no proper sound check, I did not feel comfortable taking a risk. It was about my president and the inauguration, and I did not want to take away from that. I decided to go with a pre-recorded track, which is very common in the music industry. And I am very proud of my performance."

Readers' Poll: The Greatest Super Bowl Halftime Shows

Beyoncé added that she will be "absolutely singing live" at her Super Bowl performance this coming Sunday. "I am well rehearsed. I will absolutely be singing live. This is what I was born to do." 

She stayed mum on the details of her halftime show performance, particularly whether she would be joined by Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams for a Destiny's Child reunion. "I can't really give you any details, I'm sorry," she said, though she did comment on the recent release of "Nuclear," Destiny's Child's first song in eight years. "I was so excited to hear us together again. I just kind of dropped on the floor and felt like a little teenager again when I heard us harmonize. There's nothing like the sisterhood we have."

Asked whether she has any plans to tour in conjuction with her new album on the horizon, Beyoncé teased: "Soon. I may have an announcement after the [Super Bowl] performance and the fans should just stay tuned."

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Beyonce Sings National Anthem Live at Super Bowl Press Conference

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Beyoncé opened a Super Bowl press conference on Thursday afternoon in New Orleans with a rousing rendition of the national anthem – and this time it was definitely live. After a rapturous round of applause by the media in attendance, the singer took questions about her upcoming Super Bowl gig as well as her controversial lip-syncing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at President Obama's second inauguration last week.

"I am a perfectionist. One thing about me, I practice until my feet bleed, and I did not have time to rehearse with the orchestra," Beyoncé said. "It was a live television show and a very, very important, emotional show for me – one of my proudest moments. Due to the weather, due to the delay, due to no proper sound check, I did not feel comfortable taking a risk. It was about my president and the inauguration, and I did not want to take away from that. I decided to go with a pre-recorded track, which is very common in the music industry. And I am very proud of my performance."

Readers' Poll: The Greatest Super Bowl Halftime Shows

Beyoncé added that she will be "absolutely singing live" at her Super Bowl performance this coming Sunday. "I am well rehearsed. I will absolutely be singing live. This is what I was born to do." 

She stayed mum on the details of her halftime show performance, particularly whether she would be joined by Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams for a Destiny's Child reunion. "I can't really give you any details, I'm sorry," she said, though she did comment on the recent release of "Nuclear," Destiny's Child's first song in eight years. "I was so excited to hear us together again. I just kind of dropped on the floor and felt like a little teenager again when I heard us harmonize. There's nothing like the sisterhood we have."

Asked whether she has any plans to tour in conjuction with her new album on the horizon, Beyoncé teased: "Soon. I may have an announcement after the [Super Bowl] performance and the fans should just stay tuned."

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Tom Petty 'Got Chills' When Democratic National Convention Played 'Won't Back Down'

From Silversun Pickups to Twisted Sister, artists have been lamenting the use of their music by Republicans in the 2012 presidential campaign. Tom Petty can relate. "I've been on the wrong side where I've had to tell some candidates to stop using my music," he told Rolling Stone on the MTV VMAs red carpet.

But Petty was pleasantly surprised on Wednesday night, when his song "I Won't Back Down" played as President Obama walked onstage at the Democratic National Convention, after former President Bill Clinton's speech. "I got chills," said Petty. "They knew it would be okay. I've had a chance to meet the President and talk to him about the music he listens to."

Photos: 2012 MTV VMAs Red Carpet

Petty was on hand at the VMAs with his daughter and music video director Adria, who scored four nominations for Moonmen this year thanks to her work on Regina Spektor's "All the Rowboats" and Coldplay and Rihanna's "Princess of China."

"I've pretty much worked with most of my heroes," gushed Adria, who was joined on the red carpet by not only her dad, but Spektor. "I'm here and even got a nomination for her work," said a grateful Spektor. 

Like Adria, the elder Petty established himself as a director back in the day with iconic visuals for his own tunes, "Don't Come Around Here No More" and "Mary Jane's Last Dance." Might his own daughter helm a clip for him one day? "I've pretty much retired from music videos," Petty demurred, suggesting an alternative: "Bono, if you're listening, I think you should make a music video with my daughter ."

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The National and Chris Cornell Open for Obama at Iowa Rally

The National warm up the crowd before President Barack Obama's arrival at Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa.Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post

The National and Chris Cornell kicked off a campaign rally for President Barack Obama on Saturday afternoon outside Des Moines, the Times-Delphic reports. A crowd of 10,000 people had gathered for the free outdoor event at Urbandale's Living History Farms, where the president was due to speak.

In a tweet announcing their appearance earlier in the week, the National declared themselves "Proud to support @BarackObama again in 2012." Now veterans on the Obama campaign trail, the band had played at a Cincinnati rally for the candidate in 2008 as well as at a speech the President gave in Madison, Wisconsin, before the 2010 mid-term election. Their five-song set at the Iowa event ended with "Mr. November," a hit whose title had appeared on a t-shirt that the band sold to benefit the Obama campaign in 2008.

After a few speeches, Chris Cornell took the stage with a set that mixed Audioslave and Temple of the Dog songs with a number of apt covers, including "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding" and "Imagine."

The Des Moines rally was Obama's second appearance in the swing state in one week, followed shortly by a third event in Sioux City later the same evening.

"I think that we have a lot of support from a lot of industries and that includes music," a spokesperson for the campaign told the Times-Delphic. "This event in itself shows how much the President cares about Iowa and the bands are just a part of it."

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The National and Chris Cornell Open for Obama at Iowa Rally

The National warm up the crowd before President Barack Obama's arrival at Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa.Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post

The National and Chris Cornell kicked off a campaign rally for President Barack Obama on Saturday afternoon outside Des Moines, the Times-Delphic reports. A crowd of 10,000 people had gathered for the free outdoor event at Urbandale's Living History Farms, where the president was due to speak.

In a tweet announcing their appearance earlier in the week, the National declared themselves "Proud to support @BarackObama again in 2012." Now veterans on the Obama campaign trail, the band had played at a Cincinnati rally for the candidate in 2008 as well as at a speech the President gave in Madison, Wisconsin, before the 2010 mid-term election. Their five-song set at the Iowa event ended with "Mr. November," a hit whose title had appeared on a t-shirt that the band sold to benefit the Obama campaign in 2008.

After a few speeches, Chris Cornell took the stage with a set that mixed Audioslave and Temple of the Dog songs with a number of apt covers, including "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding" and "Imagine."

The Des Moines rally was Obama's second appearance in the swing state in one week, followed shortly by a third event in Sioux City later the same evening.

"I think that we have a lot of support from a lot of industries and that includes music," a spokesperson for the campaign told the Times-Delphic. "This event in itself shows how much the President cares about Iowa and the bands are just a part of it."

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Journey, Kid Rock and More Set to Play Republican National Convention

Arnel Pineda of Journey, Zac Brown of Zac Brown Band, and Kid RockDonald Kravitz/Getty Images; Peter Kramer/NBC/NBC NewsWire via Getty Images; Scott Legato/Getty Images

Lynyrd Skynyrd's scheduled concert at this week's Republican National Convention – originally planned for Sunday night at Tampa's Liberty Plaza – may have been canceled thanks to Hurricane Isaac. But to the surprise of anyone who assumes rockers wouldn't be caught anywhere near a GOP event, plenty of other musicians will be entertaining the Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan crowd in Florida this week. At press time, the lineup includes Kid Rock, Journey, the Zac Brown Band, 3 Doors Down, Dave Navarro, Guns N' Roses/Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum and past American Idol winner Taylor Hicks. The house band for performances at the convention itself will be led by former Saturday Night Live guitarist-bandleader, G.E. Smith.

"The average convention-goer is between 35 and 55," says Robin Bronk, head of the Creative Coalition, an entertainment industry advocacy group that has been hosting nonpartisan charity shows at both RNC and DNC conventions for years. "You want to give them what they want. It's the sweet spot of music that's current yet ties in with great memories. And it has to be a group that's not too overexposed, especially in Washington."

Some of the musicians are clearly motivated by politics. Rock played "Born Free" at a Romney rally early this year (Romney has been using the song as his campaign theme since last year, with Rock's tacit approval), and last Friday, Rock appeared at a Ryan rally in Michigan. Skynyrd singer Johnny Van Zant, whose band also played at the 2004 GOP convention, makes no bones about his political preferences.

"We have to make a change now, for the next four years," Van Zant says. "I'm not a politician, but we speak for the common man, and all I know is that we've lost a lot of jobs in the last four years." Van Zant calls Ryan's Medicare plan "pretty doggone good. We've got to take some drastic steps in this country. We can't keep spending and spending."

Hicks and 3 Doors Down, both Southern-based acts, will be performing on the main stage at the convention, held at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. 3 Doors Down singer Brad Arnold says it's a "privilege" to play at this year's GOP event.

Although some of the convention plans are in flux thanks to Isaac, Skynyrd were still scheduled to play "Sweet Home Alabama" and the title track from their current Last of a Dyin' Breed album during a salute to Ann Romney. But would they ever do "Whiskey Rock a Roller" for this audience?

"We would," Van Zant says with a laugh. "Rich people know how to party, too."

Other bands, though, have been hired to play private parties affiliated with nonpartisan causes. At past conventions, the Creative Coalition has recruited the Black Eyed Peas and the Red Hot Chili Peppers (for DNC events) and the Charlie Daniels Band and the Max Weinberg 7 (for RNC-connected shows). This year, the group recruited Journey to play its Florida fundraiser on Thursday. (The B-52's will be performing the same function at next month's Democratic Convention in Charlotte.) Bronk says the concerts shouldn't be seen as an indication of a band's political predilection. "I've never asked," she says. "I guess it doesn't matter to me."

A Journey spokesperson backs up that claim: "It's not an endorsement of any candidate and/or party – it's just another private show," says the spokesperson. "These dates are simply listed as 'Private Event' on the tour grid." What's indisputable is the high price of the evening: a package of six tickets to both shows (Journey and B-52's) starts at a minimum of $45,000.

In other non-Romney-linked concerts during the convention, the Brown band will play a show for the American Petroleum Institute, the trade group for (in its words) "all aspects of America's oil and natural gas industry," and Gavin DeGraw will headline a benefit for Musicians on Call, a charity that brings musicians to play for hospital patients. Navarro and Sorum will be joined by lesser-known members of Jane's Addiction and the Cult for a show Tuesday to benefit the families of wounded or deceased U.S. soldiers.

Kid Rock will be performing at an invite-only show on Thursday, but it's unclear whether Romney is aware of Rock's less Mormon-friendly material.  We asked a Romney spokesperson if the presumptive nominee – who's admitted to big love for the Eagles, the Beach Boys and the Killers, led by fellow Mormon Brandon Flowers – was aware of Kid Rock lyrics, like, "I like pussy, suckin' on titties/ Fucked a lot of different bitches from a bunch of different cities," "Been fuelin' up on cocaine and whiskey," and "I don't want to be your friend/ I want to fuck you like I'm never gonna see you again." Or how about the early Rock song, "Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp"?

"Umm, hmmm . . . right, OK," a Romney spokesperson said after hearing those lyrics. "Let me check on this stuff and I'll get back to you." At press time, Rolling Stone had not yet heard back.

Even if the weather impinges on any other planned music events at the Republican convention, it's telling that acts like Skynyrd, 3 Doors Down and Rock are participating. In 1976, the Democrats sewed up the Southern-rock vote when the Allman Brothers Band played benefits for then-candidate Jimmy Carter. (True, Rock is from Detroit, but as heard in "All Summer Long," his music and image now owe an enormous debt to the likes of Skynyrd and other Seventies Southern rockers.)

Van Zant is unapologetic about the way things have changed. "Some of our fans ask why we feel like this," he says, "but I say, if Ronnie [Van Zant, his late brother and original Skynyrd singer] was alive, he'd be a Republican. If our fans [disagree], that's their problem, but it's also freedom of speech."

One rocker consciously absent from the festivities is noted Obama basher Ted Nugent, whose schedule has prevented him from joining in. But fans might be mollified to know that Nugent's former Damn Yankees bandmate Jack Blades (still of Night Ranger) will play the main stage. "Sister Born-Again Christian," anyone?

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The National to Open for Obama at Iowa Campaign Rally

Matt Berninger of The National

The National have announced on Twitter they'll be appearing with President Barack Obama at a rally September 1st in Des Moines, Iowa. "Proud to support @BarackObama again in 2012. We'll be opening for him in Des Moines on Sept 1. Follow @OFA_IA for details. #fourmoreyears," reads the post.

The New York indie-rock band joined Ben Harper at an Obama rally in Wisconsin rally in 2010, performing for a crowd of about 26,500. Last Friday, Kid Rock performed at a campaign fundraiser in Michigan for Paul Ryan, the Republican candidate for vice president.

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Journey, Kid Rock and More Set to Play Republican National Convention

Arnel Pineda of Journey, Zac Brown of Zac Brown Band, and Kid RockDonald Kravitz/Getty Images; Peter Kramer/NBC/NBC NewsWire via Getty Images; Scott Legato/Getty Images

Lynyrd Skynyrd's scheduled concert at this week's Republican National Convention – originally planned for Sunday night at Tampa's Liberty Plaza – may have been canceled thanks to Hurricane Isaac. But to the surprise of anyone who assumes rockers wouldn't be caught anywhere near a GOP event, plenty of other musicians will be entertaining the Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan crowd in Florida this week. At press time, the lineup includes Kid Rock, Journey, the Zac Brown Band, 3 Doors Down, Dave Navarro, Guns N' Roses/Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum and past American Idol winner Taylor Hicks. The house band for performances at the convention itself will be led by former Saturday Night Live guitarist-bandleader, G.E. Smith.

"The average convention-goer is between 35 and 55," says Robin Bronk, head of the Creative Coalition, an entertainment industry advocacy group that has been hosting nonpartisan charity shows at both RNC and DNC conventions for years. "You want to give them what they want. It's the sweet spot of music that's current yet ties in with great memories. And it has to be a group that's not too overexposed, especially in Washington."

Some of the musicians are clearly motivated by politics. Rock played "Born Free" at a Romney rally early this year (Romney has been using the song as his campaign theme since last year, with Rock's tacit approval), and last Friday, Rock appeared at a Ryan rally in Michigan. Skynyrd singer Johnny Van Zant, whose band also played at the 2004 GOP convention, makes no bones about his political preferences.

"We have to make a change now, for the next four years," Van Zant says. "I'm not a politician, but we speak for the common man, and all I know is that we've lost a lot of jobs in the last four years." Van Zant calls Ryan's Medicare plan "pretty doggone good. We've got to take some drastic steps in this country. We can't keep spending and spending."

Hicks and 3 Doors Down, both Southern-based acts, will be performing on the main stage at the convention, held at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. 3 Doors Down singer Brad Arnold says it's a "privilege" to play at this year's GOP event.

Although some of the convention plans are in flux thanks to Isaac, Skynyrd were still scheduled to play "Sweet Home Alabama" and the title track from their current Last of a Dyin' Breed album during a salute to Ann Romney. But would they ever do "Whiskey Rock a Roller" for this audience?

"We would," Van Zant says with a laugh. "Rich people know how to party, too."

Other bands, though, have been hired to play private parties affiliated with nonpartisan causes. At past conventions, the Creative Coalition has recruited the Black Eyed Peas and the Red Hot Chili Peppers (for DNC events) and the Charlie Daniels Band and the Max Weinberg 7 (for RNC-connected shows). This year, the group recruited Journey to play its Florida fundraiser on Thursday. (The B-52's will be performing the same function at next month's Democratic Convention in Charlotte.) Bronk says the concerts shouldn't be seen as an indication of a band's political predilection. "I've never asked," she says. "I guess it doesn't matter to me."

A Journey spokesperson backs up that claim: "It's not an endorsement of any candidate and/or party – it's just another private show," says the spokesperson. "These dates are simply listed as 'Private Event' on the tour grid." What's indisputable is the high price of the evening: a package of six tickets to both shows (Journey and B-52's) starts at a minimum of $45,000.

In other non-Romney-linked concerts during the convention, the Brown band will play a show for the American Petroleum Institute, the trade group for (in its words) "all aspects of America's oil and natural gas industry," and Gavin DeGraw will headline a benefit for Musicians on Call, a charity that brings musicians to play for hospital patients. Navarro and Sorum will be joined by lesser-known members of Jane's Addiction and the Cult for a show Tuesday to benefit the families of wounded or deceased U.S. soldiers.

Kid Rock will be performing at an invite-only show on Thursday, but it's unclear whether Romney is aware of Rock's less Mormon-friendly material.  We asked a Romney spokesperson if the presumptive nominee – who's admitted to big love for the Eagles, the Beach Boys and the Killers, led by fellow Mormon Brandon Flowers – was aware of Kid Rock lyrics, like, "I like pussy, suckin' on titties/ Fucked a lot of different bitches from a bunch of different cities," "Been fuelin' up on cocaine and whiskey," and "I don't want to be your friend/ I want to fuck you like I'm never gonna see you again." Or how about the early Rock song, "Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp"?

"Umm, hmmm . . . right, OK," a Romney spokesperson said after hearing those lyrics. "Let me check on this stuff and I'll get back to you." At press time, Rolling Stone had not yet heard back.

Even if the weather impinges on any other planned music events at the Republican convention, it's telling that acts like Skynyrd, 3 Doors Down and Rock are participating. In 1976, the Democrats sewed up the Southern-rock vote when the Allman Brothers Band played benefits for then-candidate Jimmy Carter. (True, Rock is from Detroit, but as heard in "All Summer Long," his music and image now owe an enormous debt to the likes of Skynyrd and other Seventies Southern rockers.)

Van Zant is unapologetic about the way things have changed. "Some of our fans ask why we feel like this," he says, "but I say, if Ronnie [Van Zant, his late brother and original Skynyrd singer] was alive, he'd be a Republican. If our fans [disagree], that's their problem, but it's also freedom of speech."

One rocker consciously absent from the festivities is noted Obama basher Ted Nugent, whose schedule has prevented him from joining in. But fans might be mollified to know that Nugent's former Damn Yankees bandmate Jack Blades (still of Night Ranger) will play the main stage. "Sister Born-Again Christian," anyone?

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France's National Front Will Sue Madonna Over Nazi Imagery

Madonna perform at Stade de France in Paris.David Wolff - Patrick/Getty Images

France's far-right National Front party will be filing a lawsuit against Madonna after the singer used Nazi imagery in association with a picture of its leader at her Paris concert on Saturday night, the Guardian reports.

The image of Marine Le Pen with a swastika superimposed over her face is part of a video montage projected during the MDNA tour to accompany the song "Nobody Knows Me." The montage also includes images of Chinese leader Hu Jintao, Pope Benedict XVI, Sarah Palin and (immediately following the photo of Le Pen) Adolf Hitler.

"We cannot accept this insulting connection," said Florian Phillippot, the National Front's vice president. "Marine Le Pen is defending her honour, but also that of party members and supporters and the millions of Front National voters."

Madonna first introduced the video montage during the MDNA tour's opening performance in Tel Aviv in May. Le Pen had responded at the time, saying "If she does that in France, we'll be waiting for her." The politician also added a note of derision: "It's understandable when aging singers who need publicity go to such extremes. Her songs don't work anymore."

Madonna has continued using the montage throughout her 30-nation tour, including at last night's performance at Paris' Stade de France.

A spokesman for the Le Pen said that the party will be filing a lawsuit for public insult in the Paris courts some time in the next few days. 

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France's National Front Will Sue Madonna Over Nazi Imagery

Madonna perform at Stade de France in Paris.David Wolff - Patrick/Getty Images

France's far-right National Front party will be filing a lawsuit against Madonna after the singer used Nazi imagery in association with a picture of its leader at her Paris concert on Saturday night, the Guardian reports.

The image of Marine Le Pen with a swastika superimposed over her face is part of a video montage projected during the MDNA tour to accompany the song "Nobody Knows Me." The montage also includes images of Chinese leader Hu Jintao, Pope Benedict XVI, Sarah Palin and (immediately following the photo of Le Pen) Adolf Hitler.

"We cannot accept this insulting connection," said Florian Phillippot, the National Front's vice president. "Marine Le Pen is defending her honour, but also that of party members and supporters and the millions of Front National voters."

Madonna first introduced the video montage during the MDNA tour's opening performance in Tel Aviv in May. Le Pen had responded at the time, saying "If she does that in France, we'll be waiting for her." The politician also added a note of derision: "It's understandable when aging singers who need publicity go to such extremes. Her songs don't work anymore."

Madonna has continued using the montage throughout her 30-nation tour, including at last night's performance at Paris' Stade de France.

A spokesman for the Le Pen said that the party will be filing a lawsuit for public insult in the Paris courts some time in the next few days. 

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Members Of Grateful Dead, National, Walkmen Come Together For 'Bridge Session' Webcast

Sam Cohen, Thomas Bartlett, Aaron Dessner, Conrad Doucette, Bob Weir, Bryan Devendorf, Scott Devendorf, Walter Martin and Josh Kaufman perform during the Yahoo! Music Presents 'The Bridge Session.'

An assemblage of East Coast indie rockers flew to the Bay Area to collaborate with the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir for a one-time-only performance on Saturday night. Called the Bridge Session, the nine-person collective included three members of the National – Aaron Dessner, Bryan and Scott Devendorf – along with Walt Martin from the Walkmen, Sam Cohen and Josh Kaufman from the Yellowbirds, Conrad Doucette of Takka Takka, and National contributors Thomas "Doveman" Bartlett and Kyle Resnick. The performance took place in front of a live studio audience of just over 100 at Weir's TRI Studios in San Rafael, California, and was webcast live on Yahoo! Music.

"For us, the night definitely exceeded expectations," Scott Devendorf told Rolling Stone immediately following the show. "We were surprised that it was even going to happen in the first place, and then as we were rehearsing it became more and more real."

Devendorf says that he and his National bandmates were "big fans of the Grateful Dead for a long time" and recently got back into them. Working with Weir – and seeing his dedication to the music during several 10-hour rehearsal sessions – "kinda blew our minds ... It was definitely inspirational for us."
Saturday's two-set performance drew mostly from the Grateful Dead's vast catalog. Weir led the pack through what was no doubt familiar territory to him but strange waters to his sudden bandmates, as they ripped through jams such as "The Other One," "Brown Eyed Woman" and "Friend of the Devil."

But given the nine-person ensemble – and the musicians' somewhat disparate musical backgrounds – Weir was forced to rethink some of his approaches and, in some cases, alter the arrangements on tunes he's been performing for decades. Instead of morphing into "Slipknot," as was the Grateful Dead's custom, "Help on the Way" segued into a cover of Cass McCombs' "Love Thine Enemy." And in "Standing on the Moon," Weir even experimented with the melody, deviating from the way Jerry Garcia used to approach it when he sang it with the Dead.

"This next one, I had to park for 20 years," Weir told the audience while introducing the buried rarity, "My Brother Esau," explaining that it was a song the other guys specifically asked him to dust off for the show. "And I'm kinda glad they did," he said, "because it forced me to rework the bridge." No pun intended, of course.

The Bridge Session included two National tunes – "Daughters of the Soho Riots" and "Fake Empire." Weir handled vocals for the former, which he tinkered with in a way that referenced the original but which met him halfway towards his more characteristic vocal delivery. It proved a great match. The group also covered Bob Dylan's "Most of the Time."

For their encore, the entire ensemble ventured into the middle of the audience and huddled around a microphone, holding all acoustic instruments, for a singalong to "Ripple," "Uncle John's Band," and "Brokedown Palace" – all of which appear on the Dead's stripped-down 1970 albums, Workingman's Dead and Reckoning.

The Disco Biscuits' Marc Brownstein served as the night's emcee. As he told the audience at the start of the show, the idea behind the Bridge Session was to literally bridge the gap between genres, geographies and ideologies. Images of both the Brooklyn Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge – which reflected the musicians' two distinct home bases – served as a backdrop.

Between sets, Weir joined a roundtable political discussion moderated by Andy Bernstein of the voter registration group, HeadCount, which produced the event as a benefit for their organization. The discussion also featured independent presidential candidate Buddy Roemer, climate change activist Jessy Tolkan, No Labels cofounder Mark McKinnon and Grateful Dead lyricist John Perry Barlow. They debated topics such as money in politics, personal freedom and the upcoming presidential election. But, as Weir told Rolling Stone a few days before the show, his main goal for the night was to just "have fun." Mission accomplished.

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Members Of Grateful Dead, National, Walkmen Come Together For 'Bridge Session' Webcast

Sam Cohen, Thomas Bartlett, Aaron Dessner, Conrad Doucette, Bob Weir, Bryan Devendorf, Scott Devendorf, Walter Martin and Josh Kaufman perform during the Yahoo! Music Presents 'The Bridge Session.'

An assemblage of East Coast indie rockers flew to the Bay Area to collaborate with the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir for a one-time-only performance on Saturday night. Called the Bridge Session, the nine-person collective included three members of the National – Aaron Dessner, Bryan and Scott Devendorf – along with Walt Martin from the Walkmen, Sam Cohen and Josh Kaufman from the Yellowbirds, Conrad Doucette of Takka Takka, and National contributors Thomas "Doveman" Bartlett and Kyle Resnick. The performance took place in front of a live studio audience of just over 100 at Weir's TRI Studios in San Rafael, California, and was webcast live on Yahoo! Music.

"For us, the night definitely exceeded expectations," Scott Devendorf told Rolling Stone immediately following the show. "We were surprised that it was even going to happen in the first place, and then as we were rehearsing it became more and more real."

Devendorf says that he and his National bandmates were "big fans of the Grateful Dead for a long time" and recently got back into them. Working with Weir – and seeing his dedication to the music during several 10-hour rehearsal sessions – "kinda blew our minds ... It was definitely inspirational for us."
Saturday's two-set performance drew mostly from the Grateful Dead's vast catalog. Weir led the pack through what was no doubt familiar territory to him but strange waters to his sudden bandmates, as they ripped through jams such as "The Other One," "Brown Eyed Woman" and "Friend of the Devil."

But given the nine-person ensemble – and the musicians' somewhat disparate musical backgrounds – Weir was forced to rethink some of his approaches and, in some cases, alter the arrangements on tunes he's been performing for decades. Instead of morphing into "Slipknot," as was the Grateful Dead's custom, "Help on the Way" segued into a cover of Cass McCombs' "Love Thine Enemy." And in "Standing on the Moon," Weir even experimented with the melody, deviating from the way Jerry Garcia used to approach it when he sang it with the Dead.

"This next one, I had to park for 20 years," Weir told the audience while introducing the buried rarity, "My Brother Esau," explaining that it was a song the other guys specifically asked him to dust off for the show. "And I'm kinda glad they did," he said, "because it forced me to rework the bridge." No pun intended, of course.

The Bridge Session included two National tunes – "Daughters of the Soho Riots" and "Fake Empire." Weir handled vocals for the former, which he tinkered with in a way that referenced the original but which met him halfway towards his more characteristic vocal delivery. It proved a great match. The group also covered Bob Dylan's "Most of the Time."

For their encore, the entire ensemble ventured into the middle of the audience and huddled around a microphone, holding all acoustic instruments, for a singalong to "Ripple," "Uncle John's Band," and "Brokedown Palace" – all of which appear on the Dead's stripped-down 1970 albums, Workingman's Dead and Reckoning.

The Disco Biscuits' Marc Brownstein served as the night's emcee. As he told the audience at the start of the show, the idea behind the Bridge Session was to literally bridge the gap between genres, geographies and ideologies. Images of both the Brooklyn Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge – which reflected the musicians' two distinct home bases – served as a backdrop.

Between sets, Weir joined a roundtable political discussion moderated by Andy Bernstein of the voter registration group, HeadCount, which produced the event as a benefit for their organization. The discussion also featured independent presidential candidate Buddy Roemer, climate change activist Jessy Tolkan, No Labels cofounder Mark McKinnon and Grateful Dead lyricist John Perry Barlow. They debated topics such as money in politics, personal freedom and the upcoming presidential election. But, as Weir told Rolling Stone a few days before the show, his main goal for the night was to just "have fun." Mission accomplished.

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Bob Weir, the National Team Up for Politically-Minded Webcast

Grateful Dead's Bob Weir and the National join forces for live webcast.Fred Hayes/Getty Images/Roger Kisby

Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir has teamed up with members of the National – Aaron Dessner, Scott and Bryan Devendorf – for a collaborative night of music and voter education. On Saturday, the musicians will congregate at Weir's TRI Studios in San Rafael, California for the Bridge Session, a live webcast featuring two musical sets and a political discussion. The performances will include selections from both band's catalogs, as well as some politically-minded cover songs. 

"I'm really looking forward to this," Weir tells Rolling Stone of the program, which will stream for free at 9 p.m. ET on TRI's website and Yahoo! Music. "I was unfamiliar with these guys until this started coming together, and I've been listening to them and I've been learning a bunch of their stuff. You put a couple of disparate – relatively; we're not all that disparate – but you put a couple of disparate elements together and mix it up real good and see what you get. I'm smitten by some of the tunes that I’ve been wanting to do with them."

Weir says that he's been enjoying learning the National's songs so much, some of their selections could make it into his set when he embarks on a solo acoustic tour, following his current commitments with his band Furthur.

Additional members of the one-time-only band include Walt Martin of the Walkmen, Conrad Doucette of Takka Takka, the Yellowbirds' Sam Cohen and Josh Kaufman, and National contributors Thomas "Doveman" Bartlett and Kyle Resnick. Between sets, a panel of politicals figure and activists will engage in a debate about issues facing voters this election year. Panelists include independent presidential candidate Buddy Roemer, Mark McKinnon (former media advisor to George W. Bush, John McCain, Bono and Lance Armstrong), climate change activist Jessy Tolkan and Grateful Dead lyricist John Perry Barlow. The Disco Biscuits' Marc Brownstein will serve as MC.

The event is being produced by HeadCount, a non-partisan grassroots organization that has aligned itself with live music events for voter registration drives. Weir sits on its Board of Directors.

Check out this video for a preview of the Bridge Session.

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Bob Weir, the National Team Up for Politically-Minded Webcast

Grateful Dead's Bob Weir and the National join forces for live webcast.Fred Hayes/Getty Images/Roger Kisby

Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir has teamed up with members of the National – Aaron Dessner, Scott and Bryan Devendorf – for a collaborative night of music and voter education. On Saturday, the musicians will congregate at Weir's TRI Studios in San Rafael, California for the Bridge Session, a live webcast featuring two musical sets and a political discussion. The performances will include selections from both band's catalogs, as well as some politically-minded cover songs. 

"I'm really looking forward to this," Weir tells Rolling Stone of the program, which will stream for free at 9 p.m. ET on TRI's website and Yahoo! Music. "I was unfamiliar with these guys until this started coming together, and I've been listening to them and I've been learning a bunch of their stuff. You put a couple of disparate – relatively; we're not all that disparate – but you put a couple of disparate elements together and mix it up real good and see what you get. I'm smitten by some of the tunes that I’ve been wanting to do with them."

Weir says that he's been enjoying learning the National's songs so much, some of their selections could make it into his set when he embarks on a solo acoustic tour, following his current commitments with his band Furthur.

Additional members of the one-time-only band include Walt Martin of the Walkmen, Conrad Doucette of Takka Takka, the Yellowbirds' Sam Cohen and Josh Kaufman, and National contributors Thomas "Doveman" Bartlett and Kyle Resnick. Between sets, a panel of politicals figure and activists will engage in a debate about issues facing voters this election year. Panelists include independent presidential candidate Buddy Roemer, Mark McKinnon (former media advisor to George W. Bush, John McCain, Bono and Lance Armstrong), climate change activist Jessy Tolkan and Grateful Dead lyricist John Perry Barlow. The Disco Biscuits' Marc Brownstein will serve as MC.

The event is being produced by HeadCount, a non-partisan grassroots organization that has aligned itself with live music events for voter registration drives. Weir sits on its Board of Directors.

Check out this video for a preview of the Bridge Session.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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Members of Grateful Dead, the National Form Band for 'The Bridge Session'

Bob Weir performs with Furthur at the Murat Theater in Indianapolis.

Fresh from a collaboration with Phish's Trey Anastasio, members of the National have announced a project with another towering figure of jam rock, the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir. Anchored by the National's Scott and Bryan Devendorf, and fronted by Weir, the all-star group will perform a special one-off concert under the name the Bridge Session on March 24th. The show will go down at Weir's TRI Studios in San Rafael, California which means that only around 50 fans will be in attendance – but the show will be webcast live, for free, to anyone with an Internet connection.

"They're a good, young band and this is going to be fun," Weir told Rolling Stone, en route to the Mayan ruins in Tulum, Mexico where he is vacationing.

Fans can expect a selection of National tunes, Grateful Dead classics and politically-minded cover songs. The Bridge Session's title reflects the event's aim to "bridge the gaps" between people of different ideological standpoints while also nodding to geography – TRI Studios is located just beyond the Golden Gate Bridge, while the National live a stone's throw from the Brooklyn Bridge.

Between sets, Grateful Dead lyricist John Perry Barlow will anchor a roundtable discussion, alongside Weir, discussing unifying issues such as First Amendment rights and Occupy hot topics like getting the money out of politics. Home viewers will be able to interact directly through social media and submit questions to the panelists, in real time, via Twitter. Disco Biscuits bassist Marc Brownstein will act as the evening's MC.

Weir recently built TRI Studios – which stands for Tamalpais Research Institute – precisely to host events such as this. The state-of-the-art performance space broadcasts live HD video and audio streams to a variety of end user equipment including mobile devices, game consoles, tablets, computers and Internet equipped HDTV. The research facility is currently exploring ways to support interactivity among an audience of fans the wide world over by way of real-time social media.

The Bridge Session is being produced by HeadCount, a non-profit voter-registration organization that has found ways to promote discussion of the democratic process at live music events and has encouraged political involvement among music fans. Weir serves on the Board of Directors.

While anybody and everybody will be able to watch the Bridge Session from their iPads or MacBooks or whatever, if you want to be an actual part of the studio audience, HeadCount is giving away two tickets through an online contest. Visit HeadCount's official website for details.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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Members of Grateful Dead, the National Form Band for 'The Bridge Session'

Bob Weir performs with Furthur at the Murat Theater in Indianapolis.

Fresh from a collaboration with Phish's Trey Anastasio, members of the National have announced a project with another towering figure of jam rock, the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir. Anchored by the National's Scott and Bryan Devendorf, and fronted by Weir, the all-star group will perform a special one-off concert under the name the Bridge Session on March 24th. The show will go down at Weir's TRI Studios in San Rafael, California which means that only around 50 fans will be in attendance – but the show will be webcast live, for free, to anyone with an Internet connection.

"They're a good, young band and this is going to be fun," Weir told Rolling Stone, en route to the Mayan ruins in Tulum, Mexico where he is vacationing.

Fans can expect a selection of National tunes, Grateful Dead classics and politically-minded cover songs. The Bridge Session's title reflects the event's aim to "bridge the gaps" between people of different ideological standpoints while also nodding to geography – TRI Studios is located just beyond the Golden Gate Bridge, while the National live a stone's throw from the Brooklyn Bridge.

Between sets, Grateful Dead lyricist John Perry Barlow will anchor a roundtable discussion, alongside Weir, discussing unifying issues such as First Amendment rights and Occupy hot topics like getting the money out of politics. Home viewers will be able to interact directly through social media and submit questions to the panelists, in real time, via Twitter. Disco Biscuits bassist Marc Brownstein will act as the evening's MC.

Weir recently built TRI Studios – which stands for Tamalpais Research Institute – precisely to host events such as this. The state-of-the-art performance space broadcasts live HD video and audio streams to a variety of end user equipment including mobile devices, game consoles, tablets, computers and Internet equipped HDTV. The research facility is currently exploring ways to support interactivity among an audience of fans the wide world over by way of real-time social media.

The Bridge Session is being produced by HeadCount, a non-profit voter-registration organization that has found ways to promote discussion of the democratic process at live music events and has encouraged political involvement among music fans. Weir serves on the Board of Directors.

While anybody and everybody will be able to watch the Bridge Session from their iPads or MacBooks or whatever, if you want to be an actual part of the studio audience, HeadCount is giving away two tickets through an online contest. Visit HeadCount's official website for details.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon MP3 Download Center

Read more »

'Downton' Girl: Elizabeth McGovern on America's New National Pastime

Elizabeth McGovern as Lady Cora in 'Downton Abbey.'Carnival Film & Television Limited 2011 for MASTERPIECE

The U.S. is no stranger to British invasions, be it four Liverpudlian moptops or TV shows featuring a surly talent judge seeking a hot new pop singer. But the latest U.K. import to overtake the pop culture zeitgeist is the saga of a World War I-era aristocratic family and their devoted household staff. The Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning Downton Abbey, now airing its second season on PBS, welcomes viewers into its arcane world populated by lords, ladies, entails, deathbed marriages and blackmailing wives. Presiding over Downton Abbey itself is Cora, Countess of Grantham, exquisitely portrayed by Elizabeth McGovern (Ordinary People, She's Having a Baby). The American-born actress has lived in England for "nearly 20 years," making her a natural choice to play the Yankee wife of the Earl of Grantham. With the highly anticipated third season of Downton currently in preproduction, McGovern checked in from London for a brief chat.

So the big Downton Abbey news this week is that Shirley MacLaine has been cast as Cora’s mother. Are you excited?

I’m over the moon. She’s just a great actress and is such a life force. I think it’s going to be fantastic.

Does this give you more of an idea about your character’s past, other than the fact that she’s a New York heiress?

Well, yeah, it’s been a very murky area, and casting anyone will, by its very nature, stamp a personality and a definition on a family and a lineage, so the very fact of [Shirley’s] casting gives me a much clearer idea of where Cora comes from. I think that the writers and the producers and I are just coming to terms with where Cora comes from and what her life story is now. I love having the opportunity to explore a part for a great length of time, really get deeper and deeper into it, because you only have a chance to do that once or twice in a career.

The name of Shirley’s character is "Martha Levinson." So is it possible that Cora is from a Jewish family?

It is possible! So we’ll see if it has ramifications later on in the story as the inevitable wheels of history roll forward, but to be perfectly honest, I’m finding out along with everybody else [laughs]! So I’m doing my best to adjust to these revelations as well.

There is such a Downton Abbey infatuation sweeping the U.S. right now. Did you ever expect Americans were going to take to it the way that we have?

No, absolutely not. Whenever I work on anything, there’s always the fantasy that what one is doing is the next Citizen Kane-slash-Sopranos. But I have long become accustomed to the fact that the reality of show business rarely falls into place in such a satisfying way, so this was a shock to me. But I can be nothing but grateful and totally overwhelmed by it. I mean, the nicest thing of all, actually, is when an actor feels that little story points are registering with an audience. The fact that the audience is participating in the energy and pleasure of it has been really unusual for me, and needless to say I am definitely enjoying it.

 Have you seen any of the Downton Abbey Internet memes such as the "Downton Abbeyoncé" Tumblr or "Shit the Dowager Countess Says"?

No, but there are some really charming spoofs of Downton on YouTube. There's one that's little mice in a house that are all the Downton characters. It’s actually so witty and well done. It’s brilliant. The funny thing about Downton is, on one level, when we are doing the work we have no choice but to approach it with complete and utter seriousness, but there’s something about it that is so ridiculously spoofable at the same time. It doesn’t jar with the seriousness of our approach – it’s absolutely appropriate. We all love it!

Do you find that the American reaction to Downton Abbey is different than that of British audiences?

Well, the British love nothing more than to turn on their own icons, so they’ve spent the entire Season Two ripping it to shreds and finding fault with it. Some of which I think was not unjustified, but maybe it’s because I’m not in America, but I haven’t noticed that turn over there as of yet.

Downton Abbey deals with many feminist themes – personified in Lady Sybil – but do you see Cora as a feminist? She seems like the bridge between the generations: She’s very supportive of her daughters, but she is also very good at smoothing things over with the Dowager Countess, who is more of the old-school mindset.

Yeah, I think that’s a very astute reading of Cora’s personality, whether it’s something that’s intrinsic to her nature or whether it’s because she’s American, she’s certainly written as someone who has a lot more emotional and psychological flexibility than her English family has in terms of accepting change. And I think in Julian [Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey]’s mind, that is characteristic of an American. Although obviously there is the younger generation of the English family that are much more forward thinkers.

It’s my understanding that you are a singer-songwriter and you are recording an album with Michelle Dockery [Lady Mary].

Well, I have a band, Sadie and the Hotheads, and we have an album that is already out that is available on our website. We just finished recording the second album, and many of the songs are recorded with Michelle and she has sung with us a couple of times live. I actually love singing with her because she has a perfect voice for the music. So that’s been a little side pleasure.

The album is called How Not to Lose Things. When is it going to be released?

The plan is for us to release it when Downton Abbey comes back on the air in England, which will be the fall.

How would you describe your music?

It’s very lyric-oriented. To me, the lyrics of the song define the kind of style it is. And my bandmates are capable of doing any style, so in the second CD there are some songs that are very jazzy, and a lot that are more acoustic and folk-sounding.

What’s the significance behind the album title?

It’s one of the songs. All of the songs come from me – where I am in my life, and where I think a lot of people are, which is . . . we’re not old, but we’re not young. We’re not young kids saying, "I love you, I love you, I love you." We’re looking at our partner of 20 years and exploring what that’s all about, or looking at our kids growing up, and trying to capture musically how that feels. These are things that are on the mind of people in the middle of their life, which I don’t think a lot of music addresses. So "How Not to Lose Things" is somebody who’s lived a long time, and is trying to keep track of everything in their life. When you’ve got a couple of kids and a lot going on all the time, it’s quite a knack to keep it all in place, and all at your fingertips.

Who are your musical influences?

I’m a little trapped in my youth. I always say Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Leonard Cohen. There’s a certain age where you listen to music a little differently than I think you ever do as an adult. I also like Lily Allen, Harper Simon and Eliza Doolittle.

We’ve already heard Michelle Dockery sing on Downton – are we going to hear you sing in an upcoming episode?

 You tell me!

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Kelly Clarkson to Sing National Anthem at Super Bowl XLVI

Kelly Clarkson performs during the Allstate Fan Fest at the Allstate Sugar Bowl in the Jax Brewery Parking Lot in New Orleans.

Kelly Clarkson will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl on February 5th at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Though Clarkon's appearance has not been formally announced, a person close to the event has confirmed the booking with the Associated Press.

Clarkson will join a slate of musical performers for this year's Super Bowl including Madonna, who will perform during halftime with guests M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj, and Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, who will sing "America the Beautiful" as a duet.

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Kelly Clarkson to Sing National Anthem at Super Bowl XLVI

Kelly Clarkson performs during the Allstate Fan Fest at the Allstate Sugar Bowl in the Jax Brewery Parking Lot in New Orleans.

Kelly Clarkson will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl on February 5th at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Though Clarkon's appearance has not been formally announced, a person close to the event has confirmed the booking with the Associated Press.

Clarkson will join a slate of musical performers for this year's Super Bowl including Madonna, who will perform during halftime with guests M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj, and Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, who will sing "America the Beautiful" as a duet.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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