DROWNING POOL Bassist Sets Record Straight On 'Music-As-Torture' Practice

December 13, 2008

DROWNING POOL bassist Stevie Benton has commented on the reports that the band's music has been used to prepare detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay for interrogation.

He said in a statement: "I would like to set the record straight to say that upon our return from Baghdad (in 2006) and after visiting our injured soldiers at the Walter Reed Medical Hospital, I commented to Spin magazine that I take it as an honor to think that perhaps our music could be used to quell another 9/11 attack as part of a longer comment. I sincerely regret if my statement was taken out of context as supporting any specific policy or agenda. My remarks were an emotional reaction to the band's personal experiences. The band's intention has been, and will always be, to support our young men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line every day. Our performances for soldiers abroad led to the honor of being able to speak before Senate and Congressional leaders in support of extended health care rights for our returning veterans. We cherish this distinction and continue to maintain a close relationship with our military personnel and their families."

According to The Scotsman, a number of bands and artists whose recordings have been used in controversial interrogation techniques by U.S. forces are backing a new campaign to end the practice.

The playlist of songs, designed to traumatize and destabilize prisoners psychologically, includes such acts as AC/DC, AEROSMITH and METALLICA.

The Stop The Music Torture drive is the brainchild of Reprieve, the human rights charity that provides legal representations for inmates at Guantanamo Bay.

The campaign aims to exert pressure from the international community to bring to an end the techniques used by U.S. forces in Guantanamo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

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