The mainstream media has a long history of placing the blame on music when it comes to finding motives behind maniacal acts of violence. So why should this past weekend's massacre in Tuscon, Arizona, be any different?
It isn't, turns out: On Monday, the Washington Post ran a piece raising questions about the lone YouTube video favorited on shooting suspect Jared Loughner's channel -- a video of a flag-burning, set to the 2001 hit single, "Bodies" from Dallas' own Drowning Pool -- despite admitting that "investigators haven't suggested a link between Loughner's violent outburst and 'Bodies.'"
Ugh. Seems it was only a matter of time, really. The piece goes on to be your pretty standard, run-of-the-mill piece with quotes from professors talking about the dangers of placing too much blame on artists for their fans' interpretations of their songs, blah, blah, blah.
Gotta figure it's all pretty infuriating from Drowning Pool's standpoint -- their song was already linked to Guantanamo Bay interrogations and all that jazz in the past.
To Drowning Pool's credit, they seem to be handling the situation pretty well. After the jump, check out the band's statement in response to the tragedy and their purported ties to it.
This statement was posted to Drowning Pool's website earlier this week:
"We were devastated this weekend to learn of the tragic events that occurred in Arizona and that our music has been misinterpreted, again.
'Bodies' was written about the brotherhood of the mosh pit and the respect people have for each other in the pit. If you push others down, you have to pick them back up. It was never about violence. It's about a certain amount of respect and a code.
We've performed for the troops overseas several times in places like Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait. Through our song 'Soldiers,' we were able to create a petition that helped pass the Lane Evans Mental Health Care Reform Bill, which we presented to then-Senator Barack Obama.
We've been lucky enough to have some of the biggest success of our career with our new album and we want to continue to spread positivity for the future, not dwell on negativity. For someone to put out a video misinterpreting a song about a mosh pit as fuel for a violent act shows just how sick they really are. We support those who do what they can to keep America safe.
Our hearts go out to the victims and their families of this terrible tragedy."
