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When one sets out to compile a list like the Top Ten Libertarian Rock Bands, one is faced with a few challenges:
- Rock purists will object and say, “Hey, they’re not libertarian!” because most rock purists balk at libertarian ideas.
- Libertarian purists will object and say, “Hey, they’re not libertarian!” because they refuse to touch with a ten-foot pole anything that could remotely violate the non-aggression principle.
- There simply aren’t many outspoken libertarians in mainstream rock today.
My response is that sometimes people are libertarian by accident. Wasn’t rock n’ roll born in an anti-establishment, anti-authority environment? Even many leftist rock bands (i.e., nearly all rock bands) produce a lot of individual songs that could be libertarian-sympathetic, whether they are anti-war or anti-authority.
With that said, these are the top 10 libertarian rock bands, in no particular order.
1. Rush
The classic case of a libertarian band is Rush, whose influence and popularity is hard to overstate. Rush are prog-rock royalty. It’s hard to believe that their immense, progressive sound and musical virtuosity is produced by a mere three men.
Not only has Rush’s 40 year career made them a highly venerated rock band in general, but the main lyricist and octopus drummer, Neil Peart, was often inspired by the great classical liberal novelist, philosopher, and left-wing punching bag Ayn Rand. That fact is apparent on several Rush songs such as The Trees (an allegory of smaller trees complaining about larger trees simply for being larger and hogging all the light), A Farewell to Kings (fairly self-explanatory), 2112 (an epic story of a dystopian future of absolute rule), Anthem (the same title as a Rand novella), and the hit Tom Sawyer (paints a picture of a rugged, Randian individualist).
2. Muse
The British-born Muse is one of the freshest, most popular art rock bands making music today. They share several things with Rush: the same band member count, a mono-syllabic quadruple character name, as well as an affinity for “progressive” song-writing. In addition, Muse adds a healthy dose of piano, synthesizer, pop-style melodies, and Black Sabbath-esque metal/hard rock guitar riffs.
Muse lyrics tend to be highly skeptical and critical of the established powers. Lead singer Matthew Bellamy likes Henry George (a sort of Marxist on land-ownership, but libertarian on everything else) and “left-libertarianism”.
Looking at their music catalog, a non-aggression principle fan could find plenty with which to identify. The 2006 album “Black Holes and Revelations” opens with a not-so-subtle attack on a political figure entitled Take a Bow. Others like Exo-Politics, Assassin, and Knights of Cydonia have subversive/individual liberty themes.
The political rebellion increases on subsequent albums the Resistance and the 2nd Law (see the Uprising, Resistance, and Supremacy).
When we finally come to the album Drones in 2015, the civil disobedience is at fever pitch. The album’s theme “drones” applies not only to the controversial unmanned aircraft used by the US military, but also to the idea that the average citizen or soldier could become an unthinking shell, doing whatever they’re told. See songs like Reapers and Psycho.
In 2022, Muse is putting out new music, and it seems that after the COVID pandemic, they are as ornery as ever, on songs like Compliance, and Will of the People.
3. The Kinks
You may be thinking, The Kinks? The “You Really Got Me” band from the 60s? That’s right, the Kinks. It’s a little known fact that “You Really Got Me” is a subtle ode to overzealous police arrests. While that is actually not true at all, there is a lot more to the Kinks than their biggest hit.
Much of the Kinks’ catalog is in fact dedicated to decrying the initiation of force, the welfare state, clandestine spying, or other big government woes. There is perhaps no better example of this than “20th Century Man” on the 1971 album Muswell Hillbillies. Front-man and songwriter Ray Davies sings:
I was born in a welfare state fueled by bureaucracy
Controlled by civil servants and people dressed in grey
Got no privacy, got no liberty
‘Cause the 20th century people took it all away from me
And this was 1971. Oh Ray, if you could see us now. Actually, he can. He is still living and still making music. Hm, funny. Anyway, there are some other libertarian gems on Muswell Hillbillies such as Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues, where Ray’s paranoia causes him to worry greatly – about things that are kinda true; and Here Come the People In Grey, a tribute to intrusive government workers.
Some other standout tracks from the Kinks on this subject would be:
- Brainwashed, sung to a retired World War I vet who has grown dependent on and trusting of the powers that be
- Some Mother’s Son, a beautiful, tragic ballad about men dying in war
- Live Life, an exhortation to keep cool and do your own thing in spite of political upheaval and media sensationalism
- Got To Be Free, an expression of longing to, well, be free
4. BackWordz
Though BackWordz is the newest band on this list, they are probably also the most outspoken and plainly libertarian. Their mission is a sort of libertarian evangelization through the vehicle of Linkin Park-esque metal drenched in hip hop. They are no joke, as their debut album “Veracity” charted at number 2 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. This is remarkable for a couple reasons. The first is the fact they are an independent artist with no major label backing. Another reason is that they are not the typical anger-infused, chest-beating hard rock band – as a sampling of their song titles shows:
- Individualism, railing against collectivism and affirming the right of secession
- Self-Ownership, criticizing the idea that the State can save us
- Praxeology, a term developed by libertarian super-hero Ludwig von Mises, is the study of human action – has any rock band ever had Ludwig von Mises as the subject of a song?
- Statism says: “I’m on a life mission to abolish all the government”
- Democracy Sucks, the title says it all
One of the most radical bands to come out in a while, I look forward to seeing where BackWordz goes. In 2022, they are on the verge of releasing new material. Their front-man, Eric July, is a podcaster and political commentator on the Blaze. They have potential to hugely expand their audience with their high-quality production and song-writing. Let the songs get a listener’s blood pumping first and once the lyrics start the sink in, perhaps some minds can be changed.
5. Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is the father (not mother) of shock rock. As his band was developing in the late 60s, Alice says:
…it was quite obvious that rock was full of idols and heroes, but there were no villains. I couldn’t find a villain in the bunch. I thought, ‘If nobody wants to play Captain Hook, I do!’
Not only did Alice Cooper cause parents with conservative values heartburn about his affinity for rebellion, horror film lore, and a creepy stage show, he might well also cause statists alarm.
He has an anti-political streak and says
I hate politics with a passion…I know people incorporate politics into rock n’ roll – and I think that the antithesis of rock n’ roll is politics. That would be like me singing the Dow Jones report.
He elsewhere says:
“If you’re listening to a rock star in order to get your information on who to vote for, you’re a bigger moron than they are. Why are we rock stars? Because we’re morons. We sleep all day, we play music at night and very rarely do we sit around reading the Washington Journal.”
(Note: it’s a separate question whether or not the Washington Journal contains good ideas.) Not only does he want his music free of politics, but he has several gems that outright attack and lampoon politicians and the whole process. His latest album “Paranormal” especially has some politically skeptical tracks, something any libertarian could appreciate. Some standout songs would be:
- Elected, about a pompous spotlight-phile running for office
- Rats, could be how the elites and rulers see the populace
- Lock Me Up, a taunt to those who don’t like what Alice has to say: “You can take my head and cut it off but you ain’t gonna change my mind”
- Freedom, an anti-authority anthem for freedom of expression
- Private Public Breakdown, about a politician who has lost his grip of reality (soooo, all politicians; Alice possibly has Donald Trump in mind)
6. The Interrupters
Remember the late 90s? The Mighty Mighty Bosstones were skanking all over the radio, welfare reform had been achieved, and the President of the US declared that the era of big government was over. Congress actually passed a “balanced” budget. The correlation between ska/punk and smaller government is undeniable. Now, that connection has reemerged in the form of the female-fronted punk band, the Interrupters.
There is a very real chance that the Interrupters have a Ron Paul sticker somewhere on their gear, because their front woman, Aimee Allen, actually wrote Ron Paul’s presidential campaign song. As you’d expect from someone with such good taste in candidates, many of the Interrupters songs center on the ideas of liberty.
Not only are the lyrics libertarian-friendly, but the songs are just plain good songs. Chuck Berry style guitar leads overlay no-frills punk rock songwriting with rich vocal harmonies. The melodies and progressions are so catchy, the only way your foot won’t be tapping along is if it is tied down by some oppressive police state. Some of my favorites are:
- Liberty, a pretty straightforward lament about the rights we are losing
- Babylon, uses biblical imagery, encouraging listeners to “rebel against the kings of Babylon” – even mentions money-printing to the delight of Austrians everywhere
- Can’t Be Trusted, celebrating the reasons for us not to trust the authorities
- Take Back the Power, a pretty transparent message
- Outrage, about the tendency of people nowadays to be constantly outraged about something, anything
7. Megadeth
One of the “Big Four” in thrash metal, Megadeth are heavy metal titans who have been head-banging since 1983. Heavy metal is a genre whose imagery is rife with libertarian sympathies: oppressive tyrants, bloody warfare, rebellion against the ruling powers, and on and on. Megadeth takes the prize for anti-state themes in their songs, in spite of frontman and former Rick Santorum endorser Dave Mustaine being politically nonsensical sometimes. (They also take the prize for “Band Name Most Likely Created By A Middle Schooler.”) If we can look past the Santorum misstep, Dave comes sort of close to embracing libertarianism: “I probably [am] a lot more along the lines of what a Libertarian is”.
The title track of “Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying?” is a metal classic, and although it comes short of chucking the whole state apparatus, it raises some pertinent questions:
What do you mean I couldn’t be the president of the United States of America? Tell me something. It’s still “We the people” RIGHT?
Holy Wars decries wars of religion in which “brother kills brother.” Symphony of Destruction chillingly warns of giving a dictator absolute control:
Take a mortal man, put him in control. Watch him become a god, watch peoples’ heads-a-roll.
Dave and co. have really nailed it, though, on their most recent Grammy-winning album, Dystopia. Track after track describe a tyrannical government coupled with a decaying society. In addition, it’s right up there with Megadeth’s best albums. The title track is about what you’d think, and includes the line “What you don’t know, the legend goes, can’t hurt you. If you only want to live and die in a cage.” Perhaps my favorite is The Emperor, a snarling punk outcry against the man in charge, pointing out what should be obvious (no clothes).
8. NOFX
Finding a punk band that appreciates private property is tough. There are many who are great on criticizing the U.S. war machine (Anti-Flag, Bad Religion) or presidents with the last name Bush (Green Day). These are noble things to be sure. Sadly, there just are not any major punk bands that haven’t drunk the socialist Kool Aid (red Kool Aid, presumably). NOFX is not too different in that respect. However, they are right on several key issues: foreign policy (see We March To The Beat Of Indifferent Drum), freedom of expression (see Separation of Church and Skate), and freedom of speech (see Freedumb). What sets NOFX over the top is their tribute to actual real libertarianism, The Plan. In it they sing:
Call us libertarian, cause we do as we please
Don’t need fear, or force, or farce to know morality
Morals aren’t a substance you can shove in someone’s ear
They’re basically a byproduct of, a mind thinking clear
Having come up in the 90s, it’s also refreshing that they don’t appear to buy into today’s identity politics. Their songs are littered with rude, locker room humor, and they poke fun at all sorts of different demographics. While this may cause some to take offense, at least NOFX do not advocate locking people in prison just for speaking. Indeed, if the Social Justice Warriors ever take over (Lord, please no), expect to see NOFX albums at the top of the burn pile.
9. Thrice
Thrice has wandered the back alleys between the “metalcore”, “post-hardcore”, and “indie rock” sub-genres since 1998, and still going strong at the time of this writing. In a Thrice song, you can’t be sure if you might hear screaming, beautiful singing, acoustic guitar, keyboards, or face melting metal licks. Themes of personal brokenness, relational challenges, theology, social evils, and distrust of the status quo fill lyricist/frontman Dustin Kensrue’s lyrics. Kensrue doesn’t seem to embrace a particular political ideology, but admits “I would align with a fair amount of Libertarian stuff at times.“
You may be able to guess this from songs like “Blood on the Sand“, a condemnation of the US wars in the Middle East or “Under a Killing Moon“, a song about totalitarian leadership in search of “witches to burn.” “Doublespeak” examines the tendency of people to not want to know the truth about “who pulls the strings.” “Black Honey” shows the folly and futility of wars in the Middle East, comparing the US government to someone slapping a swarm of bees and wondering why they get stung. “The Earth Will Shake” is an awesome, skull-pounding chain-gang spiritual about prisoners longing for freedom – and if the earthquake doesn’t topple the prison walls, this song will.
10. Bob Dylan
It would probably be folly to label Bob Dylan “libertarian,” as he is generally impossible to label. Dylan has unquestionably shaped popular music since the 60s. A few years after he started playing folk, he exchanged his acoustic guitar for an electric guitar and started accompanying his beautiful, poetic, cryptic lyrics with rock music. Outrage from many of his folk fans followed. However, having heard this new sound, it occurred to the Beatles and every other rock band at the time that their songs didn’t have to all be about puppy love. Dylan has taken so many forked roads in his career that no one (and perhaps not even he) can guess where he will go next.
Maybe it’s that whole “I do what I want” attitude that contributes to the streaks of liberty found in many of his songs. Though his protest songs from the 60s are usually associated with the left, which was doing most of the protesting, libertarians can still latch on to:
- Masters of War, a bleak condemnation of war profiteers
- With God on Our Side, exposes the inconsistency of how cultures justify war, and who we choose for enemies and allies
- Blowin’ in the Wind, his classic, hit song that asks questions like “How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?” and “How many deaths will it take ’til he knows that too many people have died?”
- Rainy Day Women #12 & 35, a lament about how people often want to “stone you” for minding your own business and doing your own thing
- Man of Peace, a scathing blast at politicians and people in power: “Sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace.”
- I Shall Be Released, a beautiful folk/gospel ballad of a prisoner looking forward in hope to his freedom
Honorable Mentions
It’s a good thing that not all of the contenders would fit in a group of 10 – we need more libertarian artists! So here are some honorable mentions:
LEAH, an independent artist who plays fantasy/celtic influenced metal. She has a few songs that hint at her own personal beliefs, which are libertarian.
Tatiana Moroz is a singer/songwriter with a beautiful voice who worked with the Ron Paul presidential campaigns and is active in the cryptocurrency community.
Jordan Page is a singer/songwriter who campaigned with Ron Paul. A hard rock sound and solid, liberty-themed lyrics.
Anti-Flag is a politically radical punk band – great on anti-war and government oppression themes, but not so great on private property. Check out “Die For Your Government” or “911 For Peace.”
Incubus is a massively popular alternative rock band who rose to fame in the 90s. Song themes include hubris in political leaders and thinking for yourself.
Thrash metal is back, and Havok brings the liberty message along with copious amounts of hair banging around. Give a listen to “Give Me Liberty…Or Give Me Death.”
My ego is not so great that I would dream of being near the top 10, but if you’d like to check out my own libertarian music, my song “In December” could be a good start.
Links – The Sound of Liberty
Want to sample these bands? Take a gander at this Spotify playlist: Top 10 Libertarian Rock Bands.
Or this visual, complimentary YouTube playlist:
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