“It’s an unbelievable tool for learning new tunings, capo use, original voicings, and face puckering riffs and solos.

Complete with an introduction by the band and various pictures throughout. Also featuring a “Performance Notes” section where the band give suggestions on tough sections and altered tunings.“

Eh!!

I’m sure you can easily imagine how tit might feel to receive this treatment and perhaps, if you’re a fan of punk, metal or any music subculture it hits a close to home in a way that is slightly little different than the ‘average’ human rights abuses we’ve sadly grown accustomed to ignoring. I can easily empathize with the complete frustration and humiliation these ‘punks’ must feel as I have had  a few brushes with bully ‘authorities’ who pretend they’re acting ‘in the name of the law’ but I have never, and hopefully never will, experience this type of human rights abuse by authorities of a state.

In the past Propagandhi has received letters from people in Banda Aceh and all over Indonesia so any one of these people could be the same people who have contacted us. I imagine that they feel complete rage and isolation inside at the moment. In the off chance that they might see this post I’d like to say to all the Punks who’ve been victimized by authorities in Indonesia that we, the members of Propagandhi, are supporting you and admire that you have expressed yourselves even at your own expense. You are definitely people to look up to and honor.

For us here in North America, and anywhere in the world where we are allowed to dress how we want (but clearly not to publicly demonstrate or protest), let this be a reminder of what happens when society follows fundamentalists and allows ‘morals’ to be dictated. There are a lot of people in all our countries who would love to give the ‘spiritual cleansing’ treatment to punks as well as people of other religions, fans of Harry Potter and countless other groups they may label as ‘deviants’.

To everybody:  If you believe in human dignity, autonomy, and the right for people to be able to make their own decisions- keep fighting for your rights and freedoms, as well as the rights and freedoms of others.

Hopefully within the lifetimes of the punks arrested in Aceh they will have the liberty to express themselves the way they choose.

Change.org has made a petition to advocate for their release.

The record label Aborted Society is collecting mix tapes and burned CD’s (no cases) to send to their fellow punks to help with morale. Maybe you can help out?

Check out this 100% ruling documentary about the Indonesian punk ‘scene’.

If anyone else has any ideas, or has anything on the go to help out send us a message about it. Thanks.

Keep the spirit alive everybody.

P.S. When visiting America  be sure not to dance at the Jefferson Monument.

If you are participating in Occupy Wall Street in any way, keep going! Let everyone know that Earth isn’t just a stomping ground/garbage dump for a spoiled and tiny fraction of it’s inhabitants. Send the message to the “elites” that their ability to live the easy life at all of our expense is coming to an end. If you haven’t seen the website yet, check it out:  occupywallst.org

Take care!

This film is an inquiry into what came to be known as Saskatoon’s infamous “freezing deaths,” and the schism between a fearful, mistrustful Aboriginal community and a police force that must come to terms with a shocking secret.

I hope you’re enjoying your evening and seasoning it, help other people as much as possible with some levity and common sense, two things that are sorely lacking in the world at the moment.

I have one little thing to say tonight: Try to keep your life’s endeavors positive; there’s way too many good and cool people and great things going on in this world to waste your life being negative or hateful. Create and achieve, my friends. Work hard, help other people as much as possible and keep rolling on.

Thanks.

Propagandhi is back in the ‘Peg after a whirlwind tour of Australia! Thanks to everyone over there especially Blue Murder, who booked the tour, and the great folks from Stolen Youth who played every show with us. Also thanks to Laura Horvath for making me an awesome vegan cheesecake for my 38th birthday. A  bunch of people came to see us at multiple shows, for that we are grateful. Also, many thanks to all the great Australian bands and everyone who came to rock out with us!

Now we get on to the excitement of preparing to record our next record! We hope to record in September.

Over ‘n out!

Sure the Stampede is a tradition in Calgary, so is Agribition in Regina and, in some other places, so are cockfights, dog fights and bear baiting. I understand; I used to have my own gun holster, hat, vest, and chaps, my favorite uncle was a stampede pick up man, I even had the rodeo queen come with me to school for show and tell once but there is a time when we’ve got to come to terms with the fact that the unparalleled joy of watching cowboys twist steer necks and menace poor bulls and horses to the point that the animals jump around like maniacs must come to an end. There’s no use in trying to extend our demented childhoods beyond their expiry date.

Feel free to rope each other, tie things around your nuts (if you’ve got them) or the nuts of your willing, yet bucking, friends if you want to but leave the poor animals out of it. Thanks.

This week is the the 20th anniversary standoff between Mohawks and the Canadian government forces in the Mohawk village of Kanehsatake near the town of Oka in Quebec. I have a particular interest in this anniversary because the crisis was also an extremely important moment in my life where I started learn more about indigenous rights, and struggles. Consequently, that was the year I changed my mindset for the better. To see more about the Oka standoff go here to watch the great movie Kanehsatake: 270 Years Of Resistance.

Ever since I was a young kid  Dio’s music and lyrics have helped me through some of the most confusing and bad times of my life.  I will miss him more than anyone can know. I actually cried when I heard the news. R.I.P. Ronnie.

live for today, tomorrow never comes.