Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Webcaster Mutes Band's Anti-Bush Lyrics

Censor intercepts Pearl Jam's jab; AT&T blames 'mistake'

By Heather McPherson,  Newser User

Posted Aug 9, 2007 2:26 PM CDT

(Newser) – Pearl Jam is slamming AT&T after the telecom company censored its Webcast of the band's performance at Lollapalooza Sunday. Lyrics telling George Bush to "leave this world alone" and "find another home" during the Chicago show vanished from the streaming version of the gig; AT&T blames an "overzealous" editor for excising the lines, the Chicago Tribune reports.

"We don't have a policy in place to censor," an AT&T spokeswoman said. "This was an honest mistake. There was no censorship intended." On its website, Pearl Jam raises the issues of media consolidation and net neutrality, adding, "it's about something much bigger than the censorship of a rock band."

Crowds cheer Pearl Jam in Grant Park during Lollapalooza, 2007.
Crowds cheer Pearl Jam in Grant Park during Lollapalooza, 2007.   ((c) mrch0mp3rs)
Pearl Jam emits a blinding glow, in this fan-taken photograph from Lollapalooza, 2007.
Pearl Jam emits a blinding glow, in this fan-taken photograph from Lollapalooza, 2007.   ((c) mrch0mp3rs)
Eddie Vedder, lead singer for the rock group Pearl Jam, seen here at the Kokua Festival at the Waikiki Shell in Honolulu, Saturday, April 24, 2007. What happened to us this weekend was a wake-up call, and it's about something much bigger than the censorship of a rock band, said...
Eddie Vedder, lead singer for the rock group Pearl Jam, seen here at the Kokua Festival at the Waikiki Shell in Honolulu, Saturday, April 24, 2007. "What happened to us this weekend was a wake-up call,...   (Associated Press)
Eddie Vedder (right) with fellow politically-conscious rocker, Bono of U2. The censored lyrics read George Bush, leave this world alone and George Bush, find yourself another home.
Eddie Vedder (right) with fellow politically-conscious rocker, Bono of U2. The censored lyrics read ""George Bush, leave this world alone" and "George Bush, find yourself another home".   (Getty Images)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

Pearl Jam Via Target? It's a Brave New World


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne