Misplaced Pages

David Rovics: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 14:23, 22 August 2023 editBobfrombrockley (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users29,239 edits →Political activism: copy edits← Previous edit Latest revision as of 06:23, 21 December 2024 edit undoSmasongarrison (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers721,757 edits Copying from Category:Jewish American anti-Zionists to Category:American anti-Zionists Diffusing per WP:DIFFUSE and/or WP:ALLINCLUDED using Cat-a-lot 
(32 intermediate revisions by 23 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Use American English|date=August 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Short description|American musician}} {{Short description|American musician}}
{{Primary sources|date=September 2010}} {{Primary sources|date=September 2010}}
{{Infobox musical artist {{Infobox musical artist
| name = David Rovics | name = David Rovics
| image = David Rovics 2013.jpg | image =
| caption = Rovics in 2013. | caption =
| image_size = 240px | origin = New York City, U.S.
| origin = ], ], U.S. | genre = {{Flatlist|
| genre = {{Flatlist|
*] *]
*] *]
*] *]
*]}} *]}}
| years_active = 1992–present | years_active = 1992–present
| associated_acts = ]<br />]<br />] | associated_acts = ]<br />]<br />]
| website = {{URL|http://www.davidrovics.com}} | website = {{URL|http://www.davidrovics.com}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|04|10}} | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|04|10}}
}} }}


'''David Stefan Rovics''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|oʊ|v|ɪ|k|s}} {{Respell|ROH|viks}};<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji4TY5M7D6o|title=Folklife: Interview with David Rovics Singer Songwriter|work=YouTube|date=July 11, 2012|accessdate=16 January 2023}}</ref> born April 10, 1967) is an American ] singer/songwriter. His music concerns topical subjects such as the ], ], ], and ] issues. Rovics has been an outspoken critic of former President ], the ], ], and the ]. '''David Stefan Rovics''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|oʊ|v|ɪ|k|s}} {{Respell|ROH|viks}};<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji4TY5M7D6o|title=Folklife: Interview with David Rovics Singer Songwriter|work=YouTube|date=July 11, 2012|access-date=January 16, 2023}}</ref> born April 10, 1967) is an American ] singer/songwriter. His music concerns both topical subjects such as the ], ], ], and ] issues, and also ]. Rovics has been an outspoken critic of former President ], the ], ], and the ].


Rovics is critical of the United States government's policies and claims that the "U.S. government's foreign policy represents U.S. corporate interests" and that "the U.S. government does not like democracy either at home or abroad."<ref name="tlaxcala">{{cite web|title=tlaxcala |url=http://www.tlaxcala.es/pp.asp?lg=en&reference=6916 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018141550/http://www.tlaxcala.es/pp.asp?lg=en&reference=6916 |archive-date=October 18, 2013 }}</ref> Rovics is critical of the United States government's policies and claims that the "U.S. government's foreign policy represents U.S. corporate interests" and that "the U.S. government does not like democracy either at home or abroad."<ref name="tlaxcala">{{cite web|title=tlaxcala |url=http://www.tlaxcala.es/pp.asp?lg=en&reference=6916 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018141550/http://www.tlaxcala.es/pp.asp?lg=en&reference=6916 |archive-date=October 18, 2013 }}</ref>


Although some of Rovics' work is not self-published, and much of it is commercially distributed, Rovics has made all of his recorded music freely available as downloadable ] files. He encourages the free distribution of his work by all ] means to promote his work and spread political messages, and speaks out against websites or programs like ] that charge money for downloading his songs. Rovics has also advocated the performing of his songs at protests and demonstrations and has made his sheet music and lyrics available for download.<ref name="songbook">{{cite web| title=David Rovics - Download Songbook| url=http://davidrovics.prognet.dk/index.htm| work= Progressive @rt & Design | access-date=16 June 2011}}</ref> Although some of Rovics' work is not self-published, and much of it is commercially distributed, Rovics has made all of his recorded music freely available as downloadable ] files. He encourages the free distribution of his work by all ] means to promote his work and spread political messages, and speaks out against websites or programs like ] that charge money for downloading his songs. Rovics has also advocated the performing of his songs at protests and demonstrations and has made his sheet music and lyrics available for download.<ref name="songbook">{{cite web| title=David Rovics - Download Songbook| url=http://davidrovics.prognet.dk/index.htm| work=Progressive @rt & Design| access-date=June 16, 2011| archive-date=June 18, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618105811/http://davidrovics.prognet.dk/index.htm| url-status=dead}}</ref>


==Biography== ==Biography==
David Rovics was born in ]. His family moved to ], ] when he was young. Rovics was politically inspired during his adolescence by his experiences with the ]-oriented, Christian milieu of his home town. His parents, both classical musicians<ref name="Bio">{{cite web| title=David Rovics Biography| url=http://www.davidrovics.com/bio.php | work=David Rovics| access-date=16 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111112500/http://www.davidrovics.com/bio.php|archive-date=11 January 2015}}</ref> and educators, were liberal in their outlook. Perhaps for this reason, while in his teens Rovics acquired interests in ], ] and other ] issues. He has described himself as an "anti-Zionist ] from New York".<ref>{{cite web|last=Rovics|first=David|title=The Antideutsch and Me: An Open Letter to the German Left|date=23 September 2013 |url=http://songwritersnotebook.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/the-antideutsch-and-me-open-letter-to.html}}</ref> David Rovics was born in ]. His family moved to ], ] when he was young. Rovics was politically inspired during his adolescence by his experiences with the ]-oriented, Christian milieu of his home town. His parents, both classical musicians<ref name="Bio">{{cite web| title=David Rovics Biography| url=http://www.davidrovics.com/bio.php | work=David Rovics| access-date=June 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111112500/http://www.davidrovics.com/bio.php|archive-date=January 11, 2015}}</ref> and educators, were liberal in their outlook. Perhaps for this reason, while in his teens Rovics acquired interests in ], ] and other ] issues. He has described himself as an "] ] from New York".<ref>{{cite web|last=Rovics|first=David|title=The Antideutsch and Me: An Open Letter to the German Left|date=September 23, 2013 |url=http://songwritersnotebook.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/the-antideutsch-and-me-open-letter-to.html}}</ref>


In 1985, Rovics enrolled at ] in ], Indiana, but dropped out and moved to ], California. He worked in occupations such as a cook, ], secretary and typist, while pursuing his musical interests as a street and subway performer and in small clubs and bars. He immersed himself in ] counterculture and made contact with other songwriters and performers on the ] circuit. By the early 1990s he was a full-time ] in the Boston subways.<ref name="Bio"/> In 1985, Rovics enrolled at ] in ], Indiana, but dropped out and moved to ], California. He worked in occupations such as a cook, ], secretary and typist, while pursuing his musical interests as a street and subway performer and in small clubs and bars. He immersed himself in ] counterculture and made contact with other songwriters and performers on the ] circuit. By the early 1990s he was a full-time ] in the Boston subways.<ref name="Bio"/>


From the mid-1990s, Rovics has spent most of his time on concert tours around the world.<ref name="Bio"/> Rovics tours regularly on four continents, playing for audiences large and small at cafes, pubs, universities, churches, union halls and protest rallies. He has had his music featured on '']'', the ], ], ] and other networks. His essays are published regularly on ] and ] and the 200+ songs he makes available on the web have been downloaded more than a million times.<ref name="Bio"/> Although Rovics' work has not gained major commercial success, it has been acclaimed in sections of the press.<ref name="return">{{cite web| title=Review: Return| url=http://www.acousticmusic.com/fame/p03610.htm| work= Acousticmusic.com | access-date=16 June 2011}}</ref><ref name="Pulse">{{cite web| title=The Social Significance of David Rovics|author=Jasmin| url=http://pulsemedia.org/2009/07/22/the-social-significance-of-david-rovics/| work=The Pulse| access-date=16 June 2011| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825091902/http://pulsemedia.org/2009/07/22/the-social-significance-of-david-rovics/| archive-date=25 August 2011}}</ref><ref name="Anchorage">{{cite web|last1=Emerick|first1=Katie| title=Rabble rouser for the new left| url=http://www.anchoragepress.com/arts_and_entertainment/music_article/article_a32646b9-1829-5f4f-bef3-d252c6109971.html| work=Anchorage Press| access-date=16 June 2011| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130116221811/http://www.anchoragepress.com/arts_and_entertainment/music_article/article_a32646b9-1829-5f4f-bef3-d252c6109971.html| archive-date=16 January 2013}}</ref><ref name="Time Out">{{cite web| title=David Rovics| url=http://www.timeout.com.hk/music/features/39887/david-rovics.html| work=Time Out Hong Kong| access-date=16 June 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004142200/http://www.timeout.com.hk/music/features/39887/david-rovics.html| archive-date=4 October 2011| url-status=dead| df=dmy-all}}</ref> From the mid-1990s, Rovics has spent most of his time on concert tours around the world.<ref name="Bio"/> Rovics tours regularly on four continents, playing for audiences large and small at cafes, pubs, universities, churches, union halls and protest rallies. He has had his music featured on '']'', the ], ], ] and other networks. His essays are published regularly on ] and ] and the 200+ songs he makes available on the web have been downloaded more than a million times.<ref name="Bio"/> Although Rovics' work has not gained major commercial success, it has been acclaimed in sections of the press.<ref name="return">{{cite web| title=Review: Return| url=http://www.acousticmusic.com/fame/p03610.htm| work= Acousticmusic.com | access-date=June 16, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Pulse">{{cite web| title=The Social Significance of David Rovics|author=Jasmin| url=http://pulsemedia.org/2009/07/22/the-social-significance-of-david-rovics/| work=The Pulse| access-date=June 16, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825091902/http://pulsemedia.org/2009/07/22/the-social-significance-of-david-rovics/| archive-date=August 25, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Anchorage">{{cite web|last1=Emerick|first1=Katie| title=Rabble rouser for the new left| url=http://www.anchoragepress.com/arts_and_entertainment/music_article/article_a32646b9-1829-5f4f-bef3-d252c6109971.html| work=Anchorage Press| access-date=June 16, 2011| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130116221811/http://www.anchoragepress.com/arts_and_entertainment/music_article/article_a32646b9-1829-5f4f-bef3-d252c6109971.html| archive-date=January 16, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Time Out">{{cite web| title=David Rovics| url=http://www.timeout.com.hk/music/features/39887/david-rovics.html| work=Time Out Hong Kong| access-date=June 16, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004142200/http://www.timeout.com.hk/music/features/39887/david-rovics.html| archive-date=October 4, 2011| df=dmy-all}}</ref>


He currently lives in Portland, Oregon, with his family<ref name="Bio"/> and has a daughter, Leila, who was born in 2006.<ref name="Znet">{{cite web| title=The Soundtrack to Protest: An interview with David Rovics| url=http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=1&amp;ItemID=11032| work=ZNet| date=September 2006| access-date=16 June 2011| first=Matt| last=Dineen| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061005121518/http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=1&ItemID=11032| archive-date=5 October 2006| url-status=dead| df=dmy-all}}</ref> He currently lives in ] with his family<ref name="Bio"/> and has a daughter, Leila, who was born in 2006.<ref name="Znet">{{cite web| title=The Soundtrack to Protest: An interview with David Rovics| url=http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=1&amp;ItemID=11032| work=ZNet| date=September 2006| access-date=June 16, 2011| first=Matt| last=Dineen| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061005121518/http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=1&ItemID=11032| archive-date=October 5, 2006| df=dmy-all}}</ref>


==Political activism== ==Political activism==
] ]


Rovics has also written a song on ], a ] combatant who died in the ], in his song "Up The Provos".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.davidrovics.com/songbook/up-the-provos-2/|title=Up The Provos|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref> Rovics has also written a song on ], a ] combatant who died in the ], in his song "Up The Provos".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.davidrovics.com/songbook/up-the-provos-2/|title=Up The Provos|language=en-US|access-date=March 31, 2020}}</ref>


Rovics has been accused by anti-fascists ] and ] of promotion of individuals associated with ], ] and ], namely ], ], and ].<ref name="It's Going Down 2021">{{cite web | title="No, It Is the Children Who Are Wrong": A Response to David Rovics | website=It's Going Down | date=11 August 2021 | url=https://itsgoingdown.org/no-it-is-the-children-who-are-wrong-a-response-to-david-rovics/ | access-date=27 March 2023}}</ref><ref name="Burley 2022">{{cite web | last=Burley | first=Shane | title=The Gilad Atzmon and David Rovics Antisemitism Controversy, Explained | date=24 April 2022 | url=https://www.anarchistfederation.net/the-gilad-atzmon-and-david-rovics-antisemitism-controversy-explained/ | access-date=27 March 2023}}</ref> Rovics temporarily removed the interview with Heimbach from his site, but responded that Atzmon is not an antisemite and Heimbach not a fascist, and that it is important to understand why people are drawn to the far right.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rovics |first1=David |title=The Campaign Against Me |url=https://davidrovics.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-campaign-against-me.html |website=This Week with David Rovics |date=16 July 2021 |access-date=17 July 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210717214652/https://davidrovics.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-campaign-against-me.html |archive-date=17 July 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Pasvankias 2021">{{cite web | last=Rovics| first=David| title=Platforming Fascists | website=PM Press | date=31 January 2021 | url=https://blog.pmpress.org/2021/01/30/platforming-fascists/ | access-date=27 March 2023}}</ref><ref name="Burley 2023">{{cite web | last=Burley | first=Shane | title=Fascists Are Attempting to Win Followers by Rebranding as Antiwar | website=Truthout | date=19 March 2023 | url=https://truthout.org/articles/fascists-are-attempting-to-win-followers-by-rebranding-as-antiwar/ | access-date=27 March 2023}}</ref> In 2021, Rovics interviewed white nationalist activist ] and posted it on his YouTube account, hosted a conversation with musician ] on the same account, and appeared on the podcast of conspiracy theorist ].<ref name="Tenold 2018">{{cite book | last=Tenold | first=Vegas | title=Everything You Love Will Burn | publisher=Bold Type Books | date=2018-02-20 | isbn=978-1-56858-995-4 }}</ref> As a result, Rovics has been accused by anti-fascists ] and ] of promotion of individuals associated with ], ] and ].<ref name="It's Going Down 2021">{{cite web | title="No, It Is the Children Who Are Wrong": A Response to David Rovics | website=It's Going Down | date=August 11, 2021 | url=https://itsgoingdown.org/no-it-is-the-children-who-are-wrong-a-response-to-david-rovics/ | access-date=March 27, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Burley 2022">{{cite web | last=Burley | first=Shane | title=The Gilad Atzmon and David Rovics Antisemitism Controversy, Explained | date=April 24, 2022 | url=https://www.anarchistfederation.net/the-gilad-atzmon-and-david-rovics-antisemitism-controversy-explained/ | access-date=March 27, 2023}}</ref> Rovics temporarily removed the interview with Heimbach from his site, but responded that Atzmon is not an antisemite and Heimbach not a fascist, and that it is important to understand why people are drawn to the far-right.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rovics |first1=David |title=The Campaign Against Me |url=https://davidrovics.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-campaign-against-me.html |website=This Week with David Rovics |date=July 16, 2021 |access-date=July 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210717214652/https://davidrovics.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-campaign-against-me.html |archive-date=July 17, 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Pasvankias 2021">{{cite web | last=Rovics| first=David| title=Platforming Fascists | website=PM Press | date=January 31, 2021 | url=https://blog.pmpress.org/2021/01/30/platforming-fascists/ | access-date=March 27, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Burley 2023">{{cite web | last=Burley | first=Shane | title=Fascists Are Attempting to Win Followers by Rebranding as Antiwar | website=Truthout | date=March 19, 2023 | url=https://truthout.org/articles/fascists-are-attempting-to-win-followers-by-rebranding-as-antiwar/ | access-date=March 27, 2023}}</ref>


==Discography== ==Discography==
Line 50: Line 51:
* ''Who Would Jesus Bomb?'' (Self-release, 2003) * ''Who Would Jesus Bomb?'' (Self-release, 2003)
* ''Behind the Barricades, the Best of David Rovics'' (]/] 2003) * ''Behind the Barricades, the Best of David Rovics'' (]/] 2003)
* ''The Return'' (], 2003) * ''The Return'' (Ever Reviled Records, 2003)
* ''Songs for Mahmud'' (], 2004) * ''Songs for Mahmud'' (Ever Reviled Records, 2004)
* ''Beyond the Mall'' (Self-release, 2004) * ''Beyond the Mall'' (Self-release, 2004)
* ''For the Moment'' (Yoyo Records, 2005)<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Lankford |first1=Ronnie D., Jr. |title=David Rovics - For the Moment |work=AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/for-the-moment-mw0000250598 |language=en |access-date=2023-01-22 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> * ''For the Moment'' (Yoyo Records, 2005)<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Lankford |first1=Ronnie D. Jr. |title=David Rovics - For the Moment |work=AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/for-the-moment-mw0000250598 |language=en |access-date=January 22, 2023 }}</ref>
* ''Halliburton Boardroom Massacre'' (MI5 Records/Caroline Distribution, 2006)<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Alan |title=David Rovics: Halliburton Boardroom Massacre |work=PopMatters |date=2007-04-05 |url=https://www.popmatters.com/david-rovics-halliburton-boardroom-massacre-2496179507.html |language=en-US |access-date=2023-01-22 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> * ''Halliburton Boardroom Massacre'' (MI5 Records/Caroline Distribution, 2006)<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Alan |title=David Rovics: Halliburton Boardroom Massacre |work=PopMatters |date=April 5, 2007 |url=https://www.popmatters.com/david-rovics-halliburton-boardroom-massacre-2496179507.html |language=en-US |access-date=January 22, 2023 }}</ref>
* ''The Commons'' (Irregular Records, 2007) Recorded live at ] * ''The Commons'' (Irregular Records, 2007) Recorded live at ]
* ''Ten Thousand Miles Away'' (Liberation Records, 2009) * ''Ten Thousand Miles Away'' (Liberation Records, 2009)
Line 64: Line 65:
* ''99%'' (Liberation Records, 2012) * ''99%'' (Liberation Records, 2012)
* ''Spies Are Reading My Blog'' (Liberation Records, 2013) * ''Spies Are Reading My Blog'' (Liberation Records, 2013)
* ''A Coup That Wasn't A Coup'' (17 Aug 2013) * ''A Coup That Wasn't A Coup'' (Aug 17, 2013)
* ''Everything Can Change'' (Liberation Records, 2013) * ''Everything Can Change'' (Liberation Records, 2013)
* ''Into A Prism'' (Liberation Records, 2013) * ''Into A Prism'' (Liberation Records, 2013)
Line 77: Line 78:
*''Ballad of a Wobbly'' (Self-Release, 2018) *''Ballad of a Wobbly'' (Self-Release, 2018)
*''Historic Times'' (Self-Release, 2019) *''Historic Times'' (Self-Release, 2019)
*''Meanwhile in Afghanistan'' (Self-Release, 2019)<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Altman |first1=Ross |title=David Rovics - Meanwhile in Afghanistan |work=FolkWorks |url=https://folkworks.org/review/david-rovics-meanwhile-in-afghanistan/ |language=en-US |access-date=2023-01-22 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> *''Meanwhile in Afghanistan'' (Self-Release, 2019)<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Altman |first1=Ross |title=David Rovics - Meanwhile in Afghanistan |work=FolkWorks |url=https://folkworks.org/review/david-rovics-meanwhile-in-afghanistan/ |language=en-US |access-date=January 22, 2023 }}</ref>
*''Songs for Today'' (Self-Release, 2019) *''Songs for Today'' (Self-Release, 2019)
*''Strangers and Friends'' (Self-Release, 2019) *''Strangers and Friends'' (Self-Release, 2019)
Line 85: Line 86:
*''It's Been a Year'' (Self-Release, 2021) *''It's Been a Year'' (Self-Release, 2021)
*''May Day'' (Self-Release, 2021) *''May Day'' (Self-Release, 2021)
*''Notes From A Holocaust'' (Self-Release, 2023)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rovics |first1=David |title=Palestine – David Rovics -Singer/Songwriter |url=https://www.davidrovics.com/palestine/ |access-date=7 January 2024}}</ref>


===Children's albums=== ===Children's albums===
* ''Har Har Har! Pirate Songs for Kids'' (CD Baby.Com/Indys, 2008) * ''Har Har Har! Pirate Songs for Kids'' (CD Baby.Com/Indys, 2008)
* ''Ballad of a Dung Beetle'' (2011) * ''Ballad of a Dung Beetle'' (2011)

==See also==
* ], the subject of Rovics' song ''Landlord''


==References== ==References==
Line 96: Line 101:
* *
* *
* *
* {{Cite web |title=Radical musician barred on way to Nelson gig |work=Stuff |date=2013-08-17 |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/ipad-editors-picks/9055435/Radical-musician-barred-on-way-to-Nelson-gig |language=en |access-date=2023-01-22 |df=mdy-all }} * {{Cite web |title=Radical musician barred on way to Nelson gig |work=Stuff |date=August 17, 2013 |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/ipad-editors-picks/9055435/Radical-musician-barred-on-way-to-Nelson-gig |language=en |access-date=January 22, 2023 }}


==External links== ==External links==
Line 120: Line 125:
] ]
] ]
]
] ]
] ]
Line 127: Line 131:
] ]
] ]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 06:23, 21 December 2024

American musician
This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources.
Find sources: "David Rovics" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
David Rovics
Born (1967-04-10) April 10, 1967 (age 57)
OriginNew York City, U.S.
Genres
Years active1992–present
Websitewww.davidrovics.com
Musical artist

David Stefan Rovics (/ˈroʊvɪks/ ROH-viks; born April 10, 1967) is an American indie singer/songwriter. His music concerns both topical subjects such as the 2003 Iraq war, anti-globalization, anarchism, and social justice issues, and also labor history. Rovics has been an outspoken critic of former President George W. Bush, the Republican Party, John Kerry, and the Democratic Party.

Rovics is critical of the United States government's policies and claims that the "U.S. government's foreign policy represents U.S. corporate interests" and that "the U.S. government does not like democracy either at home or abroad."

Although some of Rovics' work is not self-published, and much of it is commercially distributed, Rovics has made all of his recorded music freely available as downloadable mp3 files. He encourages the free distribution of his work by all non-profit means to promote his work and spread political messages, and speaks out against websites or programs like iTunes that charge money for downloading his songs. Rovics has also advocated the performing of his songs at protests and demonstrations and has made his sheet music and lyrics available for download.

Biography

David Rovics was born in New York City. His family moved to Wilton, Connecticut when he was young. Rovics was politically inspired during his adolescence by his experiences with the conservative-oriented, Christian milieu of his home town. His parents, both classical musicians and educators, were liberal in their outlook. Perhaps for this reason, while in his teens Rovics acquired interests in nuclear disarmament, vegetarianism and other counterculture issues. He has described himself as an "anti-Zionist Jew from New York".

In 1985, Rovics enrolled at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, but dropped out and moved to Berkeley, California. He worked in occupations such as a cook, barista, secretary and typist, while pursuing his musical interests as a street and subway performer and in small clubs and bars. He immersed himself in leftist counterculture and made contact with other songwriters and performers on the underground circuit. By the early 1990s he was a full-time busker in the Boston subways.

From the mid-1990s, Rovics has spent most of his time on concert tours around the world. Rovics tours regularly on four continents, playing for audiences large and small at cafes, pubs, universities, churches, union halls and protest rallies. He has had his music featured on Democracy Now!, the BBC, Al-Jazeera, Acik Radyo and other networks. His essays are published regularly on CounterPunch and Truthout and the 200+ songs he makes available on the web have been downloaded more than a million times. Although Rovics' work has not gained major commercial success, it has been acclaimed in sections of the press.

He currently lives in Portland, Oregon with his family and has a daughter, Leila, who was born in 2006.

Political activism

Interview with David Rovics on Talk Nation Radio dealing with the politics of music.

Rovics has also written a song on Francis Hughes, a Provisional IRA combatant who died in the 1981 Irish Hunger Strike, in his song "Up The Provos".

In 2021, Rovics interviewed white nationalist activist Matthew Heimbach and posted it on his YouTube account, hosted a conversation with musician Gilad Atzmon on the same account, and appeared on the podcast of conspiracy theorist Kevin Barrett. As a result, Rovics has been accused by anti-fascists It's Going Down and Shane Burley of promotion of individuals associated with white nationalism, Holocaust denial and antisemitism. Rovics temporarily removed the interview with Heimbach from his site, but responded that Atzmon is not an antisemite and Heimbach not a fascist, and that it is important to understand why people are drawn to the far-right.

Discography

  • Make It So (Self-release, 1996)
  • Pay Day at Coal Creek (Self-release, 1998)
  • We Just Want the World (Liberation Records, 1999)
  • Live at Club Passim (Liberation Records, 2000)
  • Living In These Times (Liberation Records, 2001)
  • Hang a Flag In the Window (Liberation Records, 2002)
  • Who Would Jesus Bomb? (Self-release, 2003)
  • Behind the Barricades, the Best of David Rovics (AK Press/Daemon Records 2003)
  • The Return (Ever Reviled Records, 2003)
  • Songs for Mahmud (Ever Reviled Records, 2004)
  • Beyond the Mall (Self-release, 2004)
  • For the Moment (Yoyo Records, 2005)
  • Halliburton Boardroom Massacre (MI5 Records/Caroline Distribution, 2006)
  • The Commons (Irregular Records, 2007) Recorded live at Club Passim
  • Ten Thousand Miles Away (Liberation Records, 2009)
  • Waiting for the Fall - A Retrospective (Liberation Records, 2009)
  • Troubador: People's History in Song (Liberation Records, 2010)
  • Big Red Sessions (Liberation Records, 2011)
  • Ten New Songs (2011) (Liberation Records, 2011)
  • Meanwhile In Afghanistan (Liberation Records, 2012)
  • 99% (Liberation Records, 2012)
  • Spies Are Reading My Blog (Liberation Records, 2013)
  • A Coup That Wasn't A Coup (Aug 17, 2013)
  • Everything Can Change (Liberation Records, 2013)
  • Into A Prism (Liberation Records, 2013)
  • Falasteen Habibti (Self-release, 2014)
  • All the News That's Fit to Sing (Self-release, 2014)
  • When I'm Elected President / Wayfaring Stranger (Self-release, 2014)
  • The Other Side (Self-release, 2015)
  • 1936 (Self-Release, 2016)
  • Letter to My Landlord (Self-Release, 2016)
  • Spies are Reading My Blog (Self-Release, 2017)
  • Punk Baroque (Self-Release, 2017)
  • Ballad of a Wobbly (Self-Release, 2018)
  • Historic Times (Self-Release, 2019)
  • Meanwhile in Afghanistan (Self-Release, 2019)
  • Songs for Today (Self-Release, 2019)
  • Strangers and Friends (Self-Release, 2019)
  • Notes From a Failed State (Self-Release, 2020)
  • Say Their Names (Self-Release, 2020)
  • Rebel Songs (Free The Imagination) (Self-Release, 2020)
  • It's Been a Year (Self-Release, 2021)
  • May Day (Self-Release, 2021)
  • Notes From A Holocaust (Self-Release, 2023)

Children's albums

  • Har Har Har! Pirate Songs for Kids (CD Baby.Com/Indys, 2008)
  • Ballad of a Dung Beetle (2011)

See also

References

  1. "Folklife: Interview with David Rovics Singer Songwriter". YouTube. July 11, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  2. "tlaxcala". Archived from the original on October 18, 2013.
  3. "David Rovics - Download Songbook". Progressive @rt & Design. Archived from the original on June 18, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  4. ^ "David Rovics Biography". David Rovics. Archived from the original on January 11, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  5. Rovics, David (September 23, 2013). "The Antideutsch and Me: An Open Letter to the German Left".
  6. "Review: Return". Acousticmusic.com. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  7. Jasmin. "The Social Significance of David Rovics". The Pulse. Archived from the original on August 25, 2011. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  8. Emerick, Katie. "Rabble rouser for the new left". Anchorage Press. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  9. "David Rovics". Time Out Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  10. Dineen, Matt (September 2006). "The Soundtrack to Protest: An interview with David Rovics". ZNet. Archived from the original on 5 October 2006. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  11. "Up The Provos". Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  12. Tenold, Vegas (February 20, 2018). Everything You Love Will Burn. Bold Type Books. ISBN 978-1-56858-995-4.
  13. ""No, It Is the Children Who Are Wrong": A Response to David Rovics". It's Going Down. August 11, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  14. Burley, Shane (April 24, 2022). "The Gilad Atzmon and David Rovics Antisemitism Controversy, Explained". Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  15. Rovics, David (July 16, 2021). "The Campaign Against Me". This Week with David Rovics. Archived from the original on July 17, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  16. Rovics, David (January 31, 2021). "Platforming Fascists". PM Press. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  17. Burley, Shane (March 19, 2023). "Fascists Are Attempting to Win Followers by Rebranding as Antiwar". Truthout. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  18. Lankford, Ronnie D. Jr. "David Rovics - For the Moment". AllMusic. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  19. Brown, Alan (April 5, 2007). "David Rovics: Halliburton Boardroom Massacre". PopMatters. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  20. Altman, Ross. "David Rovics - Meanwhile in Afghanistan". FolkWorks. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  21. Rovics, David. "Palestine – David Rovics -Singer/Songwriter". Retrieved January 7, 2024.

Further reading

External links

Categories: