A lot of these artists are going to regret their helping along this smiley-faced dual-class-citizenship despotism. Some of them buy the lies entire, but you know quite a few are betraying their principles, and shoving down the small-voice inside of them questioning whether this right. Early hip-hop and new wave, and all NYC bohemian artist types, didn’t ask permission to spread the music/art. Didn’t ask to “see your papers.” Shame especially on Elvis Costello, who knows deep down that this is wrong, and who doesn’t need these concert permission slips the way many younger artists feel they do.
Source: CITIZEN FREE PRESS