Andre Yoskowitz
23 Feb 2008 18:58
Jello Biafra, the former Dead Kennedys lead singer, recently had a few choice words for the RIAA, going as far as to say that the group reminds him of the mafia.
“I have two different opinions on file-sharing,” says Biafra, “you may take from the big labels...because the only thing they do is steal from both the artists and the audience.”
Besides calling the big labels the "bad guys", he placed the "small guys" on the "good side." “Don’t take from the smaller, independent labels. Then fantastic bands would have to surrender way too early, because they can’t afford it,” he says.
“Support the independent labels, but the big ones –****’em. Anyways, I haven’t found anything in many years which come from a large label worth buying” adds Biafra.
Moving on to the RIAA, Biafra gets even angrier.
“The RIAA reminds me most of the Godfather,” Biafra says, actually going into a Marlon Brando impression, “we will sue you. If you want out of this without going to court, we can make an arrangement: Give us $5000. If not, you will find a horses head in your bed.”
“They are doing this to 12 year old girls, they are doing it to 80 year old women, and they do it to students. There are plenty of examples that show people having to quit school because they had to give all their money to the recording industry instead,” he finally notes.
There are many of us who agree with these statements, especially knowing how little these lawsuits have done to stop overall piracy. The model has changed, but the record industry has not adapted as quickly as they should have.