Editorial: Musicians angered by tunes for torture

The National Security Archive filed a series of petitions this week seeking detailed records of the use of music as interrogation devices at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.

The action was taken under the federal Freedom of Information Act on behalf of a group of musicians outraged that their work may have been used for purposes some describe as torture.

“The fact that music I helped create was used in crimes against humanity sickens me,” said Tom Morello, formerly of the heavy metal group Rage Against the Machine, in a statement.

Many former detainees have described being forced to listen to loud music for prolonged periods, a practice that violates the United Nations Convention Against Torture, according to Jayne Huckerby, a researcher at the New York University School of Law, in an Oct. 22 Washington Post report.

Interestingly, the musicians have chose the strategy of the government’s FOI Act, which produces results but can move at glacial speed. Perhaps that’s because their motivation is to have the Guantanamo Bay facility closed, as promised by President Barack Obama as a goal for his first year in the Oval Office.

Perhaps the musicians should consider another tack and take the matter into the civil courts.

All the musicians involved, and musical works from the Barney theme song to “Born in the USA” are registered with one of two licensing companies — BMI and ASCAP.

The use of music to inflict psychological leverage on prisoners may gin up a sense of moral outrage among members of the music industry, but unless they’ve received royalties they haven’t mentioned, they have a bigger ax to grind.