I realy like this peice because it does more than retell the controversy. It reconstructs the atmosphere around it and makes clear how quickly a protest song became a political weapon in other people’s hands.
What I especially like is that you keep the focus on context. Without Rodney King, the acquittals, and the long history of LAPD brutality, the whole story gets flattened into the usual free-speech food fight. You avoid that. You make clear that the anger in “Cop Killer” did not emerge from nowhere, which is exactly the point too many people wanted to ignore at the time.
The double-standard argument is strong as well. The comparison with mainstream screen violence helps show that this was never just about violent content. It was about who was speaking, from what position, and who felt threatened by that speech.
Strong piece on a still-misunderstood flashpoint, and a good reminder of how fast cultural panic can turn into institutional intimidation.
Thank you very much for your thoughtful comment, Howard. I agree that Rodney King and the consequent acquittals are key to understanding the Cop Killer story. As for Clint Eastwood, I had completely forgotten that Unforgiven and all its accolades had occurred the same year. The hypocrisy was predictable, but still took my breath away.
Fantastic piece Sonny. It almost seems quaint that people as high up as the president would denounce a musician for something like this. It's funny that they would get so upset about a reaction to events rather than at the events themselves.
It's also quaint (beautifully so) in how much controversy this song caused. If Cop Killer came out today, would it even move the needle all that much?
Thanks, AJ! Quaint is a great word for it. Remember, this was the same administration that also protested the show Murphy Brown. 🤣 What a world we used to live in.
Oh man I vaguely remember the Murphy Brown thing. The 90s almost seems like the 50s in some ways given how big a deal was made about things that seem positively anodyne now 😮💨
That was a solid piece Sonny, very historically researched. In other words your usual stellar work. Let me add a little historical side note to it. Arizona, where I lived at the time, was the last state to implement the MLK holiday. I won’t go into the whys here. Anyone interested can easily research it. At the time of the album and controversy surrounding it Arizona was in the process of doing a referendum to finally implement it. A promoter scheduled a Body Count show at a large club over by ASU. The Police Union freaked out. I had told you previously in one of your Lalapalooza posts about my interactions with the band. Anyway Ice said he wanted me to run the security and “fuck the police”. I was on a Metallica Tour but talked it over with mgmt and the guys, phoned a friend to take my spot, and returned to Phoenix to set it up. I had no idea what was going to happen so had to personally interview and select the security guys who would be working the show, especially around the barricade. My oldest daughter had just started at ASU and wanted to be part of it. There had to be a police presence but we agreed they would remain in the parking lot. The band performed with their personal security standing on each side of the stage with shotguns. The only victim of the show turned out to be a pair of eyeglasses lost by a young girl who got caught in the mosh. Unfortunately she couldn’t see. I could see she was in a panic state and went into the pit and got her out. My daughter took her to a safer area, called her Mom to come get her and stayed with her until she arrived. Anyway MLK was approved and implemented. History was made. In the many years of working in the business that was one show I remember vividly. I still have the Cop Killer tshirt the band gave me, framed and on the wall of my studio today. Again, a wonderful post.
Thank you so much, Daniel. Yes, I remember you mentioning Body Count before, but this is on another level. The history in play, the volatility in the air, the responsibility of handpicking the right people for a tough job, and a father’s stress of working with his daughter in a potentially explosive environment. No wonder you remember the show so well. I feel like I was there thanks to your vivid description. And the Cop Killer shirt is kick ass. 🤘
still have the original cd luckily. Even here in australia it got re-issued with the song dropped. i remember when it first came out, i used to get home from work, crank up the stereo (which was in the front room of the house) and play cop killer as loud as i could. The kids across the street would sit on the fence outside listening to it. As soon as i put anything else on, they'd leave hahahaha
Exactly what Howard said., good work constructing the timeframe around it. I was following Ice-T's rap back then, this THIS dropped. Body Count's still in the house. They put out a new record last year and have been collaborating with a lot of metal bands.
Thanks, Ray. And I agree: Body Count is still in the house and totally legit. Their first dates in front of a real audience were back in 1990 doing some spot gigs with Dirty Rotten Imbeciles., and they haven't stopped since. Like you said, they continue working with tons of bands in the punk / thrash / metal genres.
That's right! I DO remember them starting with DRI now. I love the irony that after all that drama back then, Ice-T's long been a cop on Law & Order. Good on him.
I realy like this peice because it does more than retell the controversy. It reconstructs the atmosphere around it and makes clear how quickly a protest song became a political weapon in other people’s hands.
What I especially like is that you keep the focus on context. Without Rodney King, the acquittals, and the long history of LAPD brutality, the whole story gets flattened into the usual free-speech food fight. You avoid that. You make clear that the anger in “Cop Killer” did not emerge from nowhere, which is exactly the point too many people wanted to ignore at the time.
The double-standard argument is strong as well. The comparison with mainstream screen violence helps show that this was never just about violent content. It was about who was speaking, from what position, and who felt threatened by that speech.
Strong piece on a still-misunderstood flashpoint, and a good reminder of how fast cultural panic can turn into institutional intimidation.
Thank you very much for your thoughtful comment, Howard. I agree that Rodney King and the consequent acquittals are key to understanding the Cop Killer story. As for Clint Eastwood, I had completely forgotten that Unforgiven and all its accolades had occurred the same year. The hypocrisy was predictable, but still took my breath away.
Fantastic piece Sonny. It almost seems quaint that people as high up as the president would denounce a musician for something like this. It's funny that they would get so upset about a reaction to events rather than at the events themselves.
It's also quaint (beautifully so) in how much controversy this song caused. If Cop Killer came out today, would it even move the needle all that much?
Thanks, AJ! Quaint is a great word for it. Remember, this was the same administration that also protested the show Murphy Brown. 🤣 What a world we used to live in.
Oh man I vaguely remember the Murphy Brown thing. The 90s almost seems like the 50s in some ways given how big a deal was made about things that seem positively anodyne now 😮💨
Good point about Unforgiven. It’s a great album beyond CK. Nicely done here, good read.
Thank you, Carl. And I agree - Body Count is a solid album, with or without Cop Killer.
That was a solid piece Sonny, very historically researched. In other words your usual stellar work. Let me add a little historical side note to it. Arizona, where I lived at the time, was the last state to implement the MLK holiday. I won’t go into the whys here. Anyone interested can easily research it. At the time of the album and controversy surrounding it Arizona was in the process of doing a referendum to finally implement it. A promoter scheduled a Body Count show at a large club over by ASU. The Police Union freaked out. I had told you previously in one of your Lalapalooza posts about my interactions with the band. Anyway Ice said he wanted me to run the security and “fuck the police”. I was on a Metallica Tour but talked it over with mgmt and the guys, phoned a friend to take my spot, and returned to Phoenix to set it up. I had no idea what was going to happen so had to personally interview and select the security guys who would be working the show, especially around the barricade. My oldest daughter had just started at ASU and wanted to be part of it. There had to be a police presence but we agreed they would remain in the parking lot. The band performed with their personal security standing on each side of the stage with shotguns. The only victim of the show turned out to be a pair of eyeglasses lost by a young girl who got caught in the mosh. Unfortunately she couldn’t see. I could see she was in a panic state and went into the pit and got her out. My daughter took her to a safer area, called her Mom to come get her and stayed with her until she arrived. Anyway MLK was approved and implemented. History was made. In the many years of working in the business that was one show I remember vividly. I still have the Cop Killer tshirt the band gave me, framed and on the wall of my studio today. Again, a wonderful post.
Thank you so much, Daniel. Yes, I remember you mentioning Body Count before, but this is on another level. The history in play, the volatility in the air, the responsibility of handpicking the right people for a tough job, and a father’s stress of working with his daughter in a potentially explosive environment. No wonder you remember the show so well. I feel like I was there thanks to your vivid description. And the Cop Killer shirt is kick ass. 🤘
still have the original cd luckily. Even here in australia it got re-issued with the song dropped. i remember when it first came out, i used to get home from work, crank up the stereo (which was in the front room of the house) and play cop killer as loud as i could. The kids across the street would sit on the fence outside listening to it. As soon as i put anything else on, they'd leave hahahaha
Exactly what Howard said., good work constructing the timeframe around it. I was following Ice-T's rap back then, this THIS dropped. Body Count's still in the house. They put out a new record last year and have been collaborating with a lot of metal bands.
Thanks, Ray. And I agree: Body Count is still in the house and totally legit. Their first dates in front of a real audience were back in 1990 doing some spot gigs with Dirty Rotten Imbeciles., and they haven't stopped since. Like you said, they continue working with tons of bands in the punk / thrash / metal genres.
That's right! I DO remember them starting with DRI now. I love the irony that after all that drama back then, Ice-T's long been a cop on Law & Order. Good on him.