Earlier this month, Russian state-run broadcaster VGTRK used the song “High Roller” by The Crystal Method, in a drone video showing Syrian regime forces combating rebels in Jobar, a suburb of the Syrian capital. The veteran electronic duo were not pleased, saying they never gave permission for the song to be used.
The video was authorized by The Kremlin, the seat of Russian politics in Moscow, as a propaganda video to garner public support for Russian military aid to the Syrian regime in the conflict. The video shows an overhead view of the carnage in Jobar, complete with miles of bombed buildings and tank warfare.
The Crystal Method clearly had no intention of promoting the wreckage through their music. They commented their grievances with that decision in an official statement:
It has come to our attention over the last 24 hours that the Kremlin via Russian state broadcaster VGTRK have used our song ‘High Roller’ as the soundtrack to some shocking drone footage from Syria. The use of our music in this context is in no way authorized and The Crystal Method do not condone the use of violence for the resolution of any conflict. Our hearts go out to the people of Syria affected by this terrible war and their friends and families.
Clearly, the last thing group wanted was for their song to be used for this purpose. It seems the grand tradition for musicians advocating non-violence and pacifism is alive and well.
The Crystal Method’s self titled latest album was released in 2014.
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