THIS EXISTS: Popular music used to torture prisoners
by AUX staff
June 12, 2014
In the past, we’ve enlisted The Needle Drop‘s Anthony Fantano to hash out quick picks in proto-punk and death metal, but this time around the tables have turned—in collaboration with our regular running This Exists, Fantano’s asked us to talk about the sensitive subject of the military using music to torture its prisoners.
During the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989, the army continuously played Van Halen’s “Panama” to drive Manuel Noriega to surrender. Things have become much less funny since then.
Not all instances involve “heavy” or “punishing” songs, either, and it turns out there’s at least one band that’s endorsed the military’s use of their songs in interrogations. Their link to the Osama assassination might surprise you.
Tags: Music, Lists, Videos, britney spears, Demon Hunter, Metallica, Skinny Puppy, this exists, Van Halen
