Bringing together opinions about equality, Kathie Lee Gifford and human and animal rights in the 21st century, the Spitfire Tour addressed the UW-Madison community Wednesday night as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series at the Wisconsin Union Theater.
A group of friends from the music industry, led in part by Zach De la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine, created the Spitfire Tour in 1998 to promote the message behind their music. Spitfire visits college campuses each fall, encouraging student activism.
Speakers included Krist Novoselic, the former bassist of Nirvana; Doria Roberts, a recording artist; Ingrid Newkirk, the founder and president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals; singer and songwriter Jill Sobule; and Jello Biafra, former leader of the Dead Kennedys.
The program focused on global affairs through commentary and music.
Novoselic of Nirvana acted as master of ceremonies for the event.
He spoke on making America a society in which all citizens have an equal voice.
\I believe the most patriotic thing a person can do is rally for an inclusive democracy,"" he said. He also said he thought the American government taxed its people without representation.
""We do not vote for the candidate we like. We vote for the lesser of two evils, or worse yet'don't vote at all,"" he said. Roberts, an advocate of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights movement, sang about abolishing discrimination in America, saying it ""affects everyone's life."" Newkirk spoke about animal rights. She said animals should be granted the same rights as humans.
""Discrimination has to go,"" she said. ""It's the 21st century'let's kick it out.""
Newkirk also spoke of the marketing strategies of PETA, a group well-known for the quote ""I'd rather go naked than wear fur."" She said the reason the slogan was used because ""sex sells.""
But, Newkirk also said, ""There is something here in Wisconsin more provocative than sex'beer,"" referring to PETA's report on the nutritional value of beer. The ""Got Beer?"" campaign drew controversy because it advocated drinking beer rather than drinking milk, an animal product.
Sobule acted as a social commentator, singing songs on Kathie Lee Gifford, President Bush, the death penalty and the Sept. 11 attacks.
Biafra, a social commentator and spokenword artist, spoke on economic equality and ""nonviolent extermination of the rich.\
