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Archive for On Tyranny

On Tyranny: Swiss Grunge-Jazz Band District Five Warns MAGA Propaganda Is Corrupting Mainstream Entertainment

Posted in Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny, Videos with tags authoritarianism, District Five, fascism, On Tyranny, Saul Williams, Tapiwa Rüegg, trump, tyranny, Xaver Rüegg on 06/21/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Ten years ago, four multi-instrumentalists from Zürich, Switzerland, came together to form the we-dare-you-to-try-to-categorize-because-you-will-fail band District Five. “Intriguing” is probably the word that encapsulates the band, but in reality, District Five require – and are worthy of – much longer descriptions. This is one of those rare bands that can’t be figured out cerebrally; instead, District Five’s goal is to penetrate your heart and soul, making you remember what it’s like to feel the a human being again in an increasingly anti-human world.

Paul Amereller (drums, percussion), Tapiwa Svosve (vocals, synth, sax), Vojko Huter (vocals, guitar, synth) and Xaver Rüegg (bass) have reached a new pinnacle of musical proficiency and prowess with GLUT, the new District Five full-length that dropped in late May. (It’d be a cardinal sin not to mention that the esteemed Saul Williams appears on one of the songs.) Proving their enormous talents aren’t limited to just playing music, the band attached a manifesto of sorts to GLUT, and while The Bad Penny typically steers clear from quoting promotional materials, the missive is not only profound but explains the new District Five album and why the band is so well-suited for On Tyranny.

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On Tyranny: Why Musicians Must Speak Out Against MAGA – and Why Their Fans Must Support Them When They Do

Posted in Essays, Features, On Tyranny, On Tyranny with tags artists' rights, authoritarianism, fascism, Jack Rabid, No Kings, On Tyranny, resistance, trump, tyranny on 06/18/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

If you’ve enjoyed The Bad Penny‘s ongoing On Tyranny series, be sure to pick up the latest edition of The Big Takeover, underground music’s best magazine. Publisher, editor and perhaps the best person on earth Jack Rabid graciously allowed me once again to write one of the three coveted opinion essays that lead off the 160-page edition. My second commentary is a kindred spirit of the first, and both digs deep into the sums up lessons learned from On Tyranny. If you believe in punk rock and for which it stands, buy the newest issue of The Big Takeover.

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On Tyranny: Emperor X Contends That Arts Communities Need Heterodoxy During Global Political Realignment

Posted in Essays, Features, On Tyranny, On Tyranny with tags authoritarianism, Chad Randall Matheny, Emperor X, fascism, On Tyranny, trump, tyranny on 06/04/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Gifts come in all shapes and sizes. But The Bad Penny has never received nor published any piece of writing as remotely profound, thoroughly researched, detailed, brilliant, educational and exceptional as a dissertation-style thought piece/ intellectual analysis of this website’s On Tyranny series that Berlin-based American singer/songwriter Chad Randall Matheny, a.k.a. Emperor X, recently sent us. In his comprehensive analysis, Matheny discusses the connection that On Tyranny has to the broader worldwide trend that the educator and noise-pop provocateur refers to as “The Global Political Realignment” that is currently underway.

Before you dig into Matheny’s masterpiece, this seems like an appropriate time and place to tell readers of this website, and specifically On Tyranny, that maintaining it has been and continues to be a tremendous challenge. While I will elaborate on the story of the series at another time – truly, what Emperor X has created here is worthy of your attention more so than any other post on this website – publicists, musicians, friends and family members have recommended I halt or even terminate this series amid the growing threat of fascism in the U.S.

[Emperor X’s new album, Unified Field, will be issued by Bar/None and available for purchase starting June 26. Rest assured that The Bad Penny will cover the release heavily. Read more about Emperor X on his website; and his Instagram, Facebook and Bandcamp accounts.]

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On Tyranny: Diles Que No Me Maten Frontman Says U.S. Is Rapidly Becoming Too Costly – and Scary – to Tour Through

Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny with tags authoritarianism, Diles Que No Me Maten, fascism, On Tyranny, trump, tyranny on 05/28/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

It feels like only yesterday when touring across the United States was one of the greatest dreams the vast majority of bands in the world shared. What a difference a piece of shit president makes. With each passing day, as Trump’s unimaginably horrific, misguided and illegal policies continue to destroy America’s values, economy, reputation, health, security and overall well-being, bands are having to think much harder about whether it’s even wise to tour here anymore.

Over the past few months, The Bad Penny‘s On Tyranny series – which focuses on how fascism directly impacts musicians artistically, professionally and emotionally – has primary revolved around conversations with American artists. (The series started a couple of years ago with a focus on musicians living under authoritarian regimes around the world.)

In this installment, we once again touch base with a musician based outside the U.S., this time not to learn about how artists can survive, cope and/or adapt to life in a fascist society, but what impacts America’s accelerating death spiral is having on those living beyond the country’s borders.

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On Tyranny: Ratboys Blast Trump Administration as a ‘Fucking Psychotic Regime’

Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny with tags authoritarianism, fascism, ICE, immigration, On Tyranny, Ratboys, trump, tyranny on 05/26/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

An aspiring authoritarian regime typically silences dissent gradually over the course of its rule over a country and its populace. But the inverse appears to be occurring with the Trump administration. In yet another sign that the autocratic ambitions of the president and his goons – particularly White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President J.D. Vance – are backfiring, more and more artists are publicly denouncing them and their sociopathic ambitions.

In doing so, artists are challenging not only the federal government’s threats of Soviet-style retribution (blacklists, harassment, even imprisonment) but contemporary music fans who bemoan entertainers for voicing their political opinions; a corporate music industry that profits from encouraging their clients to remain politically agnostic, anodyne and antiseptic; and supplicating media moguls, editors and publishers in a shrinking and increasingly conservative-dominated field.

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On Tyranny: Indie-Rock Legend J. Robbins Says Techno Fascism Isn’t ‘Inevitable,’ Resistance Can Win

Posted in Interviews with tags AI, authoritarianism, fascism, J. Robbins, Jawbox, On Tyranny, tech bros, techno fascism, trump, tyranny on 05/25/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Among those who belong on indie-rock’s Mount Rushmore, J. Robbins – Jawbox frontman, hardcore godfather and one of the most prolific rock producers of all time – is an undeniable front-runner. Respected by all and disliked by none, the workaholic legend graciously carved out some time to participate in The Bad Penny‘s On Tyranny series.

He touched on what a bummer it is to share the same birthday as Donald Trump; how tech bros are aiding and abetting – if not puppeteering – the fascist takeover of America; and, in true hardcore DIY fashion, reminded musicians and fans alike that the war can be won if we empower ourselves to rise up and topple those terrorizing this country.

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On Tyranny: LAPêCHE Bassist Calls Making Music ‘An Overtly Political Act’ of ‘Radical Compassion’

Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny, Videos with tags authoritarianism, Colin Brooks, Dave Diem, Drew DeMaio, fascism, Krista Holly Diem, LAPêCHE, On Tyranny, tyranny on 05/08/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Brooklyn, New York, has no shortage of bands – specifically, ones considered to be of the indie-rock or post-punk persuasion. But while it’s tough to stand out among the crowd, LAPêCHE do so with catchy, addictive songs matched with impressive intellect. That goes for vocalist Krista Holly Diem – who initially incepted LAPêCHE as a solo project 10 years ago – guitarist Drew DeMaio, drummer Colin Brooks and bassist Dave Diem (Krista’s husband).

Enthusiastic about participating in The Bad Penny‘s On Tyranny series, Diem’s critical thinking skills were on full display in a Zoom conversation that took place a month ago. The interview began with Diem providing some background on LAPêCHE and commenting on the band’s their third LP, the recently released Autotelic (Tiny Engines). (The album title implies having a purpose in and not apart from itself, according to Merriam-Webster.)

The interview then segued into Diem waxing philosophical and sharing his profound-yet-crystal-clear beliefs about art:

“Music and art connects us, brings us together, so I think that creating art is an overtly political act, a form of radical compassion,” he said. ” ‘Radical acceptance,’ to me, is being mindful and responsive to a situation rather than being reactive. Acceptance … is really being honest and truthful about the situation, and then taking [the next right] action [that] keeps in mind yourself and how you impact others.”

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On Tyranny: Anarcho-Punk Band Gottlieb Say They ‘Don’t See ICE Coming to Our Shows’

Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny, Videos with tags authoritarianism, fascism, Gottlieb, On Tyranny, tyranny on 05/07/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Of all the musicians that have participated in The Bad Penny‘s ongoing On Tyranny series, two musicians with whom we spoke on Thursday seemed to be the most informed, smartest and amped-up when it comes to fighting fascism. If you’re seeking the most educational videos in this 125-plus-part series, don’t miss this interview with Gottlieb.

After forming in L.A. way back in 2000, the anarcho-punk band finally released their first full-length, The Far Fallen Fruit, on Friday via Quiet Panic. Gottlieb continuously prove they’re not going to be intimidated by the authoritarian forces who now have a stranglehold over the American citizenry. They’re also not afraid to share their political beliefs; in fact, discussions about fascism and other political matters surface in virtually every song on The Far Fallen Fruit.

Vocalist Andrew Pescara and bassist Dylan Marquez carved some time to talk with The Bad Penny for On Tyranny – and boy did they ever. The Gottlieb bandmates didn’t mince words, placate or pull punches during the wide-ranging conversation, which included discussion of fascism, socialism, ICE atrocities and the economic disaster facing all of us who aren’t in the top 1 percent of richest Americans.

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On Tyranny: Nixil Insist Black Metal Bands Are Fighting Harder Against Fascism Than Veteran Punks

Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny, Videos with tags anarchist, anti-fascism, authoritarianism, black metal, Drouth, fascism, Nixil, On Tyranny, trump, tyranny on 05/06/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Could there be a band better-suited to participate in The Bad Penny‘s ongoing On Tyranny series than one that prominently states on their Bandcamp page that they “detest fascism, white supremacy and nationalist ideology. NO GODS, NO MASTERS, NO BOOTLICKERS”?

The answer is no.

Meet Nixil, a melodic black-metal band that hails from Baltimore and is still pretty young at approximately five years old. When The Bad Penny learned that they. Nixil also distinguish themselves from just about every other extreme-metal band by incorporating atmospheric elements, French avant-garde flourishes, occult psychedelia and crust punk into their sound.

To the extent that Nixil have a peer group, it’s Portland, Oregon’s Drouth. That quartet stirs a stew of atmospheric death metal, black metal and blackened death metal in their proverbial cauldron. Nixil and Drouth are such a good match that the bands teamed for a split album, recorded and mixed by the revered J. Robbins, that came out roughly two weeks ago. The two bands are also heading out on tour together starting tomorrow.

The Bad Penny caught up with Nixil vocalist Ash Nix – who says he became an anarchist and anti-fascist in high school – and bassist/backing vocalist Aurora less than a month ago. During our candid conversation, they made a strong case that black metal currently occupies the fiercest role of any music genre in battling the Trump administration’s and oligarchs’ fascist takeover of the U.S.

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