A Letter From Pete Seeger

Dear Friends,

The war drums are beating. Many voices for peace are being heard but we need many more. Musicians I've worked with who have passed on would be singing with us today. People like Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly, Phil Ochs, Malvina Reynolds, Richard Farina, and John Lennon.

Down with apathy and up with activism!

Recently I recorded an anti-war song, "The Bell," with a young musician and songwriter named Stephan Smith. I believe these lyrics will inspire you as they did me. "The Bell" is already playing on public and college radio stations across the country. The New York Times called it "one of the first major songs to directly address the nation's stance toward Iraq." Still, some big chains refuse to sell it. Show them they're wrong!

Also, call your radio station!

Make "The Bell" an anti-war story the media can't ignore. Profits from sales will go to United for Peace and Justice, a national campaign that is helping coordinate work against a U.S. war on Iraq. For more information, you can go to Stephan's website, http://www.stephansmith.com.

Keep On!

Pete Seeger
2/07/03

Help bring the message for peace to the airwaves and onto the charts! Spread the word about Stephan Smith's "The Bell" and encourage others to join this effort. Already over 70 radio stations have added "The Bell" to their regular rotations. Call and request that your radio station play the song -- as a way to bring attention to upcoming anti-war events in your area. And please buy "The Bell" CD, deliberately priced at a low $6.98 to spur sales. Buy copies for your sisters and brothers! Without a sales spurt that registers through the "soundscan" monitoring system, "The Bell" will be kept out of most major chain stores -- which is the only way to reach much of the country.

By supporting "The Bell" we make a strong anti-war statement in the media, raise money for the peace movement, and set a precedent for getting movement CDs into mainstream outlets. Stephan Smith's "The Bell" features appearances by Pete Seeger, Dean Ween, DJ Spooky, and Tara Nevins, with liner notes by Howard Zinn. It is released by Universal Hobo/Synchronic (an independent label that supports activist artists), is distributed by Caroline, and will be in stores Feb 11, 2003.

Please copy this letter and email it far and wide!

Click here for a list of radio stations that have added "The Bell" to their rotations.