How I used to believe as a youngster that people like Strummer, Lennon, Marley, and similar music icons had integrity and actually meant what they wrote in their lyrics. Life taught me that: (a) they are nothing more than human, and more importantly (b) in the end they're all products.

One of my favorite bands of all time is Midnight Oil. My wife and I actually drove six hours from our home to catch them in Chicago back in 2017. It was a great show.

Watching Midnight Oil going all out to support the Australian government's "Vax-the-Nation" program presaged the mass sell-out that we've seen from artists of all stripe. Recognizing that the vast majority are dyed-in-the-wool 'limousine liberals' makes it unsurprising that they've bowed to the agenda. They all want to tour, sell merchandise, and make gobs of money. If getting three shots allows Axl Rose to perform live in Dublin then so be it.

I still listen to the music but I realize that ultimately they are all court jesters for the elite.