On January 13th, 1967, the Rolling Stones appeared as guests on The Ed Sullivan Show. The band had planned to sing “Let’s Spend the Night Together”; however, Sullivan demanded they change the lyrics as they were deemed too “controversial”. There was plenty of media attention following this. Now, 40 years later, the Stones continue to perform and garner media attention, not so much through their song lyrics but through their actions.
The original “bad boys of rock and roll” have jumped on the climate change bandwagon. In fact, the Stones have become the first band to stage an entirely-free carbon-neutral tour across the United Kingdom. Essentially, this means that any carbon emissions created through touring will be offset through more positive actions. In the Rolling Stones’ case, the band is participating in planting additional forests and investing in renewable energy. Furthermore, concerts are being planned closer together and at smaller venues.
This statement is being echoed, in-part, by other musicians. On their latest tour, the band Radiohead prioritized fan access to venues by public transit. Their argument was that most carbon emissions were created by concert-goers getting to and from the show in their vehicles … there is a lot to be said for this. If you have ever been to a rock concert, you will know that vacating the area afterwards can be difficult. Drivers can idle their cars at great lengths while they wait for a break in traffic to leave the parking lot. Another green initiative that Radiohead has implemented is the use of more energy-efficient LED stage lighting.
Other rock and roll bands to implement positive environmental changes include Coldplay, The Dave Matthews Band and U2. Whether these musicians are using recycled materials to package CDs or fueling their tour buses with biodiesel, I applaud their actions as they are leading the fight against global warming by positive example. Now, what can you do?
