Red Hot Chili Peppers Angry Their Music Was Used To Torture Prisoners

"Our music’s super positive," says Chad Smith

Published 15th Apr 2014

Red Hot Chili Peppers say they’re “upset” after discovering their music was allegedly used to torture prisoners in Guantanamo Bay.

Last week an anonymous US official leaked to Al Jazeera purported torture techniques used by the CIA during the George Bush administration at the infamous prison.

If the claims are to be believed, one of the many "enhanced interrogation" methods was repeated loud exposure to music by Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Disappointed about the reports, Chad Smith said: "I've heard that they use more... like, hard rock, metal... Our music's positive man, it's supposed to make people feel good and that's... it's very upsetting to me, I don't like that at all. It's bulls***.”

He continued: "Maybe some people think our music's annoying, I don't care, but you know... (they) shouldn't do that. They shouldn't be doing any of that s***."

It’s previously been reported that music by Metallica and even the Sesame Street theme tune have been used as torture devices.

Metallica’s James Hetfield commented in 2012: “Part of me is proud because they chose Metallica. And then part of me is kind of bummed about it that people worry about us being attached to some political statement because of that.

“We've got nothing to do with this and we're trying to be as apolitical as possible, 'cause I think politics and music, at least for us, don't mix."

Lars Ulrich said: "If there are people that are dumb enough to use Metallica to interrogate prisoners, you're forgetting about all the music that's to the left of us.

“I can name, you know, 30 Norwegian death metal bands that would make Metallica sound like Simon & Garfunkel."