Built to Spill Frontman Won't Rise for National Anthem
- Posted on Aug 13th 2009 4:00PM by Steve Baltin
- Comments (22)
As we previously reported, Built to Spill frontman Doug Martsch is a die-hard basketball player and fan. Naturally, we asked Martsch if he's ever performed the 'Star Spangled Banner' at a game of his beloved Portland Trail Blazers. "No, I don't even stand up for that," he tells Spinner. "I'm not feeling very patriotic these days."It's a surprising response, but Martsch -- who says he's glad Obama "won and stuff" -- has very strong beliefs that lead him to that controversial decision. "I don't think we should be at war at all with anyone," he says. "I can't support that in any way at all. Continuing and escalating the war in Afghanistan is unbelievable to me, such a complete waste. As long as we are occupying countries and fighting wars, I have a hard time supporting him. I'm adamantly opposed to war."
Martsch's current political frustration goes beyond just war to the financial crisis that is troubling many Americans. "Also, I don't like him bailing out financial sector over and over again," he says. "That's another thing we need to rethink is capitalism and Wall Street. Those things are not ever going to work. That's just a handful of people ripping everyone off."
Given his very strong stance on pacifism, one might take the band's forthcoming album title, 'There Is No Enemy,' to have a direct connection with that view. But Martsch says that's up to you, the listener. "It's open for interpretation. It means something to me, but I don't really like to discuss that sort of thing," he says. "Unless I have something really specific in mind, which I hardly ever do or even if I do, I still like to let people make up their minds about the things we do, lyrically and musically."





Reader Comments(1 of 2)
capaldi30at 8-13-2009
It appears that the only thing he respects about this Country is the opportunity it has given him to earn Money.....he can keep his anti America beliefs but how about contributing half his earnings to the US Government for that privilege
fa realat 8-14-2009
are you serious, you have probably never even listened to his music, you have no idea what you are talking about. Your opinion is a epic fail, some day you might realize.
Shalmanezzerat 8-13-2009
Good for him. Another commenter called him unamerican, but I feel the same way. The American flag is such a symbol of the American military that I feel uncomfortable singing or pledging allegiance to an inanimate object as well. I don't think not wanting to be at war, or feeling like we are mishandling the economic situation isn't enough to make a person unamerican.
Also, just so you know, the Pledge of Allegiance was written by a socialist name Francis Bellamy. Originally children were required to salute the flag during the pledge with their arms straight forward in the same manner that the Nazis saluted the swastika. Don't you think trying to get everyone to pledge allegiance, or sing, to a piece of cloth is something that seems a little foreign to the whole idea of independence and freedom?
This made me respect Doug just a little bit more.
Donat 8-13-2009
So he's patriotic as long as the country is run exactly as he sees fit.
It's losers like this that are dragging us down as a nation.
Ed. MacPhersonat 8-13-2009
this guy needs to be dragged behind a pickup truck dressed in barbed wire for being as unAmerican as he is. Punks like him sicken me. They whine about the country but do not leave. Remember the Scotsman, Alan Cummings how stated that if George W. Bush won again he was leaving the country (USA). Well, when GW one he stayed.
Unfortunately, none of the wimps that run this country have the testicular fortitude or spine to stand up top commies like these people and ship them the hell out of here.
Douglass Blackmanat 9-06-2009
Hey Ed. Your a douche bag. You want to wrap him in barb wire and drag him behind a truck because he doesn't like war and doesn't like paying off fat cats with the money from hard working Americans? What a freaking tool you are. Did you even take 2 seconds to think about anything you just said? There's a ton of people in the military, like me, who don't like war. In fact the entire goal of the military is to AVOID war! War is the last option you take. And I sure as hell don't respect anyone who thinks bailing out the Bankers is a good idea. The next time you want to drag someone around in barbwire because you disagree with them do us all a favor and keep it to yourself.
Delat 8-13-2009
I don't think that he is acting unpatriotic. Has anyone read Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau? There is an answer right there.
888at 8-13-2009
You are so intelligent and so deep.
Yeah, right.
IH8THISGUYat 8-13-2009
Who is this guy, who is this band? they won't be around in 6 months anyway, cause they "SUCK" Obamas balls.
Defenderat 8-14-2009
They've been around for fifteen years. So... try again.
rickat 8-13-2009
Yes ,he is a loser.Send him to mexico or another country and let him see if he can make money,that seems like the only reason he's here.LOSER!!!!!!!!Stop breathing USA air.
888at 8-13-2009
This guy is the ONLY thing wrong with this country.
People enjoy too much freedom.
If you say something like this at some other countries, you and your family will disappear.
You feel tough, because we protect you no matter how messed up you are.
Leave this country.
joe glowat 8-13-2009
yes my comrades, if the government does it, REAL americans support it! period! long live el presidente! send this traitor to the gulag, where he will be whipped until he writes ten patriotic songs for the jonas brothers.
danielat 8-13-2009
wow, are you trolling or are you serious?
Devonat 8-13-2009
Built to Speed sucks!another loser from another loser band opening up his stupid mouth to spew his rotton opion from behind his rotten teeth.Maybe Obama will pay to buy you some new teeth but then again youre not important enough so you'll just end up gumming your garbage scraps out in the gutter where you belong.The guys from Iwa Jima should plant the flag in your sorry ass.P.S. How does it feel to know that a fellow no-talent like Miley Cyrus sells more albums in an hour thay you couldnt sell if you lived to be 1000.
missionabortat 8-14-2009
money should not matter when you're creating art and i'm sure he appreicates being able to make money and speak out; it's just easy to forget how awesome those freedoms are in light of our current situation. i love the way this band makes you come up with your own meanings; pressing you to think about things; it's almost like by not standing to salute the flag he's pressing us to think again. in the end if he doesn't feel like standing he does have to stand. i would encourage him to stand and salute the america he wants and the america that's come so far even though as you think about the good times these present times will try so hard to bring you down i say fight it. sitting just seems like you're giving up which i get because it's like what can we do but just watch everything happen.
Geoffat 8-14-2009
Can you say idiot?
Canuckat 8-14-2009
Ship him to Canada. We'll take him with open arms. He would probably rise for our national anthem too!
btsfanat 8-16-2009
Devon, Doug isn't concerned about selling records. He makes a nice living and is truly happy at the level of success he and Built to Spill have. I respect anyone who questions why people blindly fulfill supposed patriotic rituals like standing at the national anthem. Being another sheep has nothing to do with appreciating America.
Pita22at 8-25-2009
"Patriotism is supporting your county all of the time, no matter what, and supporting it's government when it deserves it."
Doug is a guy I spent a lot of time with as a child in Twin Falls, ID. While I don't presume to know him well now at age 40, I get the sense he is as strong-willed and opinionated now as he was then. Thank god we live in a country in which we can exercise our right to express such personality characteristics.
Bottom line - he was born in, makes a living and raises a family in, and will likely die in the United States of America. A country for which many before him have died, and many after him will die, to preserve. A country in which many before him and many after him will work hard, raise a family and die. He should find the good in what our (his)country has done, is doing, and aspires to do and show his respect - along with his countrymen - and rise to the anthem. He can sit down right after that and write a scathing letter to the President expressing his dissatisfaction.