Rosanne Cash Outraged Over Music Used as Torture

Rosanne Cash is angry, and she wants the world to know it. The singer-songwriter recently joined a group of artists expressing outrage that their music has allegedly been used as a form of either punishment or coercion on prisoners in Guantanamo Bay since 2002, by blaring it for hours -- even days -- at a time.

"I think every musician should be involved," Rosanne tells the Washington Post. "It seems so obvious. Music should never be used as torture." Saying she felt "absolute disgust" when she initially found out, she finds the concept hard to fathom. "It's beyond the pale. It's hard to even think about."

Rosanne is not alone in her belief. She joins an extensive list of artists, including the members of both Pearl Jam and R.E.M., Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, former member of Rage Against the Machine, Tom Morello, Steve Earle, T Bone Burnett, Bonnie Raitt and several others who are endorsing the Freedom of Information Act, which would require that all the song titles be released to the general public.

The musicians' announcement coincides with an ongoing request by both veterans and retired Army generals to permanently close Guantanamo Bay."The fact that music I helped create was used in crimes against humanity sickens me," says Morello. "We need to end torture and close Guantanamo now."

According to interviews with former detainees, songs played were mostly heavy metal, rap and country, including 'We Are the Champions' by Queen, 'March of the Pigs' by Nine Inch Nails and 'The Real Slim Shady' by Eminem.