v027ef3u@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Thomas L Daniels) (01/23/91)
******* CENSORSHIP ALERT ************** I belong to the Columbia House CD club. I just bought Jane's Addiction's "Ritual de lo Habitual" from them but when it arrived, the cover was gone and there was this black and white page with (of all things!) article 1 of the constitution printed on it. That's the one about freedom of speech and the cornerstone of all anti-censorship legislation in case you missed the hypocracy. For those of you who haven't seen the original cover, it's a paper mache artwork by singer Perry Farrell that depicts a naked man (Jesus?) along with some partly clothed women. I assume that the execs are especially unnerved by the cover because the man's paper mache genitals are visible. Is this any worse than the Slits cover of naked women (the band) only dressed in mud or any number of hard metal albums that show women in bondage or being tortured? I find paper mache genitals pretty damn mild compared to the alternatives. I've written to the folks at Columbia House and demanded the original cover. I urge you all to write a quick note to them expressing your outrage at this baldfaced censorship of Farrell's work. It's as blatent as bleeping the music. We have to let these folks know that this garbage will meet resistance. If you're a member of Columbia House, threaten to cancel your membership. The address is Columbia House 1400 North Fruitridge Ave. Terre Haute IN 47811-1131 Thanks folks. Keep the faith. Tomasaurus v027ef3u@ubvms.bitnet