Steve Earle's career really began when he was hanging out with the late, great
Townes Van Zandt, who became a mentor. Steve would later run into a battle with drugs and alchohol and a stint in the slammer; but upon his return to music after coming out of jail, Earle cleaned up and started releasing protest records.
Becoming a Protest Singer
He had, for quite some time, been a vocal advocate for a moratorium on the death penalty, and began working his politics into his music. While there are some decidedly pointed tunes on his records, Steve's main focus has been on generic social justice: human rights, peace, civil rights, etc.
Ending the War in Iraq
In 2005, he joined
Joan Baez and others who trekked to Texas to support the protest of Cindy Sheehan, whose son had been killed in the Iraq War, and who was camping outside George W. Bush's ranch hoping that he would eventually meet with her (he didn't). Steve's vocal opposition to the Iraq War is no secret, and it falls in line with the rest of his body of work over the past several years. His 2004 release,
The Revolution Starts ... Now, was one of many efforts by many artists to motivate people who opposed the Bush Administration policies on Iraq and other issues to get out the vote.
Great Albums by Steve Earle
The Revolution Starts ... Now | Compare Prices
Jerusalem | Compare Prices
