Not Ready to Make Nice (Dixie Chicks in Australia, STILL Whining About Free Republic)

AdelaideNow ^ | Sunday, October 8, 2006 | Kirsten Heyson

[kristinn]

It's hard to believe this petite, well-mannered Texan - sitting opposite in a Sydney harbourside hotel - caused the kind of stir the music industry has not seen since John Lennon sang about being crucified in 1969.

It's the day before the band's first Australian concert on their Accidents and Accusations world tour.

Maines looks younger than her 31 years.

SNIP

Aware she may sound "bizarre", the 31-year-old believes the vitriol directed at The Dixie Chicks was part of a right-wing conspiracy.

An organised group known as the Free Republic set out to bring the band down.

The organisation's power, she says, comes through the internet. The site has thousands of subscribers, all of whom were encouraged to destroy the band's music and boycott the radio stations that played it.

"It's scary how much power they do have," she says. "They can take down someone singlehandedly and I don't think Americans are aware of that.

"It's the same group that went after (former US president) Bill Clinton and (gay actress) Ellen DeGeneres."

In the beginning, Maines says, they tried to fight their detractors. Their management tried to alert radio station programmers to what was happening.

"But they weren't open to it and just thought we were grasping at straws to try and salvage something," she says.

"It was just bigger than we could fight and we weren't willing to put ourselves out there to be made to look stupid if people weren't willing to investigate this thing and be open to it."

SNIP

"For the Free Republic we were a dream come true; they made it their mission to take us down. Apparently we were not supposed to think like this because we play country music."

[tgslTakoma]

When we FReeped the Chix in Boston, I think that there were only 10 of us.

Ah, but a very powerful 10 you were!

BTW, did you guys remember to get your paychecks for that Freep?

;-)

[I_be_tc]

Is this the first time they are actually admitting that they are suffering a bit from people "boycotting" them? It seems they always have had other excuses, like needing to cancel their tours for their big movie. Wow. They are now saying that they are being hurt, not just re-adjusting . They are gone, big time, and now they actually are realizing it.

TC

[Colorado Doug]

My mistake. I was just thinking aloud and figured that if there was any buggering to be done . . well, Laz came to mind. My apologies to Lazamataz for failing to ping.

[Colorado Doug]

I spent 18 months as a co-driver on a moving van, with a guy who had every Slim Whitman album, on 8-track, ever recorded.

Then you have heard "Blood in the saddle" That was something. I have to say that it's possible Natalie sings better, maybe.

[Revolting cat!]

Thanks for the FRee publicity Chicken brains! We'll be here for a while after you break up, cause you can't sell any concert venues outside of Berkeley and Cambridge (I doubt even the Commies in Austin will want to listen to your mainstream Nashville factory cookie cutter crap.)

[dirtboy]

I was just thinking aloud and figured that if there was any buggering to be done . . well, Laz came to mind.

And that was a most reasonable presumption, my son.

[builder]

When do I get my secret decoder ring for making Natalie disrespect the president on foreign soil?

When do I learn the secret handshake for making her attack fellow country star Toby Keith and using foul language to do it.

When do I get my marching orders for making her belittle her own fans?

When do I get the keys to the secret dungeon for making Natalie dis country legends Reba and Buddy Holly?

I want my secret FReeper stuff!

What should we make her do next?

[ArmstedFragg]

we weren't willing to put ourselves out there to be made to look stupid

"Made to look stupid??"

'Tweren't no manufacturing required, sweetie.

[bray]

Dixie Pigs??? Weren't they a band back in the 90s??

Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters

[RobbyS]

The price of living in the entertainment bubble. Once they departed from country musics, they were surrounded by people who felt nothing but hatred and disdain for the kind of people she grew up with.

[beckysueb]

"It was just bigger than we could fight and we weren't willing to put ourselves out there to be made to look stupid

You already did that, cow.

[beckysueb]

We can!!! Okay then, guys, who is next? So many targets, so little time. LOL

Lets start with Pelosi. Shes goin' down!

[MarkL]

I really need to contact the post office...

I'm not getting my paychecks from the International Bankers, I haven't been getting my "mind-numbed robot" marching orders from Rush, and now I learn that I never got my orders from JimRob on trying to ruin the careers of the Dixie Twits!

This just isn't right! For some reason I'm not getting this important stuff, but I still get all the junk mail!

Mark

[beckysueb]

And mooses can't bite our sisters. All beebers are stuned, as well. We are all powerful.

And we all like cheese.

[jerry639]

Just pick out a name from you list and tell us who we should go after next.

[stephenjohnbanker]

"An organised group known as the Free Republic set out to bring the band down."

Go ahead, dirtboy, take a bow.......I just did : )

[stephenjohnbanker]

: )

[Not A Snowbird]

"It's scary how much power they do have," she says. "They can take down someone singlehandedly and I don't think Americans are aware of that. "It's the same group that went after (former US president) Bill Clinton and (gay actress) Ellen DeGeneres."

Huh? I don't recall anybody having a fit about Ellen DeGeneres. Besides, Clinton took himself down. All we had to do was watch him self destruct.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Uh, Dixie Chickie poo poo, you are all morons. Please say no more. SHUT UP AND SING!!!!

[stephenjohnbanker]

And Clinton is still on self destruct : )