In an interview with New York magazine, Elton John has likened bully tactics used by the current US administration against anyone critical of their foreign policy to McCarthyism in the 1950s. He says many performers are frightened to speak out against Bush's war agenda because they are likely to be accused of being "un-American", a label which can damage a career.
"Things were different in the sixties," he said, "people like Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, The Beatles and Pete Seeger were constantly writing and talking about what was going on. That's not happening now. As of this spring, there have been virtually no anti-war concerts - or anti-war songs that catch on, for that matter".
He says a culture exists where it is OK for artists to speak out in support of the Bush administration, but not against it: "On the one hand, you have someone like Toby Keith, who has come out and been very supportive of the Bush administration and the war in Iraq - which is OK because America is a democracy and Toby Keith is entitled to say what he thinks and feels. But, on the other hand, the Dixie Chicks got shot down in flames last year for criticising the president. They were treated like they were being un-American, when in fact they have every right to say whatever they want about him because he's freely elected, and therefore accountable".