Influences: Phil Ochs

Phil Ochs and Bob Dylan had a friendly rivalry going in the sixties. When Phil criticized one of his songs, Dylan threw him out of his limo and said, "You're not a folksinger. You're a journalist". Rather than accept the label of protest singer, Ochs considered himself a "topical singer". When he sang about civil rights, the draft, or Vietnam it was more than just a political diatribe with a beat, he made it personal and laced the song with wit and sarcasm.

When I first heard Phil's music a light went on in my head. I shifted gears from abstract surrealist beat poetry to topical lyrics. If I had never heard "Draft Dodger Rag" or "Cops of the World", then fans of Vladimir's Universe would not have "Your Kid Got AIDS" or "I'm a Contra".

He was also willing to criticize the hypocrisy he saw among those who claim to be progressive, but are just as selfish and narrow-minded as their opponents.

At Eastern Michigan University we had a student group that we referred to as the "Pseudo-Socialists for Suburban Conveniences". When their candidate ran for student council president Vladimir's Universe was asked to play at their rally mainly due to my political songs. Meanwhile one of my best friends was running against him as the "Apathy Party" candidate and I co-wrote his campaign song "Open Your Eyes and go to Sleep" which got airplay on local radio. Rather than choose sides, or be uncommitted, I supported both candidates. The PSSC won, but without RMC and the "Apathy Party" there would not have been any opposition.

The FBI had over 500 pages about Phil Ochs, due to his association with many "subversives". After the Vietnam war ended and the hippies traded their VW vans for station wagons I think Phil ran out of words. He became a lost soul without an anchor and hung himself on April 9, 1976. Yet, even after his death the FBI still considered him "potentially dangerous".

In 2010 the documentary "Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune" came out. Also worth seeing, if you can find it, is the older "Chords of Fame" from 1984 which re-enacts moments from his life in a dramatic way rather than just showing pictures and clips.