Don't make music a scapegoat, says Lifehouse lead singer Jason Wade (foreground).

Lifehouse star Jason Wade says it's wrong to make music a scapegoat for youth violence

Date published: 2/6/2006

By MICHAEL ZITZ

Lifehouse lead singer Jason Wade isn't buying the idea that music can lead to violence.

Told that some people in the Fredericksburg area are blaming a rap song for a January killing at a CD release party in Spotsylvania County, Wade said that generally speaking, "I'm not a believer in the idea that kids can be brainwashed by a song. I don't think you can put all the blame on that."

Baron P. Braswell II, a Courtland High School junior, was fatally stabbed Jan. 20 after the 2004 rap song "Knuck if You Buck," about a fight at a party, was played several times.

Lifehouse, one of America's most popular rock bands, was in Washington last week on tour to promote its self-titled 2005 album, which is nearing platinum status.

The band's hit single "You and Me" was the No. 1 most-played song on Adult Top 40 radio in 2005. Its new single "Blind" is doing well on both mainstream Top 40 and Adult Top 40 radio.

Wade said the band prides itself on singing, playing and recording without artificial enhancement.

"Using pro tools in the studio is not something we choose to do because we model ourselves after the sound of bands from the '60s," he said.

Lifehouse has just released a music video DVD set titled "Everything."

Speaking in general terms and not specifically about the Spotsylvania tragedy, Wade said in a phone interview that making music a scapegoat for violent acts around the country doesn't help resolve the real underlying causes of youth violence.

He said he generally doesn't believe pop culture influences like video games, movies and TV shows can push otherwise healthy young people to violence.

Wade conceded that a song could be one small part in a mix of bigger factors leading to problems.

"If there's a healthy family environment there supporting them, I don't think that kind of thing happens just because a kid listens to a song," he said.

Friends of the young men accused of the Braswell killing insist that in this particular case in which violence and pop culture are being linked, all the families are loving and caring and consistently involved.

Some have speculated that gang influences might be to blame in the Spotsylvania case. And others have dismissed that, saying the young men weren't in a gang.

"Something else has to be going on, I think," Wade said. "I think there would have to be a lot of other factors involved."

Teresa Sanders, a publicist for Crime Mob's record label, said the group is aware of Braswell's death, but declined to comment, other than saying they are not responsible. She denied a request for an interview with the rap group.

Crime Mob consists of six teens who themselves were once members of an Atlanta gang.

Staff reporter Portsia Smith contributed to this story.

To reach MICHAEL ZITZ: 540/374-5408
Email: mikez@freelancestar.com

Date published: 2/6/2006