Musicians Demand to Know Titles of Songs Used in Detainee Torture

A coalition of high-profile musicians has endorsed a Freedom of Information Act request to learn which songs the U.S. military and security agencies used during interrogations and torture of detainees, the Washington Post reported Thursday. The group includes Rosanne Cash, Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor, former Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, and members of Pearl Jam, R.E.M. and the Roots.

"I think every musician should be involved," Cash said. "It seems so obvious. Music should never be used as torture." She said she felt "absolute disgust" when she heard that military personnel had blasted songs for hours and days on end to "enhance" interrogations. "It's beyond the pale. It's hard to even think about."

"The fact that music I helped create was used in crimes against humanity sickens me," Morello said.

The information request was filed by the National Security Archive, an independent research group in Washington that is seeking declassification of all music-related records. Interviews with detainees at Guantanamo and elsewhere have revealed that the use of blaring music is a widespread military practice. Specific songs used include Queen's "We Are the Champions," Nine Inch Nails' "March of the Pigs" and Eminem's "The Real Slim Shady."

The artists said they would consider legal action once the names of the songs are released.