After two decades of speaking out -- starting with his hip-hop group Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy on up to "All Rebel Rockers," the new album due next month by his beloved rock/reggae band Spearhead -- Michael Franti knows a thing or two about rock's role in politics. He spoke to us by phone from England amid a string of festival dates last week.
Q What do you hope to achieve by coming here during the Republican convention?
A I'm an independent, not registered as either a Democrat or Republican. I've played at both the last two Republican and Democratic conventions. I'm coming to the one in [St.Paul] to join the voices that are saying one very simple thing, which is we want our troops and our tax dollars to come home as quickly as possible.
Q What about the Republican convention in particular attracted you, vs. the Democratic or any kind of public rally?
A The way that our system works in America, it's impossible to get anything done without some form of consensus. We're not going to bring an end to the war in Iraq or send the energy problems we face today without both sides of the aisle coming to some shared solutions. That's why I'll be there. I won't be there to make an angry protest or to tell Republicans you're wrong and I'm right.
I've been to Baghdad. I've played music on the street for Iraqi citizens and I've performed for U.S. soldiers there. I've traveled around and I've seen the futility and despair there, and I've seen the frustration and pain in the eyes of our U.S. men and women there. I'm there not to just play music for people on the street who feel the same way I do. I want to share my music with Republicans, Democrats, black, white, anyone who wants to hear what I have to say.
Q Iraq is your No. 1 issue, but it hasn't really been the No. 1 issue in the campaign. How do you feel about the way it has or hasn't been addressed?
A What's happened most recently has been the price of gas has gone up. It's made everybody feel the pinch in their wallets. So that's been the focus of the election, finding an energy policy that works for the future. That's why we're in Iraq, though.