Top 10 Bands that Have an F.B.I. File
As with individual musicians, I believe a lot of bands probably have an F.B.I. file on them. Here are some known/declassified ones...
The Beatles were an English pop rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The members consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They were soon known as the foremost and most influential act of rock era. Rooted in skiffle, beat, and 1950s rock and roll, the Beatles later ...read more. They were closely watched by the F.B.I. because of their role in the anti war - peace movement.
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. Ranging from quintet to septet, the band is known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of country, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, rock, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, space rock, for live performances of lengthy instrumental jams, and for their devoted fan base, known as "Deadheads". "The Dead" were one of the main bands being watched by the F.B.I. for the concern on what effects rock bands associated with drugs were having on American youth. The feds also thought the band was part of a L.S.D. drug ring.
The song 'I am going to kill the president of the United States of America' earned Frank Iero and investigation by the FBI.
MC5 was an American rock band from Lincoln Park, Michigan, formed in 1964. The original band line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson. MC5 caught the feds attention during a 1968 performance at a park in Chicago while the Democratic National Convention was in town. The performance resulted in a riot. The feds recorded the performance and riot. After that, due to their politics, the band was on the F.B.I.'s radar for awhile.
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore. Were watched by the feds because of their (Jim Morrison's) "lewd and obscene performances" and Jim Morrison's "pornography" on stage".
Jefferson Airplane was a San Francisco, California-based band who pioneered the American counterculture movement as well as psychedelic rock.
Members: Grace Slick - vocals, piano, organ, recorder
Marty Balin - vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass guitar
Paul Kantner - rhythm guitar, lead guitar, vocals
Jorma Kaukonen - lead guitar, rhythm guitar, vocals
Jack Casady - bass guitar, rhythm guitar, lead guitar
Spencer Dryden - drums Basically they were under the same investigation as "The Dead". They (the feds) were concerned about the bands association with drug use and it's effect on their young fans. Also, like "The Dead", Jefferson Airplane was being investigated for being involved in a L.S.D. drug ring.
The Monkees were an American rock and pop band originally active between 1966 and 1971, with reunion albums and tours in the decades that followed. Investigated because of their anti war views...The F.B.I.? Monkees?...really?
This one is kinda of funny. The 1963 Kingsmen's version of the song "Louie, Louie" was reported to the feds to have obscene lyrics. The feds spent over three months listening to the song then finally declaring it, "unintelligible at any speed". Lol. They couldn't figure out what the heck he was saying.
The Bee Gees were a pop music group formed in 1958. Their line-up consisted of brothers Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb. The Bee Gees were shortly investigated due to band member Robin Gibbs trying to hire a hit man to bump off his wife and her lawyer. He (and the band) were also investigated for drug use.
Insane Clown Posse is an American hip hop, horrorcore and rap rock duo consisting of rappers Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope, that was formed in 1989 in Detroit.Insane Clown Posse is known for their violent and outrageous lyrics that often interpolate horror elements and religious symbolism, all of this being set in the fictitious Dark Carnival universe. The musical style ranges from oldschool hip hop to straightforward rock. ...read more.
Apparently the feds have them and their fans down as gang members.
To classify the fanbase of a musical act as a gang is the bigger crime.
Nirvana was an American grunge band that was formed in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987. Nirvana disbanded after Kurt Cobain committed suicide in 1994. The drummer of the band, David Grohl, went on to start the Foo-Fighters, an alternative rock band. ...read more.
Kiss is an American hard rock band formed in New York City in January 1973 by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and the band's original manager, Lew Linet. KISS was investigated because of worried parents and Christians reporting the band as being satanic and corrupting the youth. However this report/file is full of inaccuracies. At one point in the report KISS is mistaken for The Who. Lol. Gotta love our "intelligence" gathering.
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although they initially lasted just two and a half years and produced only four singles and one studio album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, they are considered one of the most influential acts in the history ...read more.
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock band, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio.