Powderfinger singer Bernard Fanning has released a statement following news of an investigation into lyrics on the forthcoming album.
The lyrics for the track 'Black Tears' attracted legal attention because a court case pertaining to the subject matter is still yet to go to trail.Fanning issued the following statement to explain the situation with the song:
"We are making a statement to clear up confusion regarding the release of Powderfinger's album "Dream Days at the Hotel Existence". The song "Black Tears" was written to bring attention to the plight of Aboriginal people in Australia. It was originally inspired by a trip that I took last year to Uluru".
"Despite the prevalence of literature and signage asking people not to climb on 'the rock', due to its sacred nature, there were still people scaling it. Some of the information compared ascending Uluru to climbing on the altar at the Vatican, which would be seen as highly offensive and disrespectful by most Catholics (or most people for that matter), and yet they still continue to climb. Even groups of Australian schoolkids, with their teachers and parents climbed it, actively disrespecting the wishes of Aboriginal people on their land".
"To me, that was another example of how far down the priority list Aboriginal issues are in this country".
"Then, in December when the Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions handed down her finding on the death in custody of Mulrunji Doomoodgee on Palm Island, I completed the second part of the song. I read extensively the news coverage of the issue and from that formed an opinion which formed the lyrics of the song".
"It has, within the last few days, come to our attention that the hearing of manslaughter charges arising from the death on Palm Island are due to be heard by the Court on 12 June 2007. Our album is due for release on 2 June 2007".
"Whilst we firmly believe that the song would have no bearing upon the legal process, in the interests of removing even the slightest suggestion of any prejudice, we have included an alternative version on our album "Dream Days at the Hotel Existence". The album will be released, as planned, Saturday June 2 and "Black Tears" will be included".
"There was never any intention on our part to influence the judicial process in this or any other matter. I hope that the song still has its desired effect which is to bring attention to the obvious disadvantage that is still being suffered by Aboriginal people in this country and in particular the issue of indigenous deaths in custody".
Bernard Fanning on behalf of Powderfinger.
