Foo Fighters Vs. Westboro Baptist Church

Dave Grohl.

In 2000, the band generated controversy through their public support of Alive & Well, an organization that denies the link between HIV and AIDS, questions the validity of HIV tests, and advises against taking medication to counter the disease.[37] Foo Fighter bassist Nate Mendel learned of Alive & Well through What If Everything You Thought You Knew about AIDS Was Wrong?, a self-published book written by Christine Maggiore, the organization's founder. Mendel passed the book around to the rest of the band, who supported his advocacy

Wikipedia of course. And I don't think it's quite fair to call it a 'fad' when a celebrity irresponsibly uses his status to disseminate a potentially harmfull message to impressionable young teens. I would hope that by removing the group from his webpage that Grohl has also reneged on his idiotic views.

Good drummer though.

MrStuffins wrote: »

Well an AIDS denier (at least in the way I used the term) is exactly what you just explained right there. Disgraceful stuff!

Yea, I guess you're right. I may have miscontrued the term tbh

Naomi00 wrote: »

They didn't use their status to promote anything. If you knew anything about the band you'd know that that isn't what they do. You're making it sound like they were advocating it, they weren't. It was one member of the bands personal view and even though it was wrong the band did not promote it and have nothing to do with it anymore. Unfortunately for tabloids and sensationalist media, the Foo's don't do too many things to piss people off so they have to cling to this old story :rolleyes:

Eh, I would hate to derail this topic anymore cause it looks awfully trollish but I can't ignore this comment.

They did use their status to promote this view. They organised concerts as 'The Foo Fighters' in support of 'Alive and Well'. That's what I meant by 'using their status'. And clearly none of the other band members were at odds with Nate if they went ahead with such a venture.

Foo Fighters bassist Nate Mendel helped organize a sold-out concert in Hollywood to benefit the group. Foo fans were treated to a speech by Alive and Well founder Christine Maggiore, who believes AIDS may be caused by HIV-related medications, anal sex, stress, and drug use, and implies that people should not get tested for HIV nor take medications to counter the virus. Free copies of Maggiore's self-published book, "What If Everything You Thought You Knew About AIDS Was Wrong?," in which she declares "there is no proof that HIV causes AIDS," were also passed out to the concert-goers.

"Quoting someone who claims to be a 'fan', when it could be anyone posting on any postboard. What a reliable source. I'm a member on their postboard and even though I don't go on it that often you can be guaranteed theres nothing of the sort on there. That 'quote' could be years old and is that person's view, not the FF. "

That's really besides the point. If Nate's or Dave's stance on this issue could have encouraged even just one person to forego preventative measures or medication for HIV/AIDS then it's a problem. It's people's lives ffs. Lets not pretend that teenagers (which it can safely be said are Foo's main target demographic) aren't naive enough to accept something like this at face value.

And the quote is at least a decade old. Which is again besides the point.

If they have distanced themselves from this group (which it appears they have) then great. Clearly the credibility of that woman's book is in doubt considering she died a few years ago from AIDS related illnesses. I'm sure all the members must realise now what an ill-informed stance it was to take.