Rovics is critical of the United States government's policies and claims that the "U.S. government's foreign policy represents U.S. corporate interests" and that "the U.S. government does not like democracy either at home or abroad."[2]
Although some of Rovics' work is not self-published, and much of it is commercially distributed, Rovics has made all of his recorded music freely available as downloadable mp3 files. He encourages the free distribution of his work by all non-profit means to promote his work and spread political messages, and speaks out against websites or programs like iTunes that charge money for downloading his songs. Rovics has also advocated the performing of his songs at protests and demonstrations and has made his sheet music and lyrics available for download.[3]
Biography
David Rovics was born in New York City. His family moved to Wilton, Connecticut when he was young. Rovics was politically inspired during his adolescence by his experiences with the conservative-oriented, Christian milieu of his home town. His parents, both classical musicians[4] and educators, were liberal in their outlook. Perhaps for this reason, while in his teens Rovics acquired interests in nuclear disarmament, vegetarianism and other counterculture issues. He has described himself as an "anti-ZionistJew from New York".[5]
In 1985, Rovics enrolled at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, but dropped out and moved to Berkeley, California. He worked in occupations such as a cook, barista, secretary and typist, while pursuing his musical interests as a street and subway performer and in small clubs and bars. He immersed himself in leftist counterculture and made contact with other songwriters and performers on the underground circuit. By the early 1990s he was a full-time busker in the Boston subways.[4]
From the mid-1990s, Rovics has spent most of his time on concert tours around the world.[4] Rovics tours regularly on four continents, playing for audiences large and small at cafes, pubs, universities, churches, union halls and protest rallies. He has had his music featured on Democracy Now!, the BBC, Al-Jazeera, Acik Radyo and other networks. His essays are published regularly on CounterPunch and Truthout and the 200+ songs he makes available on the web have been downloaded more than a million times.[4] Although Rovics' work has not gained major commercial success, it has been acclaimed in sections of the press.[6][7][8][9]
He currently lives in Portland, Oregon with his family[4] and has a daughter, Leila, who was born in 2006.[10]
Political activism
Interview with David Rovics on Talk Nation Radio dealing with the politics of music.
^Rovics, David (July 16, 2021). "The Campaign Against Me". This Week with David Rovics. Archived from the original on July 17, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
^Rovics, David (January 31, 2021). "Platforming Fascists". PM Press. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
