Rockin' the Free World

Loss of Control has been accepted to perform for American troops in USO-style tours with the Armed Forces Entertainment Program.

"You send an application along with some audio, video, and a list of past gigs," says singer Jason Lee, "and you have to provide them with your song list in advance. Nothing offensive will be accepted.... This was the second time we applied, and this time we passed the screening." Lee says he doesn't know why the touring company passed on his band the first time.

"Now we wait for them to get a tour request that they feel we're compatible with," says Lee. "Then they offer us the tour, and off we go." He says there's no place the band won't travel. "Basically, they tell you you're there to bring the soldiers a little slice of home, and that's what we intend to do. I'm told you generally eat in the mess halls with the GIs and fly military flights. We're obligated to do a 'meet and greet' for a specified amount of time after each show.... We'll probably give out free CDs to the soldiers."

How much could the band make on such a tour?

"It's all about the troops, not money."

Armed Forces Entertainment sponsors about 1200 shows each year at 270 military installations around the world. If the band isn't drafted for military gigs, Loss of Control will appear May 19 and 20 at the Starlight Bowl in Balboa Park.