Grammys issue statement defending nomination of local activist’s metal rant

“We won’t restrict the people who can submit their material for consideration. We won’t look back at people’s history.” That was Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason, Jr. last week, defending the Academy’s nomination of both Louis CK and Marilyn Manson for Grammy awards, despite the fact that both have been accused of abusive behavior by multiple women. Now, Mason has been forced to reaffirm and expand on that position in light of the “Heavy Metal Single” nomination given to Matt Baker’s August rant against the San Diego County Board of Supervisors regarding mandates for covid vaccines. The speech, colloquially known as the “Wind of Time” rant, was turned into a heavy metal anthem by YouTuber Andre Antunes. It was later retitled “The Nuremberg Variations,” due to Baker’s claim that the Board was in violation of the Nuremberg Code, which was created by a war crimes tribunal following World War II in light of various Nazi atrocities. Released as a single, it quickly sold more than 7 million copies, and has been streamed over 100 million times on Spotify.

“Clearly, Mr. Baker has touched a cultural nerve,” read Mason’s statement. “And heavy metal has always had as its mission the touching of that nerve, the furious rallying of the outcast and those who are despised by so-called ‘civilized society.’ The Establishment told Matt Baker that his time had expired. Clearly, that was not actually the case. Society has tried to censor metal before, deeming it a threat to morals and decency. The Academy didn’t yield to the Powers that Be then, and we’re not about to start now. This is heavy metal, people. You may not agree with Mr. Baker’s ideas, but you can’t argue with his lyrics and performance. And that’s what we’re nominating.”