PBS documentary looks at protest songs

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- A host of modern musical activists have lined up to appear in a PBS documentary about the history of protest music.

"Get Up, Stand Up" -- named for a Bob Marley song -- will air Sept. 28 and feature Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson, Steve Earle, Michael Stipe, Peter Gabriel and Bob Geldof, Rolling Stone reported Tuesday.

The documentary delves into the history of protest music and looks at its place in today's political climate.

Public Enemy frontman and "Air America" radio host Chuck D. will narrate. He told Rolling Stone listening to protest songs in the 1960s had a big influence his own body of work.

"'Fight the Power' by the Isley Brothers was the song that inspired me to write 'Fight the Power' by Public Enemy," he said. "But, being a child of the '60s, there's so many great protest songs. 'People Get Ready' and a lot of Curtis Mayfield's songs touched my soul. James Brown had a protest song against drugs with 'King Heroin,' and Peter, Paul and Mary struck me as a kindergartener. How could those songs not mean so much?"