Hootie's Mark Bryan On 'Stop Handgun Violence' CD

12/19/2000 4:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Craig Rosen

(12/19/00, 4 p.m. ET) - The Rounder Records compilation Stop Handgun Violence is in stores now, and it features Hootie & the Blowfish, Fastball and Toad The Wet Sprocket, among others. As to what ignited his passion for stopping handgun violence, Hootie & the Blowfish's Mark Bryan told LAUNCH: "John Lennon--the death of John Lennon. I would say that above all others for me, and probably for our band too. We all talked about how that affected us. There's many others. Just pick up the paper every day and you'll find a reason."

Bryan told LAUNCH he's increasingly getting involved in political causes as he's gotten older. "I started off as someone who believed that as a musician, it's maybe best off to just stay out of that forum. And when I was younger, I didn't have as strong of views as I do now. I think when you mature you tend to feel stronger about issues and topics as they affect your family.

"I think about artists I respect that have made a difference in issues through their songwriting, like Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen," he continued. "Now I do feel strongly that anyone who feels strongly about an issue should step up and make their thoughts be known, if it can influence others."

He added that as far as criticism for his stance, "I don't care what other people will say. That's how I feel about it."

--Darren Davis, New York