US Musicians Ask White House If Their Music Was Used For Torture

A coalition of American musicians filed a freedom of information request to find out if their music has been played at Guantanamo Bay detention camp. The musicians want to know if their music was used as part of the interrogation methods.

The allegations are based on testimony from former Guantanamo detainees, who recounted being exposed to music from 35 different artists, including AC/DC, Aerosmith, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Eminem, Marilyn Menson, Metallica, Prince, Queen and others. Among songs that were allegedly used are also the seemingly innocuous Barney and Sesame street theme songs.

The full list of artists involved:

-- AC/DC 
-- Aerosmith  
-- Barney theme song (By Bob Singleton) 
-- The Bee Gees 
-- Britney Spears  
-- Bruce Springsteen 
-- Christina Aguilera 
-- David Gray  
-- Deicide 
-- Don McClean  
-- Dope  
-- Dr. Dre  
-- Drowning Pool 
-- Eminem 
-- Hed P.E.  
-- James Taylor 
-- Limp Bizkit 
-- Marilyn Manson  
-- Matchbox Twenty  
-- Meatloaf  
-- Meow mix jingle 
-- Metallica 
-- Neil Diamond 
-- Nine Inch Nails 
-- Pink 
-- Prince 
-- Queen  
-- Rage against the Machine 
-- Red Hot Chili Peppers 
-- Redman 
-- Saliva 
-- Sesame street theme music (By Christopher Cerf) 
-- Stanley Brothers 
-- The Star Spangled Banner  
-- Tupac Shakur

It is not clear how exactly the music was used, but a possible interrogation technique would involve playing music very loud for extended periods of time. The music could also be usd to cause sleep deprivation and to offend culturally.

The use of loud music has been banned in interrogations by the UN and the European Court of Human Rights.

President Obama promised to shut down Guantanamo Bay prison by January of 2010.