Bill Madden is an American singer-songwriter who is also regarded as an activist. His music is typically labeled as alternative folk rock or neofolk. Due to his use of metaphor, poetry and the socio/political and spiritual content of his lyrics, he’s been compared to Bob Dylan. His influences include Krishnamurti, Dylan Thomas and independent film. An early record label independent, Madden co-founded MADMUSE and in 1995 released Chillin’ In Hades, a compilation of new songs and previously recorded outtakes. The title track, Chillin’ In Hades and Here And Now dealt with the 1992 Los Angeles riots in the aftermath of the Rodney King verdict. In 2004, Madden was among the minority of musicians who challenged President George W. Bush’s “you’re either with us, or against us” rhetoric which inspired the nationalism that permeated America following the tragic events of 9/11. On the album Samsara’s Grip, Madden spoke out in the songs Om Tat Sat, Consequence Of War, and World Just Is and in print opposing the Bush administration's invasion of Iraq. Samsara’s Grip was also controversial for its album cover which shows a boxer brief clad three year old (Madden), innocently and unbeknownst to him, exposing his manhood. Some radio stations that considered the cover to be lewd and indecent, refused to play the album. In 2006, with the help of Jimmy Chamberlin Complex members Billy Mohler, Sean Woolstenhulme and Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, Madden released Gone, an unapologetic album that upped the ante on the criticism of President Bush, the war in Iraq, big business and the Bush administration's apathy regarding global warming and the environment. His music video Gone was selected in the “Short Film” Official Competition of the Festival International du Film d'Environnement 2006 and premiered at Cinema La Pagode in Paris, France. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.