Guns For The Afghan Rebels

Album: 2,000,000 Voices (1981)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Post 9/11, a song that exhorts the listener to "take these guns to Afghanistan" sounds less foolish than treasonable, but when "Guns For The Afghan Rebels" was recorded for the 1981 album 2,000,000 Voices, the Taliban were actually the good guys.

    In December 1979, the then Soviet Union sent over 100,000 troops into Afghanistan in what was to become the Kremlin's Vietnam. In 1989, after both sides had suffered terrible losses - one might ask for what purpose? - the Soviets pulled out. It was a humiliating defeat for what American President Ronald Reagan called the Evil Empire. Although Angelic Upstarts espoused a socialist/working class philosophy, there are socialists and socialists, and not a few refused to toady up to Moscow. This is definitely a song that belongs in the punk genre, angry and rightly so. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments: 1

  • Pedro from Rio De JaneiroOi you, the talibans were created in Pakistania refugee camps in 1994-ish. There were no talibans when this song was written. Various afghan 'freedom fighters' who were armed by USA, Saudi Arabia against Russia and communism, but no people with the ideology of the talibans. That came later.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Gary Numan

Gary NumanSongwriter Interviews

An Electronic music pioneer with Asperger's Syndrome. This could be interesting.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Jon Oliva of Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Jon Oliva of Trans-Siberian OrchestraSongwriter Interviews

Writing great prog metal isn't easy, especially when it's for 60 musicians.

Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

Dave Pirner of Soul AsylumSongwriter Interviews

Dave explains how the video appropriated the meaning of "Runaway Train," and what he thought of getting parodied by Weird Al.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Def Leppard Quiz

Def Leppard QuizMusic Quiz

Can you name Def Leppard's only #1 hit in America? Get rocked with this adrenalized quiz.