Banner of Corpses Video Project

So I'm currently working on a video project called, "Banner of Corpses." its about the Jewish Holocaust and the Native American Genocide. The lyrics are by a psychic lady, the Great Loudini from Denver, CO. I did the music and I'm currently writing the script. And yes, I'm also going to direct and film the video.

These kind of subjects are almost always overlooked. Why? Maybe we choose to let go and forget the past. But what we need to understand is that history does and will repeat itself.

This project is a major history lesson. And it should be shared not stored away. Everyone needs to know the truth and to learn tolerance among different ethnicities. And yes, racism is alive and breeding in today's society. I have been a victim to racist remarks, and even threatened for being Native American.

Just recently in my hometown of Farmington, NM, 3 white supremacists branded a mentally retarded Native American with a swastika and wrote racial remarks all over him and let him go back onto the streets. I have been saying for years that Farmington is a racist community. What better way to support my claim are acts like this that go on.
I do know that the door swings both ways, but I don't recall any Native American branding a non-native with native designs intentionally to harm or degrade an individual.

Going back to the Banner of Corpses project, many people don't realize that Hitler was a student of history. He studied American Indian policy to model his "Final Solution." not to mention he followed an American writer named, Madison Grant who wrote a book in 1916 called, "The Passing of the Great Race." which talked about weeding out the weaker races for America. Also, American President, Teddy Roosevelt, created the Hereditary Commission to promote breeding of good families and sterilized the unfit poor communities and ethnic groups in 1906.

I could go on and on, like with subjects like "Manifest Destiny" and Thomas Jefferson's "Indian Removal Act" which Hitler used to remove Jews from German areas but I would be boring you. So what better way than to try and show it visually with a music video?
I know that after this project is done, I might be criticized and maybe singled out but I'm merely restating the truth. As a Native American, I am proud of my ethnicity. I love all of my fellow human beings. We may be different, but we are one. The Human Race.

Music is an universal medium. We all speak it. Hear it, and learn to tolerate differences.

Chuck Haven
Sig99

The LIFE of a musician

I noticed I haven't posted a blog in awhile. Life seems to have been keeping me busy. The ups and downs. Work and not working. Gigging and writing new music. Traveling and meeting new people. I didn't realize how busy I was until the past couple of months. One thing I always stress to people, is that music does take a toll on your personal life.

For example, I was babysitting, well, not exactly babysitting, I was substituting teaching at the local high school. A student recognized me, and said, "Hey, I know you! Your the singer for Signal 99!" He was excited to meet me. Being his sub for the day he pulled up his chair and started a whirl of questions. Like the curiousity of a five year old, he wanted to know everything about the travels in a band. In other words, he wanted to know about the "life" of being a musician.

I told him about the travels, the people I met. I also told him about the stages we played on, and the national acts we had the honor of opening up for. I also told him about us struggling on the financial side. How we had to eat really really cheap at times. Or the times we had to sleep in the ride. Not too mention the vehicle problems we encounter on the road.

He sat there in awe. His response, "Wow. The life. I can't wait to get where your at. You should check out my band! Give us pointers!"

"The life?" I said. This is not for everyone. I'm suprised I made it this far. I have had my own family push me away. I lost the love of my life to music. I almost died in a car accident coming back from a gig. This life is not for everyone. I recently started to question my motives of being a musician. I quit a high paying job, for what? A gig that pays next to nothing? To sometimes being ripped off after a gig. No wonder why the love of my life left me. She didn't understand why I was out on the road playing gigs night after night.

So why am I doing this? My family is constantly on my back about it. My former work place didn't like me doing music. My ex girlfriend left me because of it. I found out the biggest enemy on your journey toward your dream is your own flesh and blood.

One reason? For YOU. There is nothing like a fan coming up to you and telling you that a song has reached out to them. Or how the music changed their life somehow. Music is an expression. We all have different ways of venting. Music is mine. A Marine recently attended a show in Gallup in January 2010. He shook my hand, and told me it was an honor to see and hear us play. How the music spoke to him and gave him an outlet to connect with. He told me about the horrors of war and that he is shipping out again in August to Afganistan.

This is what they don't understand. We are not going to fully understand everyone, nor will we comprehend why we do what we do, but the fact is, the music reached out to someone who needed at that given time. I'm willing to sacrifice my life to music, as the Marine sacrificed his life to serve his country.

I have a calling. And I'm stepping up to answer that call. So understand that I'm on a mission to better people's life with music.

To my family, friends and to the former love of my life... wish me luck. Please understand that I do this to help, not hurt those close to me.

chuck haven - 2010