From Deseret News archives:
Internet tuning in to Jeffs as a rock star
His voice, image making inroads in pop culture
Warren Jeffs merchandise is popping up on the Internet, from T-shirts featuring the Fundamentalist LDS Church leader dressed in stereotypical "pimp" garb, to Jeffs' voice fronting a song for an experimental rock group's latest album.
"His view of the world seems very twisted, and we wonder if he really believes what he's saying, or is it just rhetoric to control the flock?" Steve De Chiara of the Chicago-based group KinkZoid wrote in an e-mail to the Deseret Morning News.
"While listening to the clips we noticed that he spoke very soft, rhythmically, and almost hypnotic in tone," which the group thinks may be useful for a good cult leader, De Chiara said.
The song features a racist and homophobic sermon by Jeffs explaining the origins of rock music. Jeffs gave the lecture when he was principal of the FLDS-run Alta Academy school at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon in the 1990s. The Deseret Morning News obtained a series of tape-recorded sermons from the time that speak about arranged marriages for girls and Jeffs' version of the history of polygamy and the Mormon religion.
"So when you enjoy the beat of the rock music, maybe even toned down with an orchestra, you are enjoying the spirit of the black race," Jeffs said in his monotone voice, adding that listening to rock music will "rot the soul" and lead to immorality, corruption and godlessness.
"Thus, the whole world has partaken of the spirit of the Negro race, accepting of their ways," Jeffs said in that 1990s sermon.
KinkZoid decided to put Jeffs' words to a blues riff.
"It fit very nicely to a blues-type beat" because he is speaking very close to perfect 4/4 time, "and the irony of the content of his speech put to a primarily African-American music form (blues) made it all the more intriguing," De Chiara wrote.
Comments
- Davydenko gets 1st big win 11:27 p.m.
- Top 25 roundup: Heels beat Nevada 11:25 p.m.
- NFL roundup: Tomlinson leads Bolts 11:19 p.m.
- Pakistan's pres. told to give up power 11:10 p.m.
- Honduras votes after coup 11:09 p.m.
- 'Saddam Channel' hits Iraq TV 11:09 p.m.
- Rescue is dilemma for father 11:08 p.m.
- World datelines 11:07 p.m.
- NBA roundup: Garnett nearly perfect 11:06 p.m.
- No. 8 West Virginia wins 76 Classic 11:02 p.m.
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- BYU is champion of the state
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- Credit Coug defense for win
- Field goals, penalties doomed Utes
- Cougar defense rose to occasion
- Marriage definitions vary widely
- Banged up Jazz get best of Blazers
- Jones' joy for life remembered
- Fantasy is reality for BYU professor
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
863 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
473 - BYU is champion of the state
137 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Max Hall issues apology
128 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
117 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
116 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
90 - Hall's legacy measured today
79
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
ummmm.....relevant?
I think BYU and Utah should take a two-year hiatus from playing each other in...
fantastic story! thanks for the RSL coverage, d-news.
Wait, don't be so hard on the guy. Newsweek is the problem. They lure you in...
USC, CAL or AZ are going to be easy.
Please can we all just get along? Can we take this Thanksgiving holiday and...
Great game! Great playoffs!!! Thanks RSL!
Love my Cougars. Max, you disappointed me on this post-game remark, but...
He was forced to apologize. You knew it was coming as soon as he said it.
A couple of comments: I really like the BYU jerseys of old, I wish BYU...





You can be the first to comment on this story.