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If Leonard Peltier is exonerated as a result of Robbie Robertson's new solo album, "Contact From The Underworld Of Red Boy", it will be the former Band leader's biggest accomplishment.
Robertson makes no bones about what he expects to achieve from "Sacrifice", the arresting song on his forthcoming traditional/electronic hybrid of an album (due March 10) that incorporates the Native American political prisoner's personal account of his imprisonment 21 years ago. "I want to get him out of prison," states Robertson, in no uncertain terms, during a phone interview from Los Angeles.
Peltier was imprisoned in 1976 for the murder of two FBI agents, in a shoot-out on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, between the American Indian Movement, state troopers, sheriff and the FBI.
As Peltier recounts on "Sacrifice" in a taped telephone conversation with Robertson from Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary: "My co-defendants were found not guilty by reason of self-defense; my case was separated and I was found guilty before a jury of non-Indian people. The prosecutor stated that they did not know who killed their agents, nor did he know what participation Leonard Peltier may have played in it, but someone has to pay for the crime."
Robertson, 54, who was born to a Torontonian father and Mohawk mother, was raised on the Six Nations Reservation in Brantford, Ont. He has taken a keen interest in his heritage, which he has explored in his recent music, and has helped give exposure to its culture, beliefs -- and its plight.
"He's really a hero in the First Nation's community," he says of Peltier.
If Robertson's efforts pay off, the singer-songwriter could well be viewed in the same way. Robertson has written a letter to embattled U.S. President Bill Clinton, inquiring about the possibility of clemency for Peltier, whose case is coming up for review.
"I remember years ago, I found out when I was playing with Ronnie Hawkins and we were playing down in Arkansas, that Bill Clinton used to come and hear us play because he was a wannabe-musician," Robertson recounts.
"So I was able to refer to that (in the letter) to get some attention, and then I told him about this -- this is someone that I know, Robert Redford had done this documentary on him and all these books have been written. And on top of all the things that have happened in North American history with the Native people, this was such a horrible thing, that I was asking him to look at it.
"He wrote me back, and he said, 'This is a very sensitive issue and I'm completely looking into and we're going to see what we can do.' It was a lovely letter. Now I'm going to send him the record and ask him to listen to this song and ask him again to please give this its proper attention."
No doubt, when "Contact From The Underworld Of Red Boy" is released, it will get the proper attention. One of the most relevant and challenging albums of the year, to be sure, "Sacrifice" is just one of many powerful songs. Truly original, Robertson has combined the musicians, the lore and spiritualism of the Native world with the potentially cold, emotionless modern world of electronica, pulling it off in a human, organic way.
"These are just tools that are available today," says Robertson. "These tools, if the right person is playing that instrument, it's magical. If the wrong person is playing it, it's horrible. These guys I chose to work with, I don't see any difference, for me, between the peyote singers and Howie B (the album's producer and programmer, known for his recent work on U2's "Pop" album). It's no different than looking for another guitar player.
"They're all instruments and if the instruments are used really soulfully, with great integrity and imagination, then I think I've put it in the right person's hands. To use real instruments from 100 years ago, I don't feel honest about that. That's not who I am. And so I had to do this record with what I understand today."
Complete track listing for "Contact From The Underworld Of Red Boy":
1. The Sound Is Fading (featuring Leah Hicks-Manning)
2. The Code Of Handsome Lake
3. Making A Noise
4. Unbound (first single)
5. Sacrifice (featuring Leonard Peltier)
6. Stomp Dance (featuring Sadie Buck and The Six Nations Women Singers)
7. Peyote Healing (featuring Primeaux and Mike)
8. In The Blood
9. Rattlebone
10. The Lights
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