is widely known on many coasts and in some
interiors for his sharp send-ups of topical subjects ranging from
weapons of mass distraction to SUVs and the wars to defend them. He
has toured widely in the United States, Europe, Australia, and
Central America in a 35-year musical career.
Lippman's notoriety began in 1969 when he was named an unindicted co-conspirator for singing about the "Guatemala sweepstakes" at a rally that preceded the escorting of a recruiter from the United Fruit Company off the campus. After having a song recorded by Country Joe MacDonald, Lippman joined with a San Francisco comedy group to create the Reagan for Shah Campaign, in which he introduced George Shrub, the Singing CIA Agent. Shrub then toured as security for the Ladies Against Women.
In the eighties, Lippman performed in war zones in
Central America and toured from Birmingham Alabama to Birmingham
England, then on to Belgrade. In Germany he sang for squatters and
anti-nuclear activists. Stateside, he joined a caravan of
Salvadoran refugees through Texas. Ex-CIA agent John Stockwell
declared Lippman prescient for writing a song about the Grenada
"rescue" a year before it happened; Lippman declared it manifest
destiny, based on the size of the island.
photo: William Jordan
2004
After campaigning as George Stump, Moderate Clearcutter, with Earth First! in the Redwood country, he toured with Yippie founder Paul Krassner and the British anarchist comedian Tony Allen, as well as performing in theatrical runs in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Lippman brought Shrub to the School of the Americas in Columbus, Georgia, CIA Headquarters, the White House, and countless rallies and benefits for peace, global justice, living wages, fair trade, environmental sanity, and apple pie.
photo: Suzanne Patzer
Lippman has ten releases to his credit, not
counting jail. The latest is Shrub and Lippman Live in Manhattan
Kansas. Previous releases include the
1987 LP Shoot from the Lipp and 1998's I Hate
Wal-Mart, which features "Guess Who's Coming After Dinner," and "All My Friends Are Semi-Famous." Other tunes: "Brother Can You Spare a Diamond," "The Sport Futility Vehicle Tango," "Your Car is Disgusting," "Battle Him in Public." and many more endearing titles. Lippman receives airplay on anti-commercial radio throughout the country, and his concert videos are widely sampled.
"Lippman is a national treasure" - L.A.
Herald-Examiner
"Viciously funny" - Guardian (England)
"One of my favorite political satirists. This is a very funny
man." - Erich Lee Preminger
"The Dean felt that more harm than good would come from
your visit" - student, Skidmore College, New York
"God, that man can talk! What a great writer!" - Utah
Phillips