Kris Kristofferson weighs in with Broken Freedom Song: Live From San Francisco

In times of political turmoil and uncertainty, many artists just shut their mouths and entertain. That’s never been Kris Kristofferson’s style. Kristofferson’s art has always been a reflection of his beliefs. For more than 30 years, his music has personified characteristics like compassion, humor and intellect. Broken Freedom Song: Live From San Francisco is no different. Much of the album, The Circle,” “What About Me,” “Sandinista,” “Don’t Let The Bastards Get You Down,”  “Darby’s Castle,” and the title track allude to the complexities of war and political affairs.
“For as long as I can remember we’ve been supporting people like Caesar Chavez and United Farm Workers,” Kristofferson says. “Sometimes when I do concerts for different causes, I meet people. When you get into those circles and see this stuff firsthand, you can’t help but get involved.” In an ironic twist, Kristofferson, always a visible activist for social justice and human rights, won the American Veterans Award for Veteran of the Year at a ceremony in Los Angeles last fall.
I couldn’t help but be surprised because some of things I’ve been vocal about have pissed off veterans,” Kristofferson says. “It would have made my daddy proud. I grew up in a military family. I grew up in a time when people believed in duty, honor and country. I think it’s possible to support the warrior and be against war.”
Broken Freedom Song: Live From San Francisco also brings Kristofferson full circle with his early connection to songwriters John Prine and Steve Goodman. After close friendships spanning more than 30 years, Broken Freedom Song is the first of Kristofferson’s wide-ranging musical projects to be released on Oh Boy Records, Prine’s label with manager Al Bunetta.
Kristofferson, who discovered Prine and Goodman in 1971, is delighted to be with Oh Boy, but modest about his role in unearthing the two songwriting luminaries. “They were so good. It was just like finding Bob Dylan,” Kristofferson recalls. “It also happened at a time when you could make things like that happen.”
Kristofferson has been making things happen his entire life. Born in Texas and raised in a military family, he was a Golden Gloves boxer who studied creative writing at Pomona College in California . The Phi Beta Kappa graduate earned a Rhodes scholarship to study literature at Oxford , where he boxed, played rugby and continued to write songs. After graduating from Oxford , Kristofferson served in the army as an Airborne Ranger helicopter pilot and achieved the rank of Captain. In 1965, Kristofferson turned down an assignment to teach at West Point and, inspired by songwriters like Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash, moved to Nashville to pursue his music.
“When I was in the army, I was one of the few people outside of his personal friends who knew about Willie Nelson,” Kristofferson recalls. “I listened to a disc jockey who happened to be a Willie fan. He would play Willie’s songs and talk about him all the time. By the time I got to Nashville , he was a superhero to me. For guys like me, Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson were two gods we worshipped. Then Willie and I got to be best friends. I came from a position of idolizing him to finding out he’s the funniest son of a bitch you could be around.”
After struggling in Music City for several years, Kristofferson achieved remarkable success as a country songwriter at the start of the 1970s. His songs "Me and Bobby McGee," "Help Me Make It Through the Night," "Sunday Morning Coming Down," and "For the Good Times," all chart-topping hits, helped redefine country songwriting. By 1987, it was estimated that more than 450 artists had recorded Kristofferson’s compositions. His renown as a songwriter triggered Kristofferson’s successful career as a performer and that, in turn, brought him to the attention of Hollywood , leading to his flourishing career as a film actor.
Heralded as an artist’s artist, Kristofferson has starred in more than 44 films. He’s recorded in excess of 25 albums, including three with pals Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings as part of the Highwaymen.
Next up for Kristofferson is an appearance on the PBS resurrection of Soundstage and his induction into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in August of 2003. His friend Willie Nelson will be on hand to do the honors. “I’ve always been proud to be a Texan and it’s nice to be recognized by my home state,” Kristofferson says.
Looking forward, Kristofferson is writing his memoirs for Hyperion, contemplating an idea for a novel, and continuing to act in select films.
While his music, film roles, and writing career are thriving, Kristofferson still chooses to spend the majority of his time at home with his wife and children.
“I still feel creative and I’m grateful for that, but I have a big, good-lookin’ family and a place I don’t want to leave,” He says. “That’s all that really matters.”

-Official Press Release

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