AT the peak of their popularity, the 1970s band Orleans was touring 10 months a year, performing their big hits “Still the One” and “Dance With Me.” But John Hall, the band’s guitarist, wasn’t content to stick to the bouncy tunes and lyrics about sweet romance. He also used the stage to lecture audiences about the dangers of plutonium production.
“He would take the liberty of getting on the soapbox at a lot of concerts and go on a bit about nuclear power,” said Larry Hoppen, the bass guitarist for Orleans. “But you have to understand it in the context of the ’70s, with the Nixon thing and the nuke thing.
“In retrospect, it was uncomfortable sometimes, but it was never so bad that a manager said, ‘Hey, you’ve got to cut this stuff out.’ ”
Mr. Hall’s rock friends became used to the policy wonk within. Jackson Browne remembers him talking politics backstage while packing up his guitar.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/07/fashion/07hall.html?smid=pl-share