What's the story with the Confederate flag on Barney's guitars?
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i really have not the foggiest. perhaps it was on it when he got it. this has come up before and a few people have expressed quite understandable negative sentiments toward it.
I'm glad this question is brought up; I was a bit surprised when I first saw it on the 511 DVD. At first, I thought my eyes were tricking and that it was the Union Jack on the guitar. I live in the South (but I don't talk or act Southern in anyway). I asked another NOOLer about this and his take was that the Confederate flag looks exotic to a British person just as the Union Jack is for an American. I don't know... I wonder how the audience would react if NO performed in the South. However, I don't know if there are enough Southerners who can understand their music.
White southerners generally don't have a problem with the confederate flag. Black Americans do. Many white Americans outside of the south do. It's symbolic of the south's war to preserve slavery, and it's extremely offensive to Americans who are offended by America's history of slavery.
Aside from the racial controversy that the flag presents, I'm offended because now a united country; why do we need a flag that glorifies secession that occurred over a century ago?
That flag is all over the US. 13,000 from my State died to preserve the Union yet that flag rears itself here.
while most rural/ country types (always white people without a doubt thou) who have the Confederate flag on their car (usually a pickup truck, not that rare to be honest) may not think they are being pro-slavery, many "liberals" and blacks definitely think that the flag shows respect to a culture that was pro-slavery and pro-segregation, without irony... and most blacks do not find it to be funny or okay whatsoever, just stupid, which is very easy to understand
maybe not a perfect analogy, but sort of like Germans glorifing the Nazi flag and symbols, being proud of the military aggression and nationalism but pretending that the concentration camps had nothing to do with the other stuff
Comrade Shampanyov wrote: Good analogy.
there's just one thing worng with that analogy. nazi regelia, especially the swastika are actually outlawed in germany. that is the reason why neo nazis in germany wave the old imperial flag instead.
pumped full of drugs wrote: while most rural/ country types (always white people without a doubt thou) who have the Confederate flag on their car (usually a pickup truck, not that rare to be honest) may not think they are being pro-slavery, many "liberals" and blacks definitely think that the flag shows respect to a culture that was pro-slavery and pro-segregation, without irony... and most blacks do not find it to be funny or okay whatsoever, just stupid, which is very easy to understand
maybe not a perfect analogy, but sort of like Germans glorifing the Nazi flag and symbols, being proud of the military aggression and nationalism but pretending that the concentration camps had nothing to do with the other stuff
The Stars and Stripes upheld slavery and oppression as well, so where's all the uproar over THAT flag???
Ronald Kirsch wrote: i really have not the foggiest. perhaps it was on it when he got it. this has come up before and a few people have expressed quite understandable negative sentiments toward it.
yeah, superglued on by Hooky for a laff.
C'mon dont you all Know that Barney is a huge Dukes of Hazzard fan?
Are you serious about this, Frank? 
cozmonite61 wrote:
C'mon dont you all Know that Barney is a huge Dukes of Hazzard fan?
Are you serious about this, Frank?
Dontcha love NOOL! 
Edit: Perhaps you're right Frank - wasn't Boss Hog's dog called Barney?
cozmonite61 wrote: Aside from the racial controversy that the flag presents, I'm offended because now a united country; why do we need a flag that glorifies secession that occurred over a century ago?
They're still bitter they lost the war.
Still, the South needs to go on. In my opinion, the flag should be in a museum instead of flying outside of courthouses.
Yes, I'm still surprised with the Barney-Dukes of Hazzard connection. Boss Hog has a dog named Barney? What will come next? I am in the Twilight Zone... (currently singing the theme song)
there seems to be some text also on the sticker underneath the flag on Barney's red Gibson SG. it seems to be three or four words that I can't make out from the online pictures that I see. I'd probably have to view my 511 DVD and pause in the right place to take another gander at it.
Just googled this too, I'm not sure if this is the sticker that's on the guitar but it looks like it to me:
Sorry for my ignorance on the matter.. if indeed the sticker says "Heritage Not Hate" then maybe Barney's in support of the Southern Heritage? 
Or maybe he knows we NOOL'ers would discuss his guitar's decals and he gets a laugh out of it. :p
cozmonite61 wrote:
Yes, I'm still surprised with the Barney-Dukes of Hazzard connection. Boss Hog has a dog named Barney? What will come next? I am in the Twilight Zone... (currently singing the theme song)
interestingly, if you buy the dukes of hazzard season 1 box set, in the 'extras' section they have different celebrities talking about their favourite dukes of hazzard moments. barney is on the DVD! he got a real kick out of cooter, apparently.
nowt wrong with the flag -get over your problems (i have one alongside my Union Flag). Just cos some fooker has a sticker on a guitar doesn't mean he's a racist (Dumb attitude)
Joe Strummer had a 'Ignore Alien Invaders' sticker on his Fender tele- doesn't mean his was anti-alien
Hardly like its a swastica or the AWB symbol.
Ha-Ha I agree andrew....strummer also wore a t-shirt saying "face of the assassin" Hmmmmm....Got me wondering!!!
AgentWood wrote:
cozmonite61 wrote:
Yes, I'm still surprised with the Barney-Dukes of Hazzard connection. Boss Hog has a dog named Barney? What will come next? I am in the Twilight Zone... (currently singing the theme song)
interestingly, if you buy the dukes of hazzard season 1 box set, in the 'extras' section they have different celebrities talking about their favourite dukes of hazzard moments. barney is on the DVD! he got a real kick out of cooter, apparently.
maybe Barney's in support of the Southern Heritage? I'm confused...
As I mentioned before, I don't talk or act Southern, though I live in the South. I'm a pround Yank. Anyway, this thread is getting interesting.
Another thing popped in my head of Barney's Southern connection. When I first heard "The Perfect Kiss" on International, I was stunned when I heard the cowbell. It wasn't until I saw the video that I found out it was Barney banging that thing. If there was a comic strip moment about TPK, there would be a thinking balloon above Barney's head that says: "I gotta have more cowbell."
Barney wasn't the only one who went Southern in the TPK video. I was surprised that Hooky went redneck with his mullet. OMG, mullets were popular in Britain too?!
cozmonite61 wrote: Barney wasn't the only one who went Southern in the TPK video. I was surprised that Hooky went redneck with his mullet. OMG, mullets were popular in Britain too?!
Er, yeah, were rather than are though. 
I'm still trying to figure out how cowbells are 'Southern' though?! I always think of cowbells and milkmaids and suchlike as Dutch, for some reason.
Isnt it possible that the guitar came with the flag and Bernard didnt know what it was / couldnt be bothered to change it?
cozmonite61 wrote:
AgentWood wrote:
cozmonite61 wrote:
Yes, I'm still surprised with the Barney-Dukes of Hazzard connection. Boss Hog has a dog named Barney? What will come next? I am in the Twilight Zone... (currently singing the theme song)
interestingly, if you buy the dukes of hazzard season 1 box set, in the 'extras' section they have different celebrities talking about their favourite dukes of hazzard moments. barney is on the DVD! he got a real kick out of cooter, apparently.
maybe Barney's in support of the Southern Heritage? I'm confused...
As I mentioned before, I don't talk or act Southern, though I live in the South. I'm a pround Yank. Anyway, this thread is getting interesting.
Another thing popped in my head of Barney's Southern connection. When I first heard "The Perfect Kiss" on International, I was stunned when I heard the cowbell. It wasn't until I saw the video that I found out it was Barney banging that thing. If there was a comic strip moment about TPK, there would be a thinking balloon above Barney's head that says: "I gotta have more cowbell."
Barney wasn't the only one who went Southern in the TPK video. I was surprised that Hooky went redneck with his mullet. OMG, mullets were popular in Britain too?!
believe it or not mullets were actually quite popular in them that day gone bye (not that i ever really had one), and as such do not have a rednck association. cowbells, don't cows all over the world have those?
snt it possible that the guitar came with the flag and Bernard didnt know what it was / couldnt be bothered to change it?
Same question I have. Where did he get his guitar made? Nashville? New Orleans? Memphis? Atlanta? Does the U.K. have guitars with Confederate flag decorations?
I used to have an avatar here with the Confederate Flag for quite a long time, which some NOOLers didn't like. Out of respect to them I changed it.
To me the Confederate Flag is a symbol of rock'n'roll, and it's usual to see the flag in countries outside the USA.
Here in Texas they sell it everywhere, at expos, at boot stores, etc. 
True. Lynard Skynard had used Confederate flags in their band, and "Sweet Home Alabama" went mainstream.
cozmonite61 wrote: True. Lynard Skynard had used Confederate flags in their band, and "Sweet Home Alabama" went mainstream.
Plus recall The Dukes of Hazard! It was considered alright.
