Podcast claiming CIA involvement in 90s metal band "Scorpions" starts tomorrow. Curious to see what evidence it presents. CIA cultural patronage in 1950s/60s lends some credence, but a very different era, and we know little about CIA propaganda post-60s. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/08/arts/virus-winds-of-change-podcast.html

Seen a couple of articles of this variety: "if CIA sponsored Jackson Pollock and George Orwell adaptations in 1950s, why not a German rock group in 1990?" Possibly true, but... CIA cultural cold war targeted avant-garde artistic movements... Why?...

...To win over elite European non-communist left, they weren't particularly interested in sponsoring mass culture, nor did mass culture need the money (at least not as much as a failing literary magazine)...

Also, most of the artists and cultural institutions propped up by CIA front groups were not aware of where the sponsorship came from, the money flowed through seemingly legitimate grant bodies and sponsors...

Finally, CIA cultural cold war unraveled by end of 60s in spectacular fashion, with chief architect Tom Braden famously penning a very public response titled "I'm glad the CIA is 'immoral'". Would CIA resurrect similar initiative 20 years later? Or is this one off? ...

All of this doesn't disprove that CIA were behind German rock song "Wind of Change", but comparisons to cultural cold warfare in 50s/60s are not as obvious as they seem. Looking forward to seeing how much evidence this podcast has unearthed, and if true, a very cool find!