PATTI SMITH - SMITH SLAMS APATHETIC MUSICIANS

Punk legend PATTI SMITH has blasted today's music stars for not being more vocal against the Iraq war - and struggles to understand their lack of interest in politics. The campaigning star believes it is a great time to make a stand, but is bemused by the lack of artists adopting any kind of political stance. She says, "Musicians, poets, artists, writers, everyone steered clear of (the Iraq) war, which was a great disappointment. "And I don't understand it. I mean, you had someone like SUSAN SONTAG, STEVE EARLE, there were a few people, but you could almost count them on one hand."