Cash in Contemporary Music

His distinguished, individual non-conformist style is said to have influenced numerous genres, and having come from a country music background, hybridised country with traditional rocknroll. He held an iconic role in the establishing of rocknroll, of the outlaw country movement, and still inspires contemporary artists to this day. Kirk Hammett of heavy metal band Metallica is said to have been inspired by Cash, believing that his embodiment of the "don't mess with me image" was inspiring. And Bob Dylan's folk/rock background was directly influenced by Cash, who had him on his television show in his earliest years as a singer. Like his appeal, his influence was as equally widespread, and he is said to have influenced artists from numerous genres (like his music itself) including Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, Bono and Jack White.

Many have argued that Cash started the punk rock genre, and his diversity and bad-ass image which came from performing in prisons made him brave, and the front-runner of the angry, tough genre. His statement black clothing, anti-establishment attitude and outlaw image and the previously mentioned middle-finger photo, all implement his sinner status, and would provide reason for why he influenced punk rock.
   

Cash's Later Years / "Hurt"

His problems with drug addiction were mostly confined to his youth, but he did still suffer when he went his addictions started again in the 1980s. His dependancy during the majority of his life left him fearful of all medications, and he was diagnosed with a neuro-degenerative disease in 1997, as a result of all his years of drug misuse. 

He fought the disease and still produced music in the form of American Recordings, and his other American albums, which flourished in mainstream popularity after his prominent performance at Glastonbury festival in 1994. Once again breaking all the rules and boundaries in place by conformist genre, he covered the Nine Inch Nails song, "Hurt" in 2002, putting his own powerful spin on a traditional rock song, removing profanities and replacing them with references to his devout Christianity and relationship with religion. The video was intended to capture Cash throughout his life, in youth and in his elder years. The metaphorical decaying fruit in various stages epitomises his legendary life, and the reality of him as a icon. As one of his last songs, he is seen as very frail in the video, and looking back on his life the video and song in itself suggests Cash's saint/sinner binary, and his paradoxical nature.

While he did all he could to fight the disease and keep going he eventually died in 2003. This was four months after his wife June died, and it's highly believed that he died of a broken heart. His previously recorded unheard music still gets released, with his most recent example being 2014's, Out Among The Stars.

Political Affiliation and Protesting American Culture

While his compassion and plight for prison reform goes hand in hand with his status as a saint, and with his religious views, it was also his political affiliations that made him care so much for others. Like with his protest songs "Man in Black," "One Piece at a Time," and "Folsom Prison Blues" Cash didn't like to be categorised, and his music and religious beliefs were a representation of this. Choosing to believe in fighting for injustices and standing up for the oppressed was his take on politics, and he saw himself as being above political affiliation.

Through his music he fought the injustices in society, he condemned racism and prejudices, and often protested against these topics, in the same manner of which he did for prisoners and Native American rights. While he spoke out against these issues, and the Vietnam war, his opinions didn't lie politically as his ideals were just to gain freedom and equal opportunities for his fellow Americans. The poor, working men, and ill-treated were deemed as a much more important cause than categorising or associating himself with specific political parties.

Like with his attitudes to religion, he encouraged independent thinking about politics and urged others to do the same. While he did hold strong beliefs and protested them to the masses, he encouraged that everyone celebrates their individual beliefs also, in the same way he had done.

Iconography of Cash

One of the most iconic images of Cash, is the previously shown photograph of him flipping off the photographer at his San Quentin prison performance in 1969. This image is cemented at the centre of his outlaw image, and represents his fight against the establishment. His resentment for the standard of the Southern country music genre and the people living in poverty in his home country can be epitomised by this single picture. 

As an advocate for prison reform, his concerts were a method of showing his support and representing equality, but the image itself was a protest against officials. The photo arose when the photographer, Jim Marshall, asked Cash to "do a shot for the Warden..." 

So Cash sticks up his middle finger, and creates an image which will incorporate his outlaw image, and his saint/sinner contradictions for decades to come...