Dixie Chicks bare more than souls

COUNTRY music band the Dixie Chicks, who sparked controversy when they denounced President George W Bush, yesterday hit back at critics through a nude appearance on the cover of a US magazine.

The Texas trio were accused of being anti-American after singer Natalie Maines spoke out at a London concert before the outbreak of war saying she was ashamed to come from the same state as the president.

Her outburst resulted in a mass boycott of the group’s music, with one radio station organising a tractor to crush their CDs, and even death threats.

The band responded by posing naked on the front of Entertainment Weekly daubed in contradictory slogans such as Saddam’s Angels, proud Americans, free speech, shut up, traitors and hero.

“We wanted to show the absurdity of the extreme names people have been calling us,” said band member Martie Maguire.

“How do you look at the three of us and think ‘those are Saddam’s Angels?’ We’re not defined by who we are anymore. Other people are doing that for us.”

Maines said she regretted her “disrespectful” choice of words about Mr Bush, but said she was a patriotic American.

“Am I sorry that I asked questions and that I don’t just follow? No,” she stated.

She said the band, who prior to her comments had been the most successful contemporary country music performers, had introduced metal detectors for their upcoming US tour because of fears for their safety.