One of the biggest days for Los Angeles-based experimental-rock band No Age was nearly ruined by political censorship prior to the band's performance on "The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson."



"I have recently come under what can only be called extreme censorship," guitarist Randy Randall wrote in an email posted on Pitchfork Media. "I felt it was important to voice my choice for presidential candidate, Barack Obama, seeing as the episode would air eight days before election day. Dean [Spunt] and I decided that it would be better to take advantage of the stage we had at our disposal ... Access to affordable health care is an issue very near to my heart for many personal reasons and I am sure that many of you can relate. I have lost and stood by as many of my close family members have battled with terrible illnesses. I have myself gone through traumatic hospitalizations only to come out the other side alive but horribly in debt."

Randall revealed that after being asked by a show rep to remove the shirt, the Equal Time Rule (designed to give political candidates equivalent airtime on most U.S. television and radio broadcasts) was brought up to further explain the request. The band almost didn't perform at all, until Randall cleverly decided to write 'Free Health Care' on the shirt and somehow obscured the Obama image on his shirt. No Age's performance on The Late Late Show airs on October 27 so we'll have to wait until then to find out how just how well Randall hid the Obama image, while still making it somewhat noticable.

Show your appreciation for No Age in all their uncensored glory by adding some of their songs to your MyMusic player from their song library. Go ahead ... Don't be shy!

In 2004, NOFX' performed their anti-bush track "Franco Un American" on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" without any censorship restrictions.

This incident brings up a gigantic issue. Should aritsts, actors and anyone else on television/radio be allowed to publicly support their candidate of choice? Did No Age do the right thing or should they have not performed at all?