ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 2, 1990                   TAG: 9003023147
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: E-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short


PEOPLE

Paul McCartney, arrested and expelled from Japan 10 years ago for marijuana possession, said Thursday that people should stay away from drugs, alcohol and cigarettes.

McCartney, who arrived in Japan Wednesday for a six-concert tour, said he tells his four children to just say no.

"When I talk to them about drugs or any kind of stimulants, I advise them that the best thing to do is be straight and stay natural and don't use any drugs or stimulants or booze or anything," McCartney said at a news conference that he opened with a rendition of his song "Matchbox."

Rosanne Cash strummed a guitar and sang about child abuse, then told Missouri lawmakers her song would have to carry a parental warning if they enact pending legislation.

The sponsor of the legislation, Rep. Jean Dixon, responded Thursday that Cash's song was "nice, but totally irrelevant" to the proposed requirement that warning stickers go on albums, compact discs and cassettes with messages that glorify sex, drugs and violence.

Cash's song about child abuse would not qualify for a warning label because it does not "advocate" abuse, a key word that is in the legislation, Dixon said.

The daughter of Johnny Cash testified that the bill goes too far, creating "the most destructive and profound sanctions ever placed on artists."



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