The Troubles republican prisoners led to more than 500 of them in the Maze prison initiating the "blanket" and "dirty" protests. Their protests culminated in hunger strikes in 1980 and 1981, aimed at the restoration of political status, as well as other concessions. In the 1981 Irish hunger strike, ten republican prisoners (seven from the Provisional IRA and three from the INLA) died of starvation. The first hunger striker to die, Bobby Sands, was elected to Parliament on an Anti-H-Block ticket, as was his election agent Owen Carron following Sands' death. The hunger strikes resonated among many nationalists; over 100,000 people attended
Hunger Strike (song) the crowd to sing Vedder's part. "Hunger Strike" was recorded by Halestorm and released as part of their 2011 "". Seventh Day Slumber also covered "Hunger Strike" on their 2015 "Redline (EP)" with Kevin Young from Disciple singing Eddie Vedder's first verse and then switching to sing Chris Cornell's high parts. In memory of Chris Cornell during his remembrance at Rock on the Range 2017 in Columbus, OH on 5/19/2017 - "Hunger Strike" was performed by Corey Taylor and Christian Martucci, with supporting vocals from the thousands in attendance. "Wish you Were Here" was also performed by the members of