Rage In opposition to the Machine have by no means been shy about the place they land politically. However as time passes, the band’s core beliefs and the which means behind their music appears to be more and more misunderstood.
This previous Tuesday (February eleventh), a fan on Twitter/X reached out to guitarist Tom Morello to thank the band for influencing his political views, writing: “Tom. I want to personally thanks for purple pilling me together with your 1st album. On the time it utilized to Republicans. Now it applies to the dems. Let’s decentralized the facility construction.”
Taking the time to reply on to the Twitter/X consumer, Morello clarified that the band’s music and political ideologies don’t align with both dominant U.S. political social gathering.
“You’re welcome. However as a reminder the primary RATM file got here out in the course of the Clinton administration. Then, as now, that music critiqued a capitalist/white supremacist energy construction that was and remains to be in full impact. Presently extra so than ever. Pay attention extra carefully. Like actually hear and it’s fairly clear,” he wrote.
“(Preemptive dispelling of wearying misinformation prone to flood the feedback: whereas being sharply vital of each no good events (Clinton/Obama/Biden’s conflict crimes & subservience to Wall Avenue and Bush/Trump conflict crimes, subservience to billionaires and Wall Avenue & common idiocy) nobody from RATM has ever publicly supported a dem or repub candidate. EVER. Additionally, no RATM present has EVER required proof of vax or masks to attend, and anyplace you heard both of these issues, or anybody who has echoed these issues, may be very most likely mendacity to you about an entire lotta different stuff within the service of a racist/fascist agenda).”
RATM has been regularly accused of requiring proof of the COVID-19 vaccine for his or her short-lived reunion in 2022 – which doesn’t sit properly with sure folks on the fitting facet of the aisle.
Morello, nonetheless, has taken it upon himself to repeatedly debunk these claims. Whereas some native authorities set entry necessities on account of the 2020 pandemic, by the point RATM’s exhibits came about proof of vaccination was not required.
“RATM by no means performed a single gig in its historical past that required vaccination. Not one,” he tweeted in 2022.
Final yr, the band was accused of endorsing the Democrats within the newest U.S. Presidential Election after it was introduced that their “Democratic Nationwide Conference 2000” present was receiving a digital re-release. Whereas the title appeared to recommend RATM performed the conference, the occasion was in actuality a protest present exterior of the DNC.
“We performed a protest AGAINST the conference. You guys are so silly,” Morello tweeted final yr regarding the efficiency that noticed vocalist Zack de la Rocha condemn each political events on the time.
