Tom Morello calls controversial rap group Kneecap the “Rage Against the Machine of now”
Tom Morello has dubbed controversial Irish rap group Kneecap as the “Rage Against the Machine of now”.
The musician and activist revealed his opinion on a recent edition of The Strombo Show, during which he was asked which bands were most like Rage in their anti-establishment stance.
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While Morello rattles off a list of other bands, the interviewer prompts him by asking “How about Kneecap?” Morello replies [via Louder]: “Of course, they’re at the top of my list.”
Host George Stroumboulopoulos is quick to highlight the recent terrorism charge levelled against Kneecap’s Mo Chara, after the rapper allegedly displayed a flag supporting proscribed terrorist group Hezbollah at a London gig. He has since been bailed unconditionally, according to the BBC.
Morello responds that “Kneecap are not terrorists”, and “what they’re doing in their art is what people could probably stand to do more in their lives: to really speak truth to power”.
The Rage Against the Machine guitarist adds: “What is terroristic is, you know, 20,000 dead Palestinian children. That’s the story. Not some Irish rappers who don’t like that that’s happening. That should not be the story.”
The recent controversy surrounding Kneecap was first ignited during their politically-heated Coachella performance earlier in the year. As can be seen on YouTube, Mo Chara led a Palestine chant after giving a speech, saying that “Palestinians have nowhere to go.” As reported in The Guardian, Kneecap also used a projected graphic that included the phrase “Fuck Israel”.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews highlighted similar comments such as “Kill your MP” at a gig in 2023 as a strong reason for axing their Glastonbury performance. The group’s Glastonbury performance still went ahead.
Elsewhere, Disturbed’s David Draiman has voiced opposition to Morello’s comments. Taking to X, he writes: “Shameful. Truly. Wish I could say I was shocked. Guess my family doesn’t count, when it comes to my ‘friend’s’ virtue signalling for those who support terror, and incite Jew hatred.”
Shameful. Truly.
Wish I could say I was shocked.
Guess my family doesn’t count, when it comes to my “friend’s” virtue signaling for those who support terror, and incite Jew hatred. https://t.co/tbRNB3jDu4
— David Draiman (@davidmdraiman) July 12, 2025
Recently, former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr also showed his support for Kneecap amid calls to axe their Glastonbury set, making a similar remark that: “Oppression fears artistic expression.”
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
