Tom Morello finds it surprising how many fans misunderstand Rage Against the Machine’s songs.
“Never ceases to amaze me how many folks who’ve heard RATM are in Paul Ryan mode, having literally ZERO understanding of anything that band was about and even less understanding where any of us might stand on contemporary issues,” the guitarist wrote on in a post on X.
He shared his conversation with one of the band’s fans, “Recently was talking to a couple at a restaurant who were big fans of ‘Killing In The Name.’ The nice lady said, ‘I love that song. It helped me rage against my parents and later against the jab!'”
“I said, ‘Ma’am that song is about racist cops who often behave like the Ku Klux Klan in service of historical white supremacy and are boot licking lackeys and thugs of the racist capitalist ruling class,'” Morello revealed his response to the fan. “She sat there chewing and blinking, chewing and blinking.”
“God forbid people misunderstood it was against authorities forcing you get the vaccine to go to your concert or fly or work. That was ok, awesome use of authority. You really understand what to rage about,” another fan wrote in the comment section.
The rocker replied, “Perfect example right here. No sir, no one was required to be vaccinated to attend or buy a ticket to any RATM show ever. Feel free to check with any of the tens of thousands who attended. Blinded by presumptive bias and misinformation what other sacred tenets of your world view and opinions are perhaps based on total falsities?”
“I think people are referring more to your stance on the war machine,” one other fan commented. Morello responded again, “My stance on the ‘war machine’ has been unwavering since I was a teenager: Every US President in my lifetime has been a war criminal by the standards of the post-WWII Geneva Conventions and if there was any justice in this world they would be treated as such and answer for those crimes.”
He lastly added, “Again, when you just make stuff up based on bias and misinformation you’ll likely embarrass yourself.”
This isn’t the first time Morello slammed the RATM fans. He previously clarified that the band never required vaccination for their 2022 shows when some questioned if RATM needed fans to be vaccinated for their 2022 tour. Some venues had COVID-19 rules, but these were lifted before the band performed. Fans only needed a ticket to attend.
