Tom Morello reserves “extra hot layer of hell” for musicians who remain silent on politics
Tom Morello has argued against the “hypocritical” argument that musicians shouldn’t use their platform for politics, suggesting apolitical artists should go to an “extra hot layer of hell”.
The Rage Against the Machine guitarist has been committed to vocal political messaging throughout his entire career; his latest single, ‘Adjourn It’, throws a mighty fist at the increasingly facsist face of politics.
Most recently, Morello’s appearance at Download Festival saw him display the block-capital message “FUCK TOMMY ROBINSON” on his guitar, as well as the big screen behind him.
Now, in a new interview with Metal Hammer, Morello has shared his thoughts on artists who refuse to be political in the limelight: “When people say that musicians should not be involved in politics, it means they are people that disagree with your politics,” he shared.
He went on, “The second that you write a song that agrees with their politics, all of a sudden they’re all for it. So one, it’s very hypocritical, but two, I also think that, why should you give away your free speech rights in the job that you do? Because it offends someone?”
Morello added, “I think that the converse is what is actually true, I think you do yourself and your times a disservice by censoring who you are in your world, not just musicians but in your work as a music journalist or in your work as a tour manager or a bus driver, you should not leave behind who you are and what you believe.”
The musician appears to have as much issue with those who remain quiet at a time of great political upheaval as the corrupt politicians at the top.
He added, “There’s an extra hot layer of hell for people in times of great injustice who censor themselves and remain quiet when they should have spoken out because they’re afraid of some internet troll.”
Morello’s latest release ties much of this thinking together, as he previously described the song as “a clarion call for justice in unjust times“.
The honours student in political science from Harvard University added that the tune was “inspired by the persecution of immigrants across the land and the heroic resistance to the rising tide of fascism, it’s just about damn time to rock for freedom, justice and equality.”
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.