Tom Morello has never been known for keeping politics separate from performance, and his appearance at this years Download Festival made that clear once again.
The former Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave guitarist used his set on the Opus Stage at Donington Park over the weekend to make a pointed political statement aimed at British far right activist Tommy Robinson (per NME).
During Sunday’s (June 14) performance, Morello appeared with a message written across the back of his guitar reading: “FUCK TOMMY ROBINSON”, with festival screens capturing and broadcasting the moment to the crowd.
The set itself leaned heavily into the themes Morello has become known for throughout his career, mixing protest music, political commentary and rock staples. Across the performance he moved through tracks including Killing In The Name, Soldier In The Army Of Love, a rendition of Ozzy Osbourne’s Mr. Crowley, and John Lennon’s Power To The People.
The guitarist later reshared an image of the guitar message to his social channels.
Years of public criticism
Morello’s latest moment on stage follows years of public criticism aimed at British right wing figures, back in 2018, Rage Against The Machine responded after Nigel Farage launched a podcast titled Farage Against The Machine, saying:
“This pissweasel IS the machine – peddling the sort of inane, blame-heavy bullshit that the guys in RATM have been raging against since day one.”
Later that year, Morello added:
“I am open to accidentally giving Nigel a dry slap, if I encounter him on the tube. Though I doubt he rides the tube for fear of all the dry slaps he would receive.”
His political messaging continued into 2019, when he appeared at a Muse support show with another slogan attached to his guitar reading: “FUCK FARAGE”.
Morello continues to combine music with activism, later this year he’ll curate the Power To The People festival in Maryland, bringing together artists including Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, Joan Baez and Serj Tankian for what organisers describe as a celebration of peace, justice, community action and solidarity.
In recent years, Morello has repeatedly spoken about music’s role in driving social and political conversations, a theme that remains front and centre in his live shows.
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