Throughout a recent appearance on The Strombo Show, Tom Morello known as Kneecap “the Rage Against the Machine of now” earlier than defending their controversial political nature. This has led to Disturbed vocalist David Draiman blasting Morello over his help for the provocative Irish rap outfit.
What Morello Mentioned + Draiman’s Response
Through the episode of The Strombo Present – uploaded to YouTube on July 1, 2025 – Morello was requested if he “nonetheless discover[s] younger artists” who’re carrying the anti-establishment torch like RATM did. Morello talked about The Neighborhood Kids and Nova Twins earlier than saying that Kneecap are “on the high of the listing,” including: “They’re clearly the Rage Towards the Machine of now. Like, there’s them after which there’s a spot to the following one.”
He is then requested about his ideas on Kneecap’s Could 2025 terrorism charge for “a human rights factor,” to which Morello replied:
What they’re doing of their artwork is what individuals might in all probability stand to do extra of their lives, is to essentially converse reality to energy. And, , Kneecap are usually not terrorists. What’s terroristic is, , 20,000 useless Palestinian youngsters. That’s the story. . . . Not some Irish rappers who don’t like that that’s occurring. [That] shouldn’t be the story.
You’ll be able to see the clip in query beneath:
Yesterday (July 12), Draiman tweeted a hyperlink to Far Out Magazine’s story concerning the interview, commenting: “Shameful. Actually. Want I might say I used to be shocked. Guess my household doesn’t depend, in the case of my ‘buddy’s’ advantage signaling for many who help terror, and incite Jew hatred.”
You’ll be able to see his put up beneath:
As Metal Injection notes, “Kneecap’s controversial stance on Israel and ongoing conflict in Gaza has sparked backlash—most vocally from Draiman,” as a result of – as Consequence clarifies – Draiman “is Jewish and . . . has relations who reside in Israel.”
Naturally, Draiman’s tweet was met with combined reactions.
For example, one particular person replied: “Morello is a repellent communist and a terrorist sympathizer,” whereas one other consumer stated:
Tom is commonly within the north of Eire and is effectively appreciated every time he visits. He’s effectively conscious of the wrestle our individuals confronted and our help for the Palestinian individuals of their wrestle for freedom. Tom’s on the fitting aspect of historical past. You signed bombs that received dropped on harmless individuals in Gaza. I don’t suppose he’d think about you a “buddy” in any respect.
In fact, and as Metal Injection explains, that latter tweet is referencing the truth that Draiman “has drawn some fairly hefty criticism over the previous two years ever since he visited Israel with the Israel Protection Forces (IDF) and signed an artillery shell with the phrase ‘Fuck Hamas.’”
Steel Injection add:
To reiterate – Draiman signed the missile in June 2024. This was after the occasions of October 7, 2023 when Palestinian militant teams led by Hamas, launched a large-scale, coordinated assault on Israel from Gaza. The assault resulted within the deaths of roughly 1,300 Israelis – most of them civilians – in areas close to the Gaza border and at a music competition. Moreover, over 200 people had been taken hostage and transported into Gaza.
As of this writing, Morello hasn’t responded to Draiman’s phrases, and it doesn’t appear like Draiman has replied to anybody within the feedback part of his tweet.
READ MORE: Tom Morello Discusses Rage Against the Machine’s Legacy While Celebrating New Solo Music
Extra About Kneecap Controversies
As already alluded to, Kneecap have at all times been a openly polarizing political act, with their efficiency at Coachella again in April drawing widespread criticism for its blatant rallying in opposition to Israel.
Kneecap claimed that after week one of many two-week occasion, “the competition had censored their pro-Palestine messages in addition to an anti-Margaret Thatcher chant throughout their efficiency” (per Loudwire).
As Loudwire reported on the time, Sharon Osbourne was among the many most vocal critics of the efficiency. She “known as out competition organizers for permitting the statements of anti-Israel hate speech to be shared,” and her sentiments obtained “reward” and “a social media share from Disturbed’s David Draiman.”
Particularly, Osbourne wrote on social media [via Loudwire]:
Coachella 2025 can be remembered as a competition that compromised its ethical and religious integrity. Goldenvoice, the competition organizer, facilitated this by permitting artists to make use of the Coachella stage as a platform for political expression. Kneecap, an Irish rap group, took their efficiency to a unique degree by incorporating aggressive political statements. Their actions included projections of anti-Israel messages and hate speech and this band overtly help terrorist organizations. This conduct raises considerations concerning the appropriateness of their participation in such a competition and additional exhibits they’re booked to play within the USA.
Days later, Kneecap responded to Osbourne, with vocalist Mo Chara telling Rolling Stone:
Her rant has so many holes in it that it hardly warrants a reply however she ought to take heed to ‘Conflict Pigs’ that was written by Black Sabbath (her husband). . . . Individuals could make their very own choices about whether or not our message is anti-Israel, however for us, it’s about their authorities’s sickening actions, not strange individuals. Our message is about ending the genocide and ending the continued unlawful occupation of Palestine. . . . We wish individuals to take no matter motion they will to cease the genocide. Individuals can take what they need from our music, stopping the genocide is extra vital.
Different Current Information Involving Draiman + Morello
As Metal Injection reported, Draiman was booed throughout his look at Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne’s Back to the Beginning live performance in Birmingham, England on July 5. Draiman took the stage as a part of Morello’s All Stars efficiency – singing “Shot within the Darkish” and “Candy Leaf” – and was “met with a major quantity of boos” (doubtless as a consequence of his aforementioned assembly with the IDF).
The next day, Draiman took to social media to make clear that he “wasn’t ‘booed off the stage’ as so many individuals within the press and CERTAINLY #FreePalestine crowd, would have you ever imagine.”
He expounded [transcribed by Metal Injection]:
Sure, there have been a couple of boos once I walked out, however I got here to pay homage to my lecturers, my idols, the mighty Black Sabbath, and I wasn’t about to let a couple of Jew hating morons deter that. It is all about feeding their narrative, producing clickbait, and inciting hatred of Jews. There’s even a monitor being handed round on the market that added enhanced booing to the efficiency simply so as to add gasoline to the fireplace. Pathetic.
The reside stream exhibits the reality. Each songs went over nice. You would not know that from a few of the media nevertheless, who’re solely too desperate to roast marshmallows subsequent to this dumpster fireplace of a bullshit story. Oh effectively. Nonetheless right here. Nonetheless coming again to the UK within the fall to what’s shaping as much as be a VERY profitable run, if ticket gross sales are any indication. And I’m STILL UNAPOLOGETICALLY A FIERCELY PRO ISRAEL JEW . I’ll ALWAYS get up for my individuals, and I will not be deterred, intimidated, or shamed out of rocking the asses of the lots. Put that in your pipes and smoke it.
You’ll be able to see his put up beneath:
As for Morello, he was one in every of a number of rockers protesting Donald Trump’s ICE Raids and deployment of the National Guard again in June. He – in addition to Evanescence’s Amy Lee – joined the June 14 “No Kings” protests in opposition to Trump’s birthday/army parade in Washington, D.C.
On July 1, Morello joined Loudwire Nights to “dive into Again to the Starting and what it meant for him to be requested by Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne to curate the occasion.” The next week, he stopped by again to “have fun the discharge of his deal solo monitor, ‘Pretend You Remember Me.’” and talk about Rage Towards the Machine’s legacy.
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