RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's 'Killing In The Name' surpasses one billion streams on SPOTIFY
13-01-2024
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE‘s classic track “Killing In The Name” has surpassed one billion streams on Spotify.
In celebration of the milestone, the band’s guitarist Tom Morello took to his account on X to share the following message: “‘KILLING IN THE NAME’ just hit 1 billion streams on Spotify! Thanks to all those who listened to it: those who love it, those who hate it, and those that have enjoyed it without understanding it. Righteous proof that rebel music and irony are alive and well.”
“KILLING IN THE NAME” just hit 1 billion streams on Spotify! Thanks to all those who listened to it: those who love it, those who hate it, and those that have enjoyed it without understanding it. Righteous proof that rebel music and irony are alive and well.
— Tom Morello (@tmorello) January 11, 2025
Last November, in the lead-up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Morello blasted some so-called RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE fans for misconstruing the progressive politics he and his bandmates have stood for since the band’s formation more than three decades ago.
“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,” he wrote on X. “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.’ She sat there chewing and blinking, chewing and blinking.”
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. Recently was talking to a couple at a restaurant…
— Tom Morello (@tmorello) November 3, 2024
When one X user questioned Morello about his response to the lady at the restaurant, the guitarist responded: “My brother. She can do anything she damn well pleases. She can cough covid into her MAGA grandpa’s mouth for all I care. But if she presumes to tell a fella who was actually in the room when the song was written what the song is ‘really’ about then I reserve the right to raise my hand and say, ‘no, ma’am.'”
My brother. She can do anything she damn well pleases. She can cough covid into her MAGA grandpa’s mouth for all I care. But if she presumes to tell a fella who was actually in the room when the song was written what the song is “really” about then I reserve the right to raise my… https://t.co/T76F0sCHS1
— Tom Morello (@tmorello) November 4, 2024
Morello has repeatedly said that “Killing In The Name” is an anti-establishment protest song against systemic racism and brutality in the U.S. police forces, with the first verse opening with the line “some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses”. Despite this, American interrogators used “Killing In The Name” to torture detainees at Guantánamo Bay detention camp, playing the song at full volume during sensory deprivation sessions.
In 2009, an online campaign to get “Killing In The Name” to top the U.K. Christmas charts ahead of recurring champions from the talent show “The X Factor” was successful, backed by Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney and THE PRODIGY. The campaign earned RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE a Guinness world record for the fastest-selling digital track in the U.K.: 502,672 downloads in one week.
Back in 2022, Morello went on his official Twitter account and shared: “People who are offended by my politics on Twitter or Instagram, please know it’s because you weren’t intelligent enough to know what the music that you were listening to all these years was about. For the music, you’re welcome, but if you’re a white supremacist or a proto-fascist, that music isn’t written for you. It’s written against you.”
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE drummer Brad Wilk recently said that the iconic band will not play any more shows.
Yesterday (Wednesday, January 3), the 55-year-old musician took to his Instagram to write: “I know a lot of people are waiting for us to announce new tour dates for all the canceled RATM shows. I don’t want to string people or myself along any further.
“I know a lot of people are waiting for us to announce new tour dates for all the canceled RATM shows. I don’t want to string people or myself along any further.
“So while there has been some communication that this may be happening in the future… I want to let you know that RATM (Tim, Zack, Tom and I) will not be touring or playing live again.
“I’m sorry for those of you who have been waiting for this to happen. I really wish it was…”
This past November, Tom Morello was the sole member of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE who attended the band’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Pioneering rapper and BODY COUNT frontman Ice-T inducted Morello, singer Zack De La Rocha, bassist Tim Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk into the Rock Hall, recalling how RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE opened for him during the band’s earliest days.
“Right out of the gate, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE was not a game,” Ice-T said. “In their their career, they did things that impress cats like me. You can’t impress me with normal stuff. You got to impress me with stuff like suing the U.S. State Department for using their music in Guantanamo Bay for torture. Who does that? RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE does that. Or how about 1993, pulling up at Lollapalooza butt naked with duct tape, protesting against the PRMC [Parents Music Resource Center]? Who does that? RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE does that. I respect the hell out of this band.
“If you want to go down in history, you have to make something or break something,” Ice-Tcontinued. “RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE broke every rule in the book just so they could let you know that they were in the building.”
In his acceptance speech, Morello said: “I am deeply grateful for the musical chemistry I’ve had the good fortune to share with Brad Wilk, Tim Commerford and Zach De La Rocha. Like most bands, we have differing perspectives on a lot of things, including about being inducted into the Rock Hall.
“The reason we are here and the best way to celebrate this music is for you to carry on that mission and that message. The lesson I’ve learned from RAGE fans is that music can change the world daily.”
The 59-year-old guitarist continued: “The job we set out to do is not over. Now you’re the ones that must testify. If you’ve got a boss, join a union. If you’re a student, start underground paper. If you’re an anarchist, throw a brick. If you’re a soldier or a cop, follow your conscience not your orders. If you’re bummed out that you didn’t get to see RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, then form your own band, and let’s hear what you have to say.
“When protest music is done right,” Morello added, “you can hear a new world emerging in the songs.”
Social media