Kneecap Are The 'Rage Against The Machine Of Now,' According To Tom Morello
"What they’re doing in their art is what people could probably stand to do more in their lives: to really speak truth to power," Morello said of the Irish trio.
Kneecap, Tom Morello (Credit: Peadar Ó Goill, Andrew Briscoe)
Irish rap trio Kneecap are the “Rage Against The Machine of now,” according to the titular band’s guitarist, Tom Morello.
In a recent interview on The Strombo Show, a snippet of which Kneecap shared on social media, Morello was asked about modern acts who embody the spirit of Rage Against The Machine—not only in terms of music, but also in speaking truth to power. The latter is where Morello sees Kneecap.
“[They’re at] the top of the list,” Morello said. “I mean, they’re clearly the Rage Against The Machine of now. Like, there’s them and there’s a gap to the next one.”
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In May, Kneecap’s Mo Chara—real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh—was charged with a terror offence after he allegedly brandished the Hezbollah flag and reportedly shouted, “Up Hamas! Up Hezbollah!” during a November concert.
Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group, and Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite Muslim militant group, are both designated terrorist organisations in the United Kingdom.
Footage of the incident was widely shared following the group’s performances at Coachella in April, where they shared pro-Palestine messages and criticised the US government for its alleged involvement in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas on the screens behind them. Following the ensuing backlash, Kneecap said they were targets of a “coordinated smear campaign.”
After their Coachella set, Sharon Osbourne called for Kneecap’s visas to be revoked, and the trio had concerts cancelled in Germany. Meanwhile, artists such as Johnny Marr, Amyl And The Sniffers, Fontaines D.C., Pulp, and more defended their freedom of expression.
Acknowledging the controversy surrounding the group, Morello added, “What they’re doing in their art is what people could probably stand to do more in their lives: to really speak truth to power. And, you know, Kneecap are not terrorists.
“What is terroristic is, you know, 20,000 dead Palestinian children. That’s the story. Not some Irish rappers who don’t like that that’s happening. [That] should not be the story.”
Morello starts talking about Kneecap at the 21-minute mark of the interview, which you can watch below.
Following their “Free Palestine” and “Fuck Margaret Thatcher” chants at Coachella, Kneecap’s Glastonbury set wasn’t live-streamed last month. That didn’t stop them, however, from leading chants of “Free, Free Palestine” and “Fuck [UK Prime Minister] Keir Starmer… he’s just a shit [independent politician, former Labour leader] Jeremy Corbyn.”
Kneecap – comprising Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí – formed in 2017, and have gained widespread attention for their blend of Irish and English rapping, and their support of Irish republicanism. Their second album, 2024's Fine Art, earned widespread acclaim, and the trio were the subject of an eponymous comedy-drama from director Rich Peppiatt.
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