Chances This Story Gets the Play Tom Morello’s Ryan-Bashing Did?

Posted by in Blog, Featured, Politics on August 30, 2012 9:11 am / 5 comments

You all remember back when the band Rage Against the Machine’s guitarist Tom Morello went off on Paul Ryan because he dared to have conservative beliefs and like their music. You would think any band would like the fact that they have a fan anywhere no matter his beliefs (unless he was like a Nazi or something). But no, Tom Morello made a jerk out of himself.

Today, a story in the Rolling Stone shows what true class I believe most artists out there should have:

Paul Ryan may have been blasted by Tom Morello for his love of Rage Against the Machine, but Mitt Romney’s preference for the Killers hasn’t seemed quite as controversial so far. When the Republican presidential nominee gave a shout-out to the Las Vegas band last week, at least one member didn’t seem upset by it.

“Anyone’s allowed to like us,” Killers bassist Mark Stoermer tells Rolling Stone. “If it’s just about music, I guess it’s not a negative thing.”

Romney brought up the band – whose lead singer, Brandon Flowers, is Mormon, like the candidate – in an interview with Parade. “The Killers are one group I enjoy,” he said, noting that, if elected, he’d also welcome the Beach Boys, Alabama, Aerosmith and country stars Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith to play at the White House.

Would that have been so hard for Tom Morello to say as well? Or is Rage Against the Machine more concerned about the politics than the music?

And what are the chances this story gets less air-time on TV and radio than Morello’s Ryan-bashing? I’d say about 100%. You probably won’t be seeing this all over the internet either.

There’s a reason The Killers are my favorite band: they’re all class, and most of all they’re in it for the music.

P.S. The Killers have a new album coming out on September 18th. Be sure you buy it!

Photo credit: WIkipedia
 
 

5 Comments

  1. geek49203 says:
    August 30, 2012 at 9:51 am

    There should be a “Dixie Chicks Rule” notice in each musician’s contract.

    You will recall that the Dixie Chicks were all-world-conquering before one of them — Natalie? — made her little speech. After that they disappeared overnight from country radio for a long, long time. No doubt her band mates, the rest of the musicians, their recording studio, their publisher, etc etc all wanted to beat her senseless. Or since that wouldn’t take much, beat some sense INTO her.

    So if a musician feels that strongly about politics so as to make that kind of statement, they shouldn’t be surprised rest of the band (that depends on that income coming in) take them out and pummel them senseless.

  2. Rage Against The Right Sphere says:
    August 30, 2012 at 1:01 pm

    He was the lead guitarist for Rage Against the Machine, and if you and your reader actually read the article you will see he says that people can listen to whatever BUT that Paul Ryans views are entirely the opposite of those expressed in every Rage song even going so far as to list the meanings behind some of his songs and questioning WHY Mr. Ryan likes these songs given that they are about doing good things.

    So to summarize, you are wrong on two counts and misrepresenting the article. You have no journalistic integrity and your reader is so bias he wont even check the source, you should be ashamed… but given the complete lack of emotion you wrong-wingers seem to have I doubt you know what that feels like, either that or you are one of the many sexual deviants who preach about family values for the wrong-wing and would get of on being shamed.

  3. Tre4USA says:
    August 30, 2012 at 1:51 pm

    The writer’s point was that Morello made it about politics while the Killers abstained, instead focusing on the music aspect. They may even disagree with Romney, but they weren’t going to take a compliment as an opportunity to argue beliefs.

  4. Earl says:
    September 3, 2012 at 2:57 am

    Why should a musician abstain from politics? Why should anyone abstain from politics? Politics is simply the manifestation of the peoples’ voices as government and policy, and any artistic expression comes from the voice of one (or more) people. Music (or art or literature) as a political vehicle is far from a new thing. Should Dostoevsky have abstained from politics? Goya? Stravinsky? And why is Nazism the given extreme? There are certainly many other political platforms than many people, rightly or wrongly, left or right, would consider equally `evil’ – why should someone be denied the freedom to voice their disagreement for someone’s politics just because they’re a musician? Should musicians, or any worker of any profession, be expected to compromise their ideals just in the name of earning a living? I’d rather be poor and hold my integrity intact than be a wealthy suck-up.

  5. Rage Against the Right Sphere says:
    September 20, 2012 at 1:18 am

    Another example of your flawed character, editing your original statement to correct a mistake which was referenced (by me, but in a way that required the initial mistake to add context to said comment) in the comment section WITHOUT noting that you have edited this article and what you edited.

    If you arent even willing to do this for inconsequential details such as “guitarist” instead of “lead singer” then why should anyone believe what you write? You have certainly proven you dont care enough to make sure your story is right before poisoning the trough of public opinion with it. Thank you for providing proof for my earlier accusations regarding your lack of journalistic integrity, the signs of which were only evident to me having dealt with MANY on the wrong-wing who attempt things out of their reach… such as journalism and intellectual honesty.

    I mean honestly, do the bloody research… its the bare-minimum expected of you and you take that trust and abuse it.

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