Why is Rage Against the Machine’s guitarist the only widely-recognized musician joining the Wisconsin fray?
Such is the state of music that a ’90s rock icon like Tom Morello is the only representative from the music industry protesting Scott Walker’s dictatorial moves in Wisconsin. Indeed, he has called Walker the “Mubarak of the Midwest.”
What a breath of fresh air it is to hear a rocker speak politically. Which raises the question, how did music become so de-politicized, so neutered? Has the Echo Boom generation — 20 somethings and those in their early 30s — disappeared up its own collective asshole?
This isn’t merely a question of the Wisconsin situation, but politics at large. Some musicians and bands come out of hiding during elections, then disappear into their own insulated world of artistry in between, as if all the work had been done two years ago, and they could simply pat themselves on the back and point to Barack Obama as evidence that they had prevailed.
The truth is that for every band that plays a benefit for Obama, for instance, there are dozens of others who stay home. Maybe it is not within their budget to suddenly embark for Madison, Wisconsin, or any other place of protest — but surely there must be a few that could have joined Morello. Bands from Chicago, Milwaukee, Mineapolis/St. Paul, even places in Michigan and Indiana, for instance.
Why is a 46 year old guitarist from a band that peaked in the late 1990s the only visible presence from the music industry? Where is the energy and activism found in the ’60s, or the aftershock of punk rock in the ’80s, that allowed someone like Jello Biafri to not only advocate for issues, but run for political office in San Francisco?
Valid questions. Do bands just not give a flying fuck for politics these days? They probably care, but certainly do not know how to exercise their convictions like the ’60s counter-cultural icons like John Lennon, the MC5, or post-punk bands like Gang of Four. I don’t mean to over-emphasize music’s role in politics: Wisconsin protestors have been doing just fine without Morello. But every little bit helps, as they say.
As it stands, we’d be more likely to see Billy Corgan‘s bald head bob amongst the Madison masses than Grizzly Bear or Vampire Weekend to suddenly appear in solidarity with Wisconsin protesters. Say what you will of Morello as an artist these days, or of RATM as a band, but at least he has the strength of conviction to offer his visibility to the cause.
Morello is being joined by some musicians, but why is this not a cavalcade of known and respected artists?
Morello is right in saying that the future of worker’s rights is being fought in Madison, Wisconsin, with reverberations that will be felt around the country. He has been quoted as saying, “Madison is the next Cairo.”
That should be a cue for other musicians to join the movement.
February 21, 2011 at 9:26 pm, Bmurphy2 said:
We definitely need more musicians and celebrities to join this cause – the same issue is occurring in Ohio and will spread to many other states. This is an attack on good, hard-working citizens and we really need some support. Thank you Tom Morello for stepping up and making your voice heard.
February 22, 2011 at 3:11 am, Tiger said:
“Breath of fresh air” when rockers get political? What the fuck does an uneducated, drugged-out, washed-up guitar player know about the complexities of politics?
February 22, 2011 at 3:28 am, Blank said:
Tom Morello graduated from Harvard.
February 22, 2011 at 3:31 am, blank said:
With a BA in Political Science. He might know a thing or two about the complexities of politics.
February 23, 2011 at 6:02 am, Mainerd said:
Haha your ignorance shines so bright, tom morello graduated from high school with honors and went to harvard where he studied… Political science. He’s known to not be a heavy drug user or drinker. On a side note he is responsible for introducing the members of Tool to each other, so you could say he is a genius.
February 22, 2011 at 3:20 am, Anon said:
I assume most prominent musicians (Gaga, Kanye, Eminem, I’m talking about you. Or are you still too butthurt about the whole Arcade Fire thing to care?) are just as jaded and out of touch with the realities of the actual working class and it’s troubles as the politicians. And if they do realize what the middle class is going through, why risk their own bottom line? Nobody’s increasing their taxes…
Morello is a hero.
February 22, 2011 at 3:41 am, Grace Jewell said:
now we talkin
February 22, 2011 at 4:54 am, treev said:
Who Cares, Free Tom Morello Concert….sweet
February 22, 2011 at 4:55 am, treev said:
Although it wasn’t like seeing him at woodstock in ’99, it’s great to see him out rallying the troops, having a good time, thanks for a great show tom
February 23, 2011 at 5:42 am, Mainerd said:
Its this attitude that has dug this country in such a huge hole, you don’t actually care about what’s going on or that our constitutional rights are being taken away. You only care about entertaining yourself for 1 afternoon. It’s no wonder they keep pushing to further take advantage of the blind sheep, they make it so easy. Idiocracy could be closer than we thought.
February 22, 2011 at 9:12 am, SWAG said:
I dont think bands on the Billboard top 100 would give a shit about working class citizens (Lennon alone on that one), but I would think bands along the lines of NOFX, Anti-Flag, Against Me!, Rise Against would care. Hell most of them got famous during the Bush years writing songs about how he sucked (Ironically democracy is spreading throughout the world like he said). Were are the songs about politicians trying to fuck over Unions. I dont listen to much punk anymore because their new stuff is just like every band out there.
February 22, 2011 at 4:34 pm, Chas said:
Tom wasn’t the only one of note there… Tim McIlrath from Rise Against was there too!
February 22, 2011 at 4:47 pm, JDG said:
I think the key factor is that ultimately musicians are interested in selling records and having people show up to their shows. The record industry has already taken a huge hit and having their artists actively expressing political stance could only further discourage a significant portion of their listening audience. Years ago it was openly accepted by the majority to rip the heck out of Bush. Now with day to day political uncertainty involving all parties, I think musicians are keeping their views within their ‘scene’ where they’re safely accepted. Also, hipster irony is safe; everything’s a joke. Superficial is hip; politics only draws attention away from image. It’s easy for the been-there, done-thats of the industry that have already made millions to stand for whatever they want while the young, poor, and hungry try to make a buck through this economic downturn. I hesitate to go here, but it also lends an opportunity for free PR to a star that has faded a bit.
February 22, 2011 at 5:17 pm, Exit3_jon said:
um wasn’t Wayne Kramer of the MC5 (as mentioned in the article) there also! i think that’s him standing to Tom’s left in the picture.
February 22, 2011 at 5:49 pm, D. J. said:
No. That photo is from a 2008 protest.
February 22, 2011 at 6:55 pm, Blank said:
Yes, Wayne Kramer was at the Madison Protest. You can see some footage from the protests on Youtube of all the musicians singing together.
February 22, 2011 at 6:22 pm, Jon Verret said:
What a joke. An anti-government musician, protesting alongside government workers, who want to preserve their artificially inflated wages and benefits, to the detriment of the private citizen. The Governor may not have it right by calling in the National Guard, but he’s right to cut public employees compensation.
These people don’t have a ideological leg to stand on…It’s just a bunch of “grown-ups” crying “GIMME GIMME GIMME”….
March 12, 2011 at 2:10 am, IU 620 said:
You mad? Sounds like your bitter because those who have organized are getting a fair shake. Grow up and organize your workplace, and I bet you’ll get better pay as well.
February 22, 2011 at 6:22 pm, Jon Verret said:
What a joke. An anti-government musician, protesting alongside government workers, who want to preserve their artificially inflated wages and benefits, to the detriment of the private citizen. The Governor may not have it right by calling in the National Guard, but he’s right to cut public employees compensation.
These people don’t have a ideological leg to stand on…It’s just a bunch of “grown-ups” crying “GIMME GIMME GIMME”….
February 23, 2011 at 12:16 am, Lukas Judge said:
Tom from Rise Against, and Tom from Against Me!, as well as Wayne Kramer and Morello were all there. This article is unfounded and poorly researched as I’m starting to notice most of the stuff of this site is.
February 23, 2011 at 12:16 am, Lukas Judge said:
Tom from Rise Against, and Tom from Against Me!, as well as Wayne Kramer and Morello were all there. This article is unfounded and poorly researched as I’m starting to notice most of the stuff of this site is.
February 23, 2011 at 2:27 pm, Squid1035 said:
That’s CLEARLY Zack de la Rocha standing next to Morello. Free Rage reunion concert is definitely in order! Seems like there’s a great shortage of bands that are unabashedly political these days. Leave it to RATM to re-lead the charge?
February 23, 2011 at 3:23 pm, Rojayragbeer said:
zach de la rocha is right next to tom morello, why is tom morrello the only one mentioned in the headlines im a huge RATM and tom shouldnt be the only one credited for it in the headlines.
February 23, 2011 at 5:00 pm, D. J. Pangburn said:
That photo is from 2008, Rojayragbeer. If Zach de la Rocha was in Madison, that’s news to me.
At the time of the writing of the above article, there were no photos of Morello at the Wisconsin protests–so I used an older one.
DJ
February 23, 2011 at 9:24 pm, Robby Daigle said:
Tom Morello is out there because he is one of the only musicians that actually understands politics. He has a political science degree from harvard, he knows whats up.
February 24, 2011 at 11:14 pm, kate said:
While I completely agree with the message of this article, I have a hard time taking it seriously when a U.S. city is spelled wrong (Minneapolis).
February 26, 2011 at 5:11 am, Calvin Miner said:
I think the reason for depoliticization in music, art and culture in general is due to the corporatization of society. Previously, the music industry was merely run by a few rich guys, who kept tabs on politics- but other aspects of music was kept privately owned by middle-class people. For example, indie music shops and concert halls were the norm 50 years ago. Today, music is run by several corporations at all stages- investment, production, distribution, concerts and merch. Corporations are the most totalitarian of all institutions invented by man, they have massive Public Relations departments who go so far as to censor out 1-inch by 1-inch buttons on a guitarists jacket during a live performance on Saturday Night Live. Only North Korea comes close to this kind of totalitarian control.
Solidarity from Madison!
February 28, 2011 at 5:39 pm, Chope said:
Madison is the next Cairo…?
Walker is the Mubarak of the Midwest…?
gee I wonder why any reasonable people with the ability to actually THINK arent tripping over themselves to join!?
how embarrassing, and what a coddled and sheltered life you must live to actually think these things.
February 28, 2011 at 5:39 pm, Chope said:
Madison is the next Cairo…?
Walker is the Mubarak of the Midwest…?
gee I wonder why any reasonable people with the ability to actually THINK arent tripping over themselves to join!?
how embarrassing, and what a coddled and sheltered life you must live to actually think these things.
February 28, 2011 at 5:47 pm, Chope said:
BTW….all I see at these Wisconsin protests are A LOT of angry old white people…
Oh and also….what happened to all of the giant ANTI WAR protests? Obama and his DEM WH has sent MORE troops to Afghanistan and there have been MORE deaths then ever over there….? but no nightly news stories of death tolls and violence, no organized protests and screams of “war criminals!” at the Govt…weird how that happens…
oh and Obama just re-upped the patriot act… in FULL….again. just sayin.
February 28, 2011 at 9:21 pm, Che was a murderer said:
Tom Morello is an asshat! Punk ass liberal bitch. Hey Tom! Tell me why the public sector is so much more important that they have the right to take money away from the private sector. What’s that? It’s because the public sector is more important than the private sector? It’s because you think everyone should be employed by the government? You commie red ass bastard! Go to Cuba and smoke cigars with Fidel. F U!
March 03, 2011 at 9:49 pm, Mbush said:
Tom Morello protesting in WI, but we don’t have a picture of it. instead enjoy this picture of Tom Protesting something completely different.
March 03, 2011 at 9:49 pm, Mbush said:
Tom Morello protesting in WI, but we don’t have a picture of it. instead enjoy this picture of Tom Protesting something completely different.
January 10, 2012 at 6:16 pm, Annettedillon7 said:
Starving Excellent Musicans get no money, respect, or hope for the future in the U.S.A., from it’s political parties, or most of it’s people, yet we generally exhaust ourselves for charities and causes. Rich well known ones are apolitical because their fan base will slaughter them, like the Dixie Girls over one comment.