Rage Against The Machine guitarist to donate song profits to charity

Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello has revealed in an interview with BBC 6 Music that he is donating his profits from the 'Killing in the Name' re-release to charity, to help young musicians “take on the establishment”.

Rage Against The Machine have praised the campaign which has made them unlikely Christmas UK number one contenders, declaring: “Let the people decide”.

The band are challenging 'X Factor' winner Joe McElderry for this week’s chart-topper after an internet campaign to stop him taking the spot.

The band’s track was chosen by anti-'X Factor' campaigners because of its message of taking a stand against authority.

Morello told the station that the campaign was “a little dose of anarchy” but not aimed at McElderry or even Simon Cowell. Rather it was to counter the idea of the public being “spoon-fed” what to buy.

The US musician said: “This shouldn’t be misinterpreted. This is a grass roots effort. It’s nothing against the candidates or the guy that runs the show.

“Your country has such a great, rich history of cutting edge, exciting rebel music – whether it be the early Stones or Who, or the Clash and the Sex Pistols or Prodigy and Muse.

“I think people are just fed-up of being spoonfed some overblown sugary ballad that sits on top of the charts. It’s a little dose of anarchy for the holidays, it’s good for the soul.”

He added: “It’s this big machinery that puts forward a particular kind of music which represents a particular kind of listener.

“There are a lot of people that don’t feel represented by it and this Christmas in the UK they’re having their say.”

The track contains repeated expletives but Morello said he saw no problem with it being a festive anthem.

“I don’t think the message of standing up to illegitimate authority does not have a season. It’s a rebel anthem that transcends the holidays,” he said.

“That top spot doesn’t belong to anybody – any TV show or any 90s political rock band. Let the people decide.”

Morello said his proceeds from sales would be going towards Youth Music, a charity which helps children work with music who ordinarily could not afford to.

“My hope is that one of the results of this is there will be a new generation of rockers who will take on the establishment with the music they write.”

Yesterday Rage Against The Machine took a slight lead in the battle to the top.