MOG

All bands have their image and the hype that goes along with it. I'm afraid that so it is, it's a job. Bands can agree with the image, or not, or partially agree or disagree with it. Being an artist is a job that has to be done in certain ways.

I really don't mind, I just wish that, like Cody noted, while they're at it, get people to vote.

it seems to be a common complaint i've seen against RATM that they are hypocrites for the money they make....though i don't see how anyone can know what they actually do with their money

i have never seen a show of wealth by any member of the band....and i tend to believe that with the causes they support, money is heading that way more than into their own pockets

that said, i can't confirm or deny that, as i haven't come across something that says...this money goes here, this money goes there

i tend to be more along the line of thought that if members of the band were living a lifestyle above a common person, from a monetary standpoint, it would have been exploited to show them as hypocrites...which hasn't happened, to my knowledge

...but i agree, even as a longtime fan of the band, their message is sometimes contradictory between peace and violence...and it can be counter-productive

A once popular band called TCHKUNG" /> had a similar problem.  As a band, they had to walk the line.  As activists, they wanted to fuck shit up, which at times bled into their performances.  Venues started to ban them because they didn't want to be associated with anarchists.  Since a few of the band members weren't content to stay on the "commercial" side of the line, they eventually broke up and went their separate ways.  A few went on to perform with the Infernal Noise Brigade, a marching band focused on political gatherings, protests and riots.  They marched at WTO in Seattle and such places.  At the time, I thought it was noble that they stuck to their guns and remained protesters at the expense of the band.  Of course now, in retrospect, I realize that their politically-driven lyrics and music had greater power than the members themselves do.  I miss the band.  No other band before or since has successfully blended such hard-hitting lyrics with such magical music.

I think this should be taken into consideration when critiquing RATM's actions.  Especially with someone as activist-minded as Tom Morello involved...

ok, not sure what happened to the link in my comment.  But, if you click on TchKung! up there, just delete the weird img code.  Here's the correct URL:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C2%A1Tchkung!

Oh, i see.  The %C2%A1 is a computer way of spelling an upside down exclamation point.  Which is actually how the band spells it's name.  Anyway, fascinating band history and fantabulous music.  I highly recommend it.  It's unique.  Not screaming like RATM music, but definitely fierce.  Like modern tribal music for modern nomads.

Screaming that you're in favor of violence does no one any good.  Especially when shit happens and the police take you up on the offer.

And it helps elect Republicans. 

I just finished reading Nixonland and the thing that is most striking to me is how the anger and polarization results in self-fulfilling prophecies on both sides of the divide and a decrease in understanding.  I love RATM and they are an amazing live band, but Tom Morello would be better off sitting down with the folks on the other side and trying to engage them in something constructive rather than this nonsense. 

Call me Mr Raging Moderate lately....

I hate Rage. It's hard to take their political bullshit seriously when it's coming from their comfortable homes and fat wallets.

I didn't think they were so much about tearing down capitalism and the existing order as much as to make it stop oppressing people, to make it stop raping the third world. Give everyone a fair shake. 

Guess that would be anti-capitalist though--a system where the majority slaves to make a few live like kings. 

I just find it hard to believe them when they complaince come from th mouths of rich, white males...because it's just so tough living on this planet being white and male...as both...I can't say it's so rough compared to just about everyone else on the planet.

Are they white males? Would it be better coming from rich, african males? What does that matter?

Just saying, I thought they were all pretty ethnically mixed, all of them, except maybe Timmy C.