Disturbed frontman David Draiman has blasted Tom Morello as “shameful” for his support of Kneecap.
Draiman hit out at his friend, Rage Against The Machine’s founding guitarist Morello, for praising the Irish rap group for advocating for the people of Palestine, calling his comments “virtue signalling for those who support terror, and incite Jew hatred”.
He wrote on X: “Shameful. Truly. Wish I could say I was shocked. Guess my family doesn’t count, when it comes to my ‘friend’s’ virtue signalling for those who support terror, and incite Jew hatred.”
Killing in the Name hitmakers Rage Against The Machine are known for their anti-authoritarian and leftist political views and have used their platform to stand up against injustices.
Appearing on The Strombo Show recently, Morello said of Kneecap: “[They’re at] the top of the list.
“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.”
And, Morello insisted Kneecap are “not terrorists”.
Reacting to the backlash against the band, he said: “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.”
He added: “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.”
The Irish rap trio’s band member Mo Chara (real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh) is currently on bail on a terror charge relating to “displaying a flag in support of proscribed organisation Hezbollah” at their O2 Forum Kentish Town gig in London in November 2024.
Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove told the court at a recent hearing: “It’s not about Mr Ó hAnnaidh’s support for the people of Palestine or his criticism of Israel.
“He’s well within his rights to voice his opinions and solidarity, as is anybody else.
“The allegation in this case is a wholly different thing and deals with a video recording showing that, in November of last year, Mr Ó hAnnaidh wore and displayed the flag of Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist group, while saying ‘up Hamas, up Hezbollah’.
“Of course, support for the one is not the same as support for the other.”
Ó hAnnaidh was subsequently released on unconditional bail until his next hearing on August 20.