In a recent feature on The Strombo Show, renowned guitarist Tom Morello hailed the band Kneecap as “the Rage Against the Machine of today,” passionately defending their politically charged music. This proclamation has incited notable backlash, particularly from David Draiman, the lead vocalist of the band Disturbed, who has openly criticized Morello for endorsing this provocative Irish rap group.

Understanding Morello’s Praise and Draiman’s Strong Opposition

On the episode of The Strombo Show that aired on July 1, 2025, Morello was questioned about whether he still encounters emerging artists who embody the anti-establishment spirit similar to that of RATM. He acknowledged bands like The Neighborhood Kids and Nova Twins, but emphasized that Kneecap stands out, describing them as “at the top of the list.” He added, “They’re clearly the Rage Against the Machine of now. Like, there’s them and then there’s a gap to the next one.”

When asked for his thoughts regarding Kneecap’s May 2025 terrorism charge related to a “human rights issue,” Morello stated:

“What they’re doing in their art is what people could probably stand to do more in their lives, which is to truly speak truth to power. And, you know, Kneecap are not terrorists. What is terroristic is, you know, 20,000 dead Palestinian children. That’s the real story… Not some Irish rappers who don’t like that that’s happening. That should not be the story.”

The clip from this segment can be viewed below:

On July 12, Draiman reacted on Twitter, sharing a link to Far Out Magazine’s coverage of the interview, expressing his disapproval: “Shameful. Truly. Wish I could say I was shocked. Guess my family doesn’t count, when it comes to my ‘friend’s’ virtue signaling for those who support terror and incite Jew hatred.”

His tweet generated various responses.

One user commented: “Morello is a repellent communist and a terrorist sympathizer,” while another user defended Morello:

“Tom is often in Northern Ireland and is well liked whenever he visits. He’s aware of the struggle our people faced and our support for the Palestinian people in their struggle for freedom. Tom’s on the right side of history. You signed bombs that got dropped on innocent people in Gaza. I don’t think he’d consider you a ‘friend’ at all.”

Responses to Draiman’s tweet varied widely:

As highlighted by Metal Injection, the backlash against Kneecap centers around their contentious stance on Israel and the ongoing conflict in Gaza, drawing the most vocal criticism from Draiman, who has familial ties to Israel and identifies as Jewish.

It’s noteworthy that Draiman’s comments came on the heels of significant controversy, as he has been criticized for his previous visit to Israel, where he notably signed an artillery shell with the phrase “Fuck Hamas.”

Furthermore, Metal Injection elaborated:

To clarify – Draiman signed the missile in June 2024. This act occurred after the devastating events of October 7, 2023, when Palestinian militant groups, led by Hamas, executed a large-scale, coordinated attack on Israel from Gaza, resulting in approximately 1,300 Israeli deaths—most of whom were civilians—near the Gaza border and at a music festival. Additionally, over 200 individuals were taken hostage and transported into Gaza.

As of this moment, Morello has not publicly addressed Draiman’s remarks, and Draiman appears to be silent regarding the multitude of comments responding to his tweet.

Earlier today (July 13), Kneecap tweeted a response to the ongoing situation, sharing a photo of Draiman signing a missile, accompanied by the statement: “We don’t care what religion anyone is…or if they’ve one at all. We love all sound cunts. Smiling and signing bombs dropped to murder kids and other people’s families just makes you a straight-up cunt. Simple as. Free Palestine.”

You can view their post below:

In response, Draiman issued a series of replies that, together, conveyed the following message:

“Here’s the thing, and I’ll speak to you in small words so you understand. That shell was meant for HAMAS. You know, the organization that has vowed to exterminate all Jews, not just Israelis, including my family. You shoot at Jews? Expect Jews to shoot back.

All innocent lives lost in this conflict are due to Hamas using their own people as cannon fodder to gain sympathy from those who are eager to join the Jew hating narrative. If the hostages were released and Hamas surrendered, the bloodshed would cease…

But neither you nor Hamas truly desire that. Because without the dead martyred Palestinians to fuel your zeitgeist, both you and they lose power. Enjoy your fleeting moment, gentlemen. It could have been accomplished through your art, but instead, you resorted to hatred. Goodbye.”

You can see his replies below:

READ MORE: Tom Morello Reflects on Rage Against the Machine’s Impact While Celebrating New Solo Work

Diving Deeper into Kneecap’s Political Contentions

As previously mentioned, Kneecap has consistently been a polarizing political force, with their performance at Coachella in April eliciting widespread condemnation for their overt criticism of Israel.

Kneecap asserted that after the first week of the two-week festival, “the festival had censored their pro-Palestine messages as well as an anti-Margaret Thatcher chant during their performance,” as reported by Loudwire.

Sharon Osbourne, a prominent figure in the music industry, was among the most vocal critics of their performance, stating that festival organizers should be held accountable for allowing what she termed “anti-Israel hate speech” to be expressed, sentiments that resonated with Draiman, who shared and praised her comments on social media.

Specifically, Osbourne articulated on social media [via Loudwire]:

“Coachella 2025 will be remembered as a festival that compromised its moral and spiritual integrity. Goldenvoice, the festival organizer, enabled this by allowing artists to exploit the Coachella stage as a platform for political statements. Kneecap, an Irish rap ensemble, took their performance further by incorporating aggressive political messages, including projections of anti-Israel rhetoric and hate speech. Their open support for terrorist organizations raises significant concerns about the appropriateness of their participation in such a festival, especially as they are scheduled to perform in the USA.”

Days later, in a rebuttal to Osbourne, Kneecap’s vocalist, Mo Chara, told Rolling Stone:

“Her rant is riddled with inaccuracies that it hardly warrants a response, but she should listen to ‘War Pigs,’ which was penned by Black Sabbath (her husband’s band). People can interpret our message as anti-Israel, but for us, it revolves around the abhorrent actions of their government, not the common populace. Our mission is to end the genocide and halt the ongoing illegal occupation of Palestine. We encourage individuals to take whatever actions they can to prevent the genocide. Stopping the genocide is our primary objective.”

Recent Developments Surrounding Draiman and Morello

According to Metal Injection, Draiman encountered a hostile reception during his performance at the Back to the Beginning concert featuring Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne in Birmingham, England on July 5. Draiman participated in Morello’s All-Stars performance, singing “Shot in the Dark” and “Sweet Leaf,” but was met with a barrage of boos, likely stemming from his earlier association with the IDF.

The following day, Draiman took to social media to clarify that he was not “booed off the stage” as some media outlets claimed, including certain members of the #FreePalestine crowd:

He elaborated [transcribed by Metal Injection]:

“Yes, there were a few boos when I walked out, but I came to pay homage to my teachers and idols, the legendary Black Sabbath, and I wasn’t going to let a few Jew hating individuals deter that. This is all about feeding their narrative, generating clickbait, and inciting hatred against Jews. There’s even a recording circulating that artificially enhances the booing during the performance to fuel the fire. Pathetic.

The live stream reveals the truth. Both songs were well received. However, you wouldn’t know that from the media, who are eager to roast marshmallows next to this dumpster fire of a fabricated story. Oh well. I’m still here. I’m coming back to the UK in the fall for what is shaping up to be a very successful run if ticket sales are any indication. And I am STILL UNAPOLOGETICALLY A FIERCE SUPPORTER OF ISRAEL. I will ALWAYS stand up for my people and will not be deterred, intimidated, or shamed out of rocking the masses. Put that in your pipes and smoke it.”

You can view his post below:

In contrast, Morello has been actively involved in protests, including one against Donald Trump’s ICE Raids and the deployment of the National Guard in June. He, along with Amy Lee from Evanescence, participated in the June 14 “No Kings” protests against Trump’s military parade in Washington, D.C.

On July 1, Morello appeared on Loudwire Nights to discuss what it meant for him to be invited by Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne to curate the Back to the Beginning event. The following week, he returned to celebrate the release of his latest solo track, “Pretend You Remember Me,” and reflected on the legacy of Rage Against the Machine.